Yesterday we did a tour of the Lujan de Cuyo wine growing area. It is the oldest wine growing region in Argentina and is famous around the world for its red wines, particularly its Malbec. Our small group included an Irish couple, a doctor from the states, our driver, our tour guide and us. Our guide, Jose, spoke perfect English and was very knowledgeable about the Mendoza area as well as wine growing. He was also very keen on geography and, despite having never travelled to Canada, knew a lot about our country, the various provinces, even our interprovincial trade barriers. We were picked up in a comfortable van at 8:45 am and returned to the hotel at 5:30 pm. We drove through the outskirts of the city into the countryside and visited four different wineries. We did tours and tastings at the first three, and had a superb multi-course course tasting menu at the final winery with food at a quality we had not yet experienced in Argentina. The first winery was a small family run winery called Bodega Familia Cassone with a charming owner, Federico, who proudly talked about his family business. The second winery, Bodega Pulenta Estate, was very large and located at the highest elevation in the Cujo area. It is owned by two grandsons of the founder of the Famous Trapiche winery who had branched out and developed their own winery. Coincidentally our guide at this winery, Connie, was the wife of the owner of the first winery which made for some amusing comments on her part. She knew the business thoroughly and also had a great personality and sense of humour. Our tastings here were paired with a variety of cheeses, quince jelly and nuts. At the third winery, Bodega Dante Robino, the tour emphasized the making of sparkling wines although we tasted Pinots and reds as well. The wines were all interesting and unique and we learned a lot about why the soil and climate here have made it one of the world's great wine producing regions. The final winery, Bodega Casarena, was all about pairing fine wine with superb food. We had lots of time to enjoy a wonderful meal before returning to the hotel.
Oscar (driver) and José (guide)
Winery Number One:
Winery Owner Federico
Malbec vine
Wines produced at Bodega Familia Cassone
Tasting Room at Bodega Familia Cassone
Second Winery: Bodega Pulenta Estate
New wing of the old winery at Pulenta Estate
Nets used to protect against hail. Birds are not an issue; hail is.
Roll out the barrels!
Ready for tasting - all nicely pre-poured
Our guide, Connie
Third Winery: Bodega Dante Robino
Wally at entrance to winery
Vineyard and foothills of the Andes
Giant barrels at right
The steps of making of sparkling wine
Our wine hostess at Dante Robino with sparkling wine
Ready for tasting at Dante Robino
Fourth Winery: Bodega Casarena
Dining room with windows to the vineyards and foothills
Wine Pairing Meal:
The menu (for foodies and wine lovers only)
Fennel Risotto and avocado ice cream
Marinated rabbit and pears with carrot emulsion and crunchy honey
Silverside "buñuelo" and spicy mashed peas
Oxtail in pepper pastry and amaranth tabbouleh
Roasted beef tenderloin, mushroom spaghetti, potato Spunta tile and garden shoots
Chamomile and apple frozen
Homemade cheeses and Mendocinian Sweets
End of the meal: am I still eating or too full to move?
Olive trees by the vines: note irrigation method
The foothills of the Andes with glimpses of the mountains
Still standing after all that food and wine!!
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