The Best Vineyards in Mendoza Argentina
July 3rd, 2009Argentine wine is hot right now and Mendoza is the country’s wine capital. Here are the best vineyards in the region. There are 1000 vineyards in Mendoza, Argentina. Maybe more by the time you finish reading this. That’s how fast Mendoza’s wine scene is growing.
Mendoza, two hours by plane from Buenos Aires, is the heart and soul of Argentina’s wine country, where European settlers introduced the ancient craft of winemaking in the 19th century. The soil and climate of the Mendoza area make this ideal wine country. It’s also the adventure tourism center of Argentina’s Cuyo region, offering world-class hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, horseback riding and skiing, all within reasonable driving distance of downtown Mendoza. But wine is the main draw in Mendoza, and before you go, it’s best to get a primer on the local grapes. The tourist can make the famous “Route of wine”. Argentine vineyards share recipes and techniques with tourists. On many tours, visitors are encouraged to get up close and personal with barrels, equipment, and grapes. Most vineyard tours require reservations, and most include a sample tasting afterwards. If you are a wine lover, you can learn a lot and enjoy an incredible vacations.
Vendimia Festival
All year long, Mendoza gears up for the festival that celebrate the harvesting of its grapes: the Festival de la Vendimia. The festival started in 1936 and grows each year, recently seemingly for the benefit of tourists who flock the area to enjoy Mendoza’s biggest annual party.
The event of the Argentine wine industry calendar, the Vendimia (wine harvest) festival attracts local and international wine lovers to Mendoza every March for a week of parties and parades. It’s a heady mix of jet set pomposity and provincial traditions that culminates in a colorful pageant held in a Greek-style amphitheater.
This is an event not to be missed!
