The Wine Road: Wineries in Mendoza

While in Mendoza, it is impossible to resist the temptation to visit the wineries that have made this province so famous. Mendoza is one of the most important winemaking poles in Argentina. Its wines have acquired worldwide recognition for their taste, aroma and color, especially its "malbec".

We resolved it would be best to do the complete day tour organized by the people from Aventura & Wine in our first approach to the wineries in a sensitive and responsible way. We were promised a trip through our senses, where we woud go back to the ancestral dialogue man had with the land. Under this premise, we let ourselves be carried away along the roads of Mendoza, escorted by local guides, in a real customized tour.


On the Route of Wine

Very early, we left from the capital of the province towards one of the most important winemaking areas in Argentina: the Luján de Cuyo region. Eugenia, our guide, forecast it would be an excellent day to taste the wine from the most prestigious wineries in the area. “When the trip ends, you will have learnt everything about the varieties and the various winemaking regions in our country”― our hostess guaranteed.

During the trip, we had the loyal and constant company of the Andes Mountain Range, with its snow-capped mountains and its countless rocks. “If I was an artist, I would keep painting this scenery on a canvas” ― said Ana, another guide who was traveling with us.

Before we could even notice, we had reached the Tapiz winery, our first top on the way. We were welcomed by Carolina, who explained to us that the wine is born in the vineyard. The guide gradually introduced us into a totally new world. Words such as “pruning, harvest, vintage, oak and fermentation” began to sound more and more repeatedly in my mind. After the lecture, we were invited to taste the wine from the casks and the tanks. A gratifying and unforgettable experience that turned us into real wine “experts”.


White, Red and Sparkling

At lunchtime, we stopped at the Ruca Malen winery, where we were welcomed by Mariela's broad and friendly smile. This small modern winery seems to have a soul of its own. We visited the cellar and we learnt that wines with a longer life are made there, where the aroma of the wine is mingled with the smell of oak. While we were touring around, we came across the owner: Jean Pierre Thibaud, who was the president of Chandon Argentina for 10 years.

Afterwards, we headed for a special hall where lunch was expecting us. Everything had been prepared by Lucas, the winery's cheff. We got a beautiful sight of the Del Plata mountain range in the core of the Andes from the large windows of the hall.
During lunch, I understood the combination of wine and food, in which the taste of the former stands out.


A boutique in the Core of the Mountain Range

After lunch, it was time to leave towards a new venue. Thus, we arrived at “lo del Carmelo Patti” (Carmelo Patti's). The only information we had been given so far was that Carmelo was one of the best enologists in Argentina and that his winery was classified as one of the so-called “boutique” wineries.

As we tasted the wine from his winery, Carmelo was excited to talk about his production as if it was one of his children. He described its birth and the cares he had had to take as it grew up, always alert to every detail. Already in the casks, we tasted a riper wine and its incredible assemblage, a blend of four varieties, which awakens amazing sensations as it is sampled. It is hard to describe. It needs to be tasted!

When I met Carmelo, my vision about wineries changed completely. I understood that there is something irreplaceable beyond technology to make a good wine: the art and the love transmitted by a good enologist. We said our good-byes with a hug and a determined “see you soon”.

Now, with a glass in my hand, I recall the effort of nature, the hand of man on each fruit of the vine, the magnificent Andes Mountain Range and the people I met, and as I drink the wine, a smile is drawn upon my face.