6 Course Culinary Experience at O.Fournier

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O.Fournier Vineyard is located in the Uco Valley, Mendoza. Upon approaching the grounds, one wonders if a UFO has just landed...the building is shaped like a flying saucer. The vineyard is located just 15km from the Andes mountain range. The O.Fournier logo is an ostrich, pronounced "choi-ko". Our wine tour agency, Ampora, arranged a private lunch for Galib & I and we were lucky enough to have a very kind couple from Switzerland join us. Our English speaking guide, Luli, was very educational, providing us the history of Mendoza and informing us of the wine making process. The lunch was a 6 course culinary experience, involving every single taste sensation from sweet to savory and beyond. If you find yourself in the Mendoza area, O.Fournier should be at the top of your wine tour list.

The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, informing us that the names of the "Alfa Crux" and "B Crux" wines are based on the stars of the Southern Cross. This constellation is only visible in the Austral Hemisphere. The characterisation of the ostrich on the label symbolises the joining of the earth and the sky. The Argentinean Mocovi Indians captured this through paintings in the caves they inhabited and through different legends that were passed from generation to generation. O.Fournier aims to build a winery equipped with the latest technology. It will have a capacity of 600,000 litres in stainless steel, oak and cement vats, ranging from 6,500 to 25,000 litres in capacity. The new winery has been designed to work with gravity to minimise the use of pumps.

As there website states, "The underground cellar will be able to hold up to 2,800 oak barrels at a constant temperature and humidity. In light of the company´s commitment to continuously improve its wines, it has plans for the development of an innovative laboratory with microvinification capabilities. A small hotel and restaurant will also be built near the winery to accommodate visitors. The total investment of the project is eight million dollars, of which four million have already been invested."

O.Fournier is a vineyard definitely worth visiting. The food was outstanding!

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Photos

O.Fournier logo
Pronounced "Choi-ko"

Urban Uco
One of the few wineries producing Torrontes, most of this grape variety is grown in the province of Salta

B Crux 2003
Vino Tinto, O.Fournier produced 90,000 bottles, & the Wine Spectator has rated it 91 points

Alfa Crux 2001
O.Fournier has a winner, the International Wine Challenge Trophy in 2004, cult grapes grown at 1,100 metres yielded 44,000 bottles

Ricotta Ice Cream with Cucumber Dices and Green Oil
Green oil is a blend of olive oil and parsely

Mil Hojas
A combination of layers: eggplant, egg, whole wheat bread crumbs, green oil and gazpacho

Fresh Pasta with Champignons & Parmesan
This is the dish I chose, GB had the beef tenderloin

26 oz. Beef Tenderloin
GB ate the entire steak served with veggies

"Helados"
Home made banana ice cream with a pastry waffle crust, strawberry jelly, mint leaf and a chocolate logo

Sauv Blanc Grapes
We got to try one, very sweet indeed!

Our Group
Corina & Martin from Switzerland, GB, Cin & Luli

O.Fournier
Taken from Google Images, the Andes mountain range in the background

Comments

[Sabrina]

Yummy
This looks spectacular! I want to eat and drink the pictures. How cool to have your own tour.

[Rosey]

Nice pics
Hey - these are fantastic photo's!

[barbara]

o. fournier
I was there and had that tour.. AWESOME!!! i could just move in to that flying saucer!! barbara

[RRU Student]

unique!
The pictures are amazing! The structure of the building is unique and makes me want to visit O. Fournier to learn how wine is made and experience the 6 course culinary experience from "Simply Cinnamon". From reading this blog, I want to visit this vineyard so I can experience culinary tourism in the wine aspect.