Mendoza, Argentina

Being wine and steak connoisseurs (i.e: we partake in both with great pleasure) we knew that our next stop of Mendoza would be our kind of place. With only two full days to explore we did what any serious travellers would do...spend the first day eating and drinking juicy steaks and tasty wines, and then spend the following day doing it some more. Oh....with a tiny bit of exploring on the side.

Our first night, in honour of our 10 month anniversary, we ventured to a fancy wine tasting bodega called the "Vines of Mendoza". It is well known around town as a tasting room where one can sample some of Argentina´s finest drops. As there was an educational wine seminar happening in the main room, we were quickly escorted into a smaller one where Pete our bartender/wine guide enlightened us on the tastes, aromas, colors etc. of some of the nicest wines we have sampled to date.

Although the wines were delicious, for Doug and I the most memorable part of the night was the conversation that evolved soon after we sat down. The only other people in our little private tasting room was a young Californian family on a two month vacation through parts of South and Central America. Doug & Brook with their young children - Sutton, Hudson and Carrigan (less than a year) quickly introduced themselves to us when they heard our English conversation. As the room filled with fellow samplers, young Sutton and Hudson quickly planted their stools next to Doug and I, and the four of us proceeded to solve the worlds great mysteries.

Once the answer to world peace had been found (and all of our monkey, bird, fish and animal photos had been shown) the kids soon began to look to more exciting activities and asked if we knew any magic tricks. Remembering one that my father used to do around the dinner table (which incidentally was a huge hit at the orphanage also) I quickly performed the "two little tiki bird" song for our awe struck new friends. After the umpteenth performance Doug thankfully took over with an impromptu one of his own...and than another...and another. I had no idea that my husband was such a great magician! Who would have thought that our planned elegant night at a Mendoza tasting room would lead instead to a fun filled few hours of funny songs and magic tricks with two children under 8??

After three hours of delicious wine sampling, our stomachs were calling, so we had to say our goodbyes and head off to dinner. We had heard from many reliable sources that the nearby Don Mario´s steakhouse made the best steaks in town...and man were they right. Even sharing a steak was almost two big for us - I said almost!! We went to bed that night feeling very satisfied... and to the tune of "two little tiki birds".

The next day was an early start for a tour of some of the local Vineyards. Our first stop was the Lopez vineyard, a huge, very industrial looking place and one of the bigger wineries in Argentina. We then headed off to La Rural which had a more rustic and inviting feel to it. My favorite however was our last stop...the only organic winery in Mendoza. This boutique vineyard made us want to take off our shoes and squish some grapes between our toes! With beautiful surroundings, buildings and wines, we couldn´t help but take a bottle home with us.

Our final stop of the tour was a small chocolate factory that produced all sorts of things from sauces and liqueurs, to more chocolate treats than you could ever imagine. Again...we couldn´t help but take a few samplers home with us.

We left Mendoza the next day feeling more than a bit heavier (I am sure the buffet the night before didn´t help) but certainly wanting more.


Here are some pictures from our time in Mendoza..

As always, click here if you can´t see the album Mendoza