This month, Argentine wine lovers had a very important cause for celebration. On May 15th, Wines of Argentina celebrated its 20th birthday and hosted a gala to benefit the CONIN organization that serves malnourished children in Latin America. Twenty years ago Argentina was little more than a country nearly falling off the map in terms of wine production. No few knew the name Malbec...
Along with Hipsters, Ray Bans, and coconut water, garage wineries have recently become the hottest trend – that is, at least in the wine world. Winemakers first set up shop in garages several decades ago in France, when big-name oenologists broke away from their big-brand winery employers and began to make wine on their own terms. And what better place to foster artistic innovation...
Domaine Bousquet Winery doesn’t make a lot of noise. The architecture incorporates traditional materials and a warm rustic elegance emanates throughout the entire property – a distinct change from the grandeur of other bodegas in the neighborhood. In that sense, Domain Bousquet is a sleeping giant. But this low-profile winery is responsible for producing wines that have an impressively strong presence in both international...
Travelers making their way to Argentina have the difficult decision of choosing their entry point – do you opt for the Santiago layover, and simply hop over the Andes to land in Mendoza’s regional airport? Or should you brave the expansive terminals at Ezeiza airport, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires? Directly across from each other, on opposite sides of the country’s borders, Mendoza...
In the historic wine region of Maipu, Familia Zuccardi, knows that when it comes to crafting synergy on the palate, success comes down to the smallest of details. The Familia Zuccardi property consists of a winery, olive oil factory, vegetarian bistro, and the Casa del Visitante. In the Casa del Visitante Restaurant, Chef Matias Aldasoro constructs what is nothing short of a foodie’s paradise....
From the outside looking in, Carmelo Patti is just another Italian-Argentinean man making wine in his garage. Most days of the week, he is here, at work in the stark cement warehouse-turned-winery, known as Bodega El Lagar, tucked away in the Luján de Cuyo region of Mendoza. The street outside is scarcely marked with a street sign, but the road is well-traveled by those...
Michelle Schromm, a Missouri native turned Mendocinian, is one of the 3 expat women behind Fundación Servir, an organization dedicated to serving local communities in Mendoza’s wine regions. I sat down with Michelle to learn more about what how Fundación Servir began, where its headed, and what it’s really like to navigate an NGO in Argentina. Here is what she had to say: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________...
While city hotels offer the convenience of having everything just around the corner, there is something to be said for sleeping amongst the vines. Today more and more travelers disembark in Mendoza, looking for a piece of rustic charm while at the same time experiencing the comfort of quality accommodations. For tastes such as these, Don Arturo Estancia is the quintessential Mendoza getaway. Estancias...
Most Mendoza travelers get their fill as they travel through the wine region and enjoy winery tour after winery tour. Yet, as the return flight home inches closer there always seems to be a need for another bottle, or two…or six. Thankfully, downtown Mendoza City is heavily populated with vinotecas, wine shops of all shapes and sizes, each eager to send you home with...
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Argentine vegetarians are few and far between. They can´t saunter up to the smoking grill and enjoy the heady aroma of salted meat. They can´t partake in the ham and cheese croissants/ sandwiches/ quiches/ pizzas/ empanadas that populate nearly every menu. “So what exactly is the point?” wonder the locals, as they bite into a chunk of...
Recently, Mendoza had the honor of receiving Dr. Liz Thach, Professor at Sonoma University and Master of Wine. With the help of the Fulbright Institute and the National University of Cuyo, Dr. Thach hosted a workshop with local wine industry professionals to discuss the twelve best practices in wine tourism. Here are the 12 areas she says are essential for wine regions to develop...
On Saturday, March 15, Mendoza hosted its second edition of the Green Market in San Martin Park – a small fair that gathers together local businesses with an eco-friendly edge. The fair hosted numerous stands selling delicious bites to eat (such as vegan, vegetarian, organic, and local culinary creations), yoga classes, healthy cooking workshops, live music, and art classes for small children. In a...