Arrive in Mendoza and drive 30 minutes south of the city where the land is dotted with vineyards and the snowcapped Andes rise majestically to the west. The staff at the exquisite Cavas Wine Lodge, a Relais & Chateaux property, is awaiting your arrival with a glass of wine in hand. Ahhh. Now make yourself at home in your private corner cabaña. Treat yourself to a massage, wine bath, or body scrub to recover from your journey south. Have a light, flavorful lunch on the sunny terrace of their restaurant. The day is yours to enjoy this slice of heaven.
Tonight, we have a special table reserved for you in town at La Bourgogne. Here, French technique and inspiration blends harmoniously with the local ingredients. Salud! Welcome to Argentina’s wine country.
Day 2
Begin your day in area of Mendoza known as Lujan de Cuyo. Visit the Argentinean winery of U.S. winemaker extraordinaire Paul Hobbs. The passionate owners will share their vision of this project along with a selection of barrels for tasting of their rich Malbec to their mineral-laden Cabernet. Nearby in the shady village of Chacras de Coria, you are invited to stop by to see one of Mendoza’s most prestigious boutique projects. Their focus is only Malbec and expressing its variations in terroir. The dynamic tasting will underscore this concept.
Set off for lunch with some friends who are owners of a tiny jewel making very distinctive wines from Nebbiolo grapes to rare Malbec clones. Their wines are pure poetry--expressive and juicy.
Before arriving back at Cavas, last stop of the day is the petit bodega of the Bressia family. They welcome you into their winery just like their home. They love to share their passion for the craft. Their wines are naturally made for lingering--long, satiny, and ripe.
Have dinner tonight at celebrity chef Francis Mallman’s 1884 restaurant, a Mendocino classic. Housed in the old Escorihuela winery, savor the delicious grilled meats for which Mallman is so renowned.
Day 3
After savoring media lunas and the addictive dulce de leche, you are ready to dive again into Malbec. To kick off the day, drive 15 minutes northeast towards the area known as Lunlunta to understand old vine, low yield Malbec. Hook up with winemaker Roberto de la Mota to discover this tiny project making few but insanely intense, elegant wines. Visit the turn-of-the-century bodega followed by a vertical tasting of their top wine.
The next stop is an unassuming winery located on the shores of the Mendoza River. Now a worldwide reference for its single vineyard wines, check out the bodega and then the different components of the Quimeira from barrel samples.
Lunch is down the road at a new project started by a prosperous family from Buenos Aires. Five courses and five wines are skillfully paired from Rosé to reserva.
Return to Cavas. Dinner is on your own tonight at hotel.
Day 4
Check out from Cavas and venture an hour south to the high altitude Uco Valley. Beyond Malbec, in Uco many wineries are experimenting with new varietals like Cabernet, Tempranillo, and even Syrah. A lush agricultural corridor amid an arid desert, the landscape is dotted by almond trees and orchards and the Andes seem to be at arm’s length. Take the scenic road over rolling hills to arrive in Tupungato near the base of the volcano. Drop in to visit friends who run a garage operation where everything is in miniature. The Cabernet and Malbec have grabbed much attention for their distinct personalities and excellent value. Interactive tasting with one of the winemakers.
Lunch is across the road with sweeping vistas of the vines and mountains. Talented cooks put their farm-to-table philosophy to practice in this rustic and delicious restaurant focusing on regional cuisine and Uco wines.
Drive 30 minutes to the dusty village of Vista Flores. Visit the winery of innovative winemaker Mauricio Lorca. The depth of his wines (without oak!) will convince anyone of the power of Uco’s extraordinary soil and climate. Brief visit and tasting.
Stay close by at Casa Antucura, the country home of Antucura winery’s owners. This comfortable house has a sprawling lawn, gleaming pool, and enchanting mountain views. Get some fresh air as you take a dip or settle in with a Cuban cigar, glass of house wine, and perhaps a good book from their 7,000-volume library. The afternoon is at your leisure.
Make room for dinner tonight. The resident cook, Estefania, dazzles guests with simple, Argentinean cuisine including her signature chimichurri salsa and more of Antucura’s wines. Salud!
Day 5
Awake to birds chirping and breakfast in bed this morning. Later, pack up and set off to experience one of Argentina’s newest wineries; a hit worldwide for the quality of its wines. The stunning location at the foot of the mountains is sharply contrasted with the futuristic architecture. Founded in the new millennium by a Spanish family, the house specialty is Tempranillo. Get to know these singular wines with a tour of the Matrix-like winery followed by a full tasting of top wines from their properties in Argentina, Chile, and Spain.
Meander down to your chef’s table at the winery’s swish restaurant, Urban. Let them delight you with elegant food and top wines. After lunch, you may hear a chopper. That’s right, your private helicopter has arrived to take you on a jaw dropping aerial tour before arriving at the airport for your evening flight to Buenos Aires.
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, your VIP car awaits you to whisk you away to the chic Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt. Dinner tonight is at your leisure.
Day 6
After breakfast, meet with your personal guide for an insider’s tour of Buenos Aires. Soak up historical and cultural highlights like the Plaza de Mayo; the Presidential Palace, Casa Rosada; the grand Avenida de Mayo dotted which resembles Madrid’s Gran Vía; the Greco-Roman Palacio del Congreso; and the bustling microcenter. Discuss development, the massive immigration, soccer, tango, Peronism and quirky features of Argentinean society.
Have lunch at a classic, sophisticated spot where porteños go for sublime pasta and Italian dishes and an outstanding wine list. Return to Palacio Duhau. The afternoon is free to rest, explore, shop or hit their spa.
This evening, put on your dancing shoes! Take a private tango lesson with a professional dancer before dinner at one of BA’s slickest addresses for “modern” Argentinean food. Afterwards, join the passionate locals at a milonga to practice your new tango steps like a pro.
Day 7
This morning, drive to the outskirts of Buenos Aires to the gigantic Mercado de Progreso. Dating back to the 1890’s, explore this historic market and its heaps of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish. Stop to snack on savory, finger-sized meat empanadas and rich cheeses. Retuen to BA where you are initiated into their café culture. This city seems to run on caffeine. From the traditional Tortoni of yesteryear, where white-jacketed waiters slalom with espressos, to La Giralda in the Corrientes theater district where pre and post show goers get their fix on chocolate-covered churros.
At lunch time, dig your fork, or spoon, into a juicy bife de chorizo steak at La Brigada. A colorful mishmash of soccer jerseys and tango posters, it’s a testament to Argentina’s Holy Trinity: soccer, steak, and tango. The meat is so tender you can cut it with a spoon.
This evening, enjoy a private wine tasting and tapas with a collector of some of Argentina’s most coveted bottles.
Day 8
Say adiós to BA. Fly to Montevideo on a short hop across the Río de la Plata. Upon arrival, rendezvous with your private local host who will orient you in this funky, off-the-beaten-path port and capital city. Visit the Teatro Solis with its 19th century grandeur. The theater has hosted the likes of Puccini, Caruso and Isadora Duncan over the years. People watch along the pedestrian malls of the old city. Check out the Torres García museum to see some of Uruguay’s best contemporary art. And enjoy Montevideo’s rambla which snakes along the Río de la plata for miles and miles with sandy beaches. Run, bike, walk, fish, drink mate, or just watch the sea.
Lunch is at the old school Mercado del Puerto. Cop-a-squat at the finest parrillada. They source all ingredients from local food artisans making cured sausages, hams, cheeses, and farm-fresh produce. The highlights are grass fed lamb, marbled beef, and crunchy grilled chorizo. Chat with the grill man about the art of grilling Uruguayan style. And as you eat, soak up the lively ambience.
Stay at the boutique hotel, The Belmont House, a mansion nestled among eucalyptus forest in the exclusive Carrasco area of the city. After that big lunch, have a light dinner tonight on your own.
Day 9
Get ready for an education in Uruguay’s undiscovered wines. Here, the Atlantic climate and mineral-rich soils is unique from wine-producing cousins Chile & Argentina—and so is the expression. Perhaps the wines are slightly Old World in style: elegant, less alcohol, in some cases, very tannic. Such is the case of the signature grape, Tannat, yielding full body wines with intense color, gripping tannins, and a lovely austerity that grows on you.
Head north just outside Montevideo to Canelón Chico with soft, rolling hills and lush vegetation. Stop by a small boutique winery going three generations strong. Let Carlos take you out into the estate to better understand the nuances of wine growing in Uruguay. Back at the bodega, sit down to a tasting of his excellent Brut Nature (a tradition in Uruguayan wineries) and selection of his premium Tannat blends.
Just down the road, visit another artisan winery making handcrafted Tannat in micro batches. Everything here is a family effort, enthused with their passion of sharing the land and its traditions. Meet the family, learn about their vision, and taste their outstanding line of Tannat and blends.
Lunch is not too far away at one of Uruguay’s most critically acclaimed wineries. This bodega not only has vineyards in Canelones but also in the far north near the border with Brazil. This drier region produces jaw dropping Tannat. The family will prepare a private lunch for you to taste these spectacular wines.
Dinner tonight is a break from all the meat. With all this coastline, dive into a plethora of seafood at a wonderful seafood restaurant in the upscale neighborhood of Punta Carretas. Try some of Uruguay’s lesser-known varietals like Sauvignon Blanc and their sparkling wines.
Day 10
Check out this morning and drive 30 minutes north of the city to Uruguay’s “largest” winery. Still a hands-on family operation, the Deicas family has blazed the trail for Uruguayan wines in the international market. Visit the vineyards, the century-old cellar, followed by a tasting of their premium wines. Not too far away in Melilla, stop by to see some old friends who have lovingly restored their family’s general store. They may even put on the old gramophone and dance some tango for you!
Down the road, drop in on the country’s newest boutique project. The dream of a wine aficionado, here the philosophy is “less is more”: less intervention, less quantity, and maximum quality. Beyond Tannat, they work with Merlot, Tannat, Tempranillo, Albariño and Chardonnay. Sit down to an elegant yet casual lunch featuring dishes like estate lamb, grilled fish, beef, and garden vegetables with a selection of their top wines.
Drive to Punta del Este along Uruguay’s Riviera with sweeping vistas of the turquoise ocean. Continue past the skyscrapers and glitz of Punta to the dunes and tranquility of posh José Ignacio, 30 minutes east.
Stay at Estancia Vik, a classic Uruguayan gaucho-style estate sitting majestically on 4,000 acres of emerald hills near the beach town of José Ignacio. Let their impeccable service pamper you.
Dine tonight at the perennial favorite, La Huella, in the town of José Ignacio on top of the beach dunes. Simple, delicious, hip, this is Uruguay’s glamour coast!
Day 11
Wake up late. Linger over breakfast in a bathrobe. Lounge by the pool. Trek down to the beach. Go for a bike ride. Explore the tiny town of José Ignacio with its boutiques, cafés, and lighthouse. The day is yours to relax. Unwind. Savor this unique place. Lunch is at the hotel at your leisure.
In the evening, we have a special table reserved for you at a restaurant hidden off the road in Manantiales. The clever Chef-wife team will delight you with creative, perfectly balanced dishes in a homey ambience. Simply divine.
Day 12
Pack up and say tchau to Estancia Vik around noon. Head inland 30 minutes past the lagoon and down a dirt road to what appears to be the middle of nowhere. Arrive in the kinship of Garzón and find Francis Mallman’s culinary outpost, Garzón. Let him tease and please your palate with a lunch fit for the Gods, a fitting ending to a fantastic journey.
After lunch, transfer by helicopter to Punta del Este’s airport for a scenic flight along the coastline. Connect with your return flight to Buenos Aires and/or flight home.
Inclusions:
• Round-trip luxury ground transportation with professional driver throughout duration of tour
• Helicopter aerial tours as per itinerary
• Internal flights: Mendoza-Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires-Montevideo; Punta del Este-Buenos Aires
• English-speaking wine-specialized host throughout duration of tour
• 2 nights at Cavas Wine Lodge in Mendoza
• 1 night at Casa Antucura in Mendoza
• 3 nights at Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt in Buenos Aires
• 2 nights at The Belmont House in Montevideo
• 2 nights at Estancia Vik in José Ignacio
• Winery visits and all tastings as per itinerary
• Other activities and visits as per itinerary: city tours, market visits, tango lessons, cafés, etc.
• Gourmet a la carte meals with wine and gratuity: 11 lunches, 8 dinners, daily breakfast at hotel
