March 2022 - IDEAS South America Travel

Mendoza Wine Country – Make The Most of Your Visit

mendoza-wine-tourism

Mendoza Wine Country – Make The Most of Your Visit

Mendoza is one of the most scenic wine regions of the world. With more than 1,500 wineries spread out through the three main wine regions - Lujan de Cuyo, Maipu and Valle de Uco- wide open spaces with nothing but vines, Andes mountains and blue skies, and some of the best winery architecture in the world, it is a spot you don't want to miss.

We have listed some tips and recommendations that are essential to have a great experience and successful visit to Mendoza Wine Country.

• Make reservations for all wineries and restaurants with time in advance to help ensure availability.
• Plan on visiting only three wineries per day – three at maximum if you are having a winery lunch!
• Plan your trip by region – Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo or Uco Valley - as there is significant distance in between.
• If you go on your own, bring cash as many wineries do not accept credit cards.
• Tours generally last 60-90 minutes.
• Some wineries are closed Saturday and Sunday, as well as national holidays. Call the wineries in advance and check their opening days and hours.
• Use a recommended tour agency (like Ideas South America LLC!) -which make planning effortless.
• Take advantage of the unique opportunity to meet the winery owners and winemakers themselves at the wineries, and ask them as many questions as you like. They enjoy sharing their story!
• Visit The Vines of Mendoza's Tasting Room – and add tons of top quality wineries to your trip in one stop!

What Makes Mendoza Such An Amazing Wine Region?

Mendoza, Argentina is one of the best places in the world to drink wine and enjoy it with good food and company. The wineries range from small, family owned and cozy, to large production modern architectural masterpieces. What all have in common is a strong sense of heritage and commitment to quality – as well as a warmth unlike anywhere else in the world. Both in the air and in the people.

To meet the most adorable, top quality winemaker, go visit Carmelo Patti in Lujan de Cuyo and see him make amazing Malbecs all on his own. He is said to be a one-man army, making his wines single handedly with all the attention and care of a true master-craftsman. We think it’s his warmth and the humility of his surroundings, despite International acclaim of his wines, that make the experience so special.

While in Lujan, if you want to have amazing Sparkling wine (and who doesn't?), you can head to Chandon for a multi-course winery lunch.

If it’s an architectural masterpiece you’re after, Salentein in the Uco Valley offers great wines, gorgeous architecture and even an art gallery with modern and traditional exhibits that showcase regional and International talent. Their barrel room was designed to be a fabulous location for music concerts, with tremendous acoustics and barrels integrated into the décor.

While in the Uco Valley, you should also visit Clos de los Siete, a project of four Mendoza wineries that use distinctly different methods of French-influenced winemaking, run by Michel Rolland. Marcelo Pelleriti is the famed winemaker for Monteviejo and brings his passion for music and art into the space, with frequent art exhibits and an annual rock concert. Other wineries on the property are Mariflor and DiamAndes.

Just a few short minutes away, you can join the Gimenez Riili family's cozy winery, receiving a tour with one of the winery's handsome brothers, as well as an asado if you like. While their Gran Reserva Malbec is not to be missed, their Perpetuum Torrontes really steals the show.

The Vines of Mendoza is right next door, with 1,000 sprawling acres of vineyards, a state-of-the-art micro fermentation winery for more than 200 wines (now open to the public for tours), and The Vines Resort & Spa, opening in September 2013.

When in Mendoza, you will undoubtedly drink a great deal of fabulous Malbec, as well as the native white Torrontes, as well as many blends and perhaps even a Bonarda and Tempranillo. Be sure to try the Pinot Noir and Petit Verdot as well – these varietals take on an entirely different personality when grown in the new world sunshine and record altitudes. Read through the Tasting Notes to learn more about all these great grapes.

With Mendoza’s recent acclaim in Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler as a top hot spot for wine and luxury travel, as well as continuously growing wine accolades from Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate, Mendoza has established itself as a powerhouse with top quality wines in both the high and low yield categories.

This is just the beginning of your adventure in Mendoza wine country. See hundreds of photos and details on all Mendoza’s wineries in our Wineries Section.

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Self-drive Adventure to The Calchaquí Valleys

Self-drive Adventure to The Calchaquí Valleys

High-altitude vineyards, peppers drying in the sun and hand-woven ponchos in the same setting where native tribes and Spaniards fought hand-to-hand. From the Quebrada de las Conchas to Los Cardones National Park, passing through the Quebrada de las Flechas, an impressive tour of Salta in 160 km.

La Poma, Salta

Where to start the road trip to the Calchaqui Valleys in Salta

It is a perfect road trip to start in Salta city, stop in Cachi on the way to Cafayate. It is worth going north to La Poma and south to Santa María (Catamarca), passing through Colalao del Valle in Tucumán.

Do not be afraid of the gravel: it is nothing less than the national route 40, the backbone of our country. It is usually in very good condition outside of the rainy season (in summer). Even in January and February, they are not forgotten roads by God's grace: they can be closed for hours, or even days, but sooner or later the National Highway machines pass by.

The national route 68 that connects Salta with Cafayate is all asphalt, 190 km of pavement that were completed in 1979, after a titanic work of modifying the layout to shorten distances. At that time, the attractions closest to Cafayate, such as Los Médanos and Quebrada de las Conchas (with the incredible surroundings of the Amphitheater and it’s amazing natural acoustics), were not a scenic excursion, but rather a true road challenge. A little more gentle may be the Cuesta del Obispo, a splendid road that connects, in mere 160 km, the capital of Salta with Cachi, passing through the TinTin straight. It is about 12 km road framed by the cacti and the mountains, an Inca memory path that the pre-Hispanic man would have traced marking it with torches at night. La Cuesta itself is only 20 km of gravel, and if they never finish being paved it is because it is proven that the pavement would never resist the landslides caused by the summer rains.

So it is advisable to avoid the Cuesta del Obispo when it rains, not only for safety, but also because you would miss the Valle Encantado, Los Cardones National Park, the Quebrada de Escoipe, among other landscapes that the road offers. In total, little more than 500 km to do with various stops and the desire to chat quietly, respecting the siesta, getting out of the car, taking a genuine interest in this region that knew how to live isolated and today maintains that rare atmosphere of silence.

Cachi

Time moves at a different pace in Cachi. An important colonial town, it shares with Molinos a significant difference in terms of its foundation: the origin of both was the Hacienda; They are not towns formed around reductions or parishes of religious origin. Cachi was the fiefdom of Don Felipe de Aramburu, and his adoptive son Benjamín Zorrilla. Until the mid-1950s, the town itself was very small, only seven blocks. However, the lack of communication was legend. There were no telephones, and even in the 1960s the only way to connect was by letter or telegram. In 1967 they installed a device that communicated via Radio Pacheco with the rest of the country. Ruiz Moreno recounts in his book: "This was a unique advance for the inhabitants who queued to speak. The municipal employee who carried out this task put on a true announcer's voice, because of which he was a Municipal Councilor reader. His name was Valois Farfan". Before Cachi was filled with cement and two-story houses, in 1978 the first urban preservation plan for the town was carried out. If the cardón wood signs, the street lamps and the whitewashed houses attract attention today, know that it is not by chance. It is beauty on purpose, and welcome. Sit down to contemplate it in the square, you can visit the Archaeological Museum next to the church that offers a chronological journey from the times of the hunters and gatherers to the arrival of the Spanish. At the Oliver Wine Bar you can try the same empanadas that represented Argentina in the "Taste of London", by the hand of Fernando Trocca and Vicenta Aramayo, the local empanadera. And Donald Hess, the owner of Colomé, launched in 2015 Altura Máxima, a wine that, in addition to being top of the range, is top of the range: it boasts of being made with the highest vineyards in the world, at 3,111 meters high.

Cafayate

Settled in the foothills of the Andes mountain range in Argentina is the fertile Calchaqui Valley, part of the country’s revered north west wine region and home to the highest vineyards on the planet.

Things you can do in Calafate:

• Museo Arqueologico: This private museum is a collection from the excavation done by archaeologist Rodolfo Bravo and is worth visiting to check out the ceramics, from the black and gray wares of the Candelaria and Aguada cultures to late Diaguita and Inca pottery.

• Wine Museum: Set in the grounds of the old museum known as "La Encantada Winery”, this is a dedicated wine museum which defines the unique characteristics of Calchaquies Valleys and its ultimate wines.

• Rio Colorado: This is an amazing hike which begins at a distance of around 6 kilometers from the centre of the town and you will be able to explore more if you get a local guide. The hike includes five scenic waterfalls and the water is fresh and clean both to swim and drink.

• Quebrada de Cafayate: Valley famous for rock formations caused due to the erosion of wind and soil. There are amazing rock formations like the Giant, the Obelisk, the Priest and the Frog, the sinking Titanic. The most alluring one is the devil’s throat which is a home to a gigantic natural amphitheatre with 45 degrees cut that provides ample space to climb and is a spectacular sight.

• You can taste the incredible local produce Torrontes (white) and Malbec (red) wine at any of the wine yards and also shop for them at a cheaper price. The goat cheese at Cabras de Cafayate is also a must!

QUEBRADA DE LAS FLECHAS

If agricultural livestock production is the truest image of the valleys (it was always a highly prized region for the purity of the air that produced healthy crops, free from the pests of the more humid places), travelers like to think that the postcard of this trip is the landscape of the Quebrada de las Flechas. It is a short sector (between Km 4380 and Km 4410 of RN 40) that is part of the Angastaco Natural Monument, declared as such in 1995. The Provincial Law protects the strange geoforms inclined like arrowheads where it narrows and passes the Calchaquí river. It is advisable to go in the afternoon, and with time to climb one of them and admire the surroundings from above. After passing through the town of Angastaco, stop in El Carmen to see its 1780 church.

CAMINO DE LOS ARTESANOS

They are less than 10 km in the surroundings of Seclantás, on the other side of the river, along a minor road that has the nomenclature 55 S. There are the small ranches with the loom under the carob tree, very close to the clay oven. Few have signs, and even fewer products to sell: ponchos are usually ordered, premeditated. As did Tero Guzmán, the most famous of the Salta stakeholders, who sent one of his ponchos to John Paul II. The photo of the Supreme Pontiff dressed as a gaucho went around the world. When Francisco took office, the Tero did not spin without a spindle. He came to give her another poncho in June, shortly before he died, at the age of 75, on 9/3/2013. It goes without saying that it was, as tradition dictates, red and black: red was used by Los Infernales, the soldiers of Güemes, who added the bow, neck and black stripe as a sign of mourning, before the death of their general in 1821.

Telero de Seclantás, Salta

ACSIBI

They are amazing caves with red folds of very strange shapes, which are accessed by the bed of a dry river, about 15 km from Seclantás.

Seclantás is the only town in the Salta Valley that is on the other side of the Calchaquí River. You have to go through its church and have lunch or dinner at Inti Raymi, one of the best restaurants with authentic regional cuisine, without deco, fripperies, or a boutique atmosphere.

To get to the Acsibi Caves, today called Quebrada del Rincón, it is necessary to go with a guide. It is a place that is still little known, that hardly anyone visits on their debut in the Valleys, a magical and very different landscape, to which a separate day must be dedicated. The exit involves advancing about 17 km through the dry bed of a river, walking about two hours through a magnificent red ravine in the most unlikely ways, to finally bend down and enter the splendid caves that were once part of the Hacienda de Urbina, when the Malcachisco Indians panned gold for the Spaniards until they revolted and left no soul standing. It happened in 1603. From then until now, a time lapse of more than 400 years in which you will be surprised not to see any urbanization. At most, the ruin of some house with thick adobe walls and cardón doors that is, who knows, 200 years old?

ACSIBI. SECLANTÁS. SALTA.

COLOMÉ

It is one of the strangest landmarks that the trip proposes. An appointment that combines an unexpected lunch in a cozy bistro with a visit to a museum of light installations entirely dedicated to James Turrell, an internationally renowned North American artist. No one knew him because of these payments and that contrast, that of the gravel and the isolation of the place, versus the ultra-modern of the artistic proposal, is the one that most astonishes Argentines, and can irritate foreigners, who sometimes do not They see with such good eyes that they have crossed the world to find in the last corner of Salta the same thing that they could have seen in Berlin, Hong Kong or San Francisco. In any case, the experience of Unseen Blue, the great work mounted in a square atrium that invites you to lie down and watch the sunset lit up from the Calchaquí sky as it changes color, is something not to be missed. In total there are nine light rooms in a space of 1,700 m2. In 2018 the ranch, which has a nine-room hotel, reopened to the public.

Our guides know how best to explore this unforgiving landscape, bringing you to interesting and secluded spots to enjoy privileged views of this beautiful part of Argentina.

Colomé, Salta

Speak to one of our expert travel designers about visiting the northwest of Argentina and they will help you plan an unforgettable trip.

Road Trips: Northwest Argentina

Road Trips: Northwest Argentina

How to organize an unforgettable trip through the arid beauty of northwestern Argentina

It is one of the most visited destinations by Argentines and foreigners both in summer and winter. The region’s incredible landscapes and the charm of its native traditions and customs make this territory a unique place to visit.

The Argentine Northwest (NOA) is one of the indigenous regions of the country made up of the provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja and Santiago del Estero. There, just by looking at the horizon and appreciating its varied colors, the traveler is already invited to immerse himself in its customs and traditions; that invites you to enjoy the tranquility and also challenge the traveler to adventure. It has about 300,000 square kilometers with abrupt climatic and landscape transitions: the Puna (Jujuy) descends from its 4000 meters ( 13,000 feet) to the Chaco plains of Salta.

Its peaks over 6,000 meters high (20,000 feet), the remains of ancient civilizations, adobe villages, Jesuit chapels, rivers, streams, wineries, crafts, everything is part of an arid landscape, warm and mysterious at the same time.

Visiting several destinations of interest in a single trip is often a tempting idea when planning vacations. The reasons usually range from saving money to the comfort of going through different places in a one complete trip.

A duration of between 10 and 15 days to tour the NOA is a good option, it all depends on the land sections and the way in which the destinations are combined.

The Argentine North can be considered as a block in terms of geographical and cultural characteristics. With a flight to one of the capitals, plus the rental of a car or some excursions you can explore it in depth. It is a good option to think of a trip of several days - from 10 to 15 is the ideal - and to explore more than one province.

If you decide to travel to this region, the best way to do it is to fly to Salta and from there you can add provinces and cities to visit. It is the best option since there are more frequent flights with some airlines to that province. It is also recommended to hire a local tour company or guide if you don't know the area very well. The routes usually have narrow sections where it is very important to pay attention to the state of the roads and have the right vehicle according to the challenge of the area.

In Salta and Jujuy you can find the main car rental companies. It is important to travel the region in a resistant vehicle and take spare tires just in case.

The routes on the way to Cafayate within the Calchaquí Valleys are in good conditions and can be traveled just the same, even if you do not have a 4×4 vehicle.

Some of the sections that we really love include Cafayate, Amaicha del Valle and the Quilmes Ruins in Tucumán. From Cafayate or Quilmes Ruins you can continue to the Tafí del Valle area by car until you arrive at the capital city of Tucuman.

It is also very interesting to visit the Museum of Archeology and High Mountain museum (MAAM) where the mummies of the three frozen children found at the summit of the Llullaillaco Volcano in 1999 are located. A great local legend to know and admire that the MAAM put it very well in value and historical context.

There are many boutique hotels in Cafayate and exquisite tours inside the various vineyards are also organized. The visit is usually completed with a delicious lunch or a specialized wine tasting.

The town of Cafayate in Salta is known worldwide for its wineries. The vast majority of them specialize in the cultivation and large-scale production of Torrontés, one of the grapes belonging to the most emblematic white variety of Argentina, which is produced only in this country.

Some of the most beautiful wineries to visit are: Nanni, Etchart, El porvenir, Domingo Hermanos and Lavaque, among others. Torrontés belongs to the group of "criollo" varieties whose main characteristic is the mixture of flavors, among which are: chamomile, fruit salad, peaches, honey, orange peel, muscatel grape and oregano.

The Calchaquí Valleys can also be explored in the same way connecting Salta City with Cachi and Cafayate. This region can be visited in 3 days and 2 nights or even 2 days and 1 night. But we strongly recommend spending at least 2 nights to explore Cachi, the wine country and use Cachi as the base to visit the Quilmes Ruins and the Calcachi Valleys in depth.

This route is really beautiful and presents a unique landscape beauty. The section can be done along Provincial Route 33, passing through the Quebrada del Escoipe and Valle Encantado. It has one of the most attractive panoramic views. You can continue 20 km in "zig zag" to Piedra del Molino, one of the highest points located at 3348 meters above sea level, a place where condors can be seen.

In Jujuy there are full day excursions from the capital of that province to the Quebrada de Humahuaca, for example. There are also alternatives for those who want to stay in a destination in that area such as Tilcara or the salt flats, famous for their photos that travel the world.

Keep in mind that, due to the height, the temperature usually drops at night. There, the thermal amplitude exists. Yala, Posta de Lozano, Volcano, Tumbaya, Purmamarca, Maimará, Angosto del Perchel, Huacalera, Uquía, Humahuaca, Azul Pampa, Tres Cruces are some of the favorite amazing places that can be visited while in Jujuy. Other very unique and interesting places that are coming out of the ravine are Abra Pampa, Puesto del Marqués, Pumahuasi, La Quiaca.

Important Considerations before you book your trip:

• The North has demand all year round, two high seasons stand out: winter (July and August) and Easter. Therefore, it is essential that you book tickets, accommodation and excursions in advance, which are also cheaper if we confirm them months in advance, especially if you want to make the trip on important dates such as: Carnival (end of February and beginning of March in Jujuy and Cafayate), Fiesta del Milagro (September in Salta) or winter holidays (July).

• During the extreme rainy season (January and February) it is not an impediment to make trips, but when the rainfall is high, there may be road closures.

• Bring a light coat in summer if you are going to visit the mountain area, remember that the nights are cold.

• In winter, consider bringing a lot of clothing, especially if you are going to visit the Puna; and also light clothing since it can be very hot during the day.

• If you are going to travel on a high-altitude excursion, you must take the proper precautions in health matters or consult your doctor in case of any pathology related to altitude.

• The north of Argentina maintains the green of the vegetation and it rains less in the months of March to June, as well as in September to December. It is the ideal time since not only are the landscapes more dazzling, but the temperature, since it is not excessive, is very pleasant and the prices are much lower since it is low season.

Speak to one of our expert travel designers about visiting the northwest of Argentina and they will help you plan an unforgettable trip.

Peninsula Valdes When to Go

Peninsula Valdes When to Go

When to go

Argentina is so big that each region has its own climate. This means that there is always somewhere to go, whatever the time of year. Summer is from December to March, Spring from September to November, Autumn from March to May and Winter from June to August.

Generally speaking, the best time to visit Patagonia is from October to April, or between June and September for skiing. If you are interested in fauna watching, you should not miss the largest Magellan Penguin Colony of Patagonia which is located in Punta Tombo.

PUNTA TOMBO PENGUIN COLONY

Punta Tombo is the most important Magellan Penguin Colony in Patagonia. Almost a million of penguins arrive at this every year in order to breed. The first penguins arrive in September and stay here up to mid-March but the best season to see them is after November, once the babies are born.

One of the greatest features of this natural reserve is the fact that you can literally walk among the penguins, follow them and learn their habits, see how they feed their babies, the rites of pairing, the fights for the defense of their territories, how they build their nests, and the restless walks they take to and from the sea. In other words, you can closely watch these tender little animals like you never imagined you could...

There is one requirement: even if you are inches away from a penguin, you must never touch or bother it. You must not forget (not even for a moment) that you are inside a fauna reservation, a special place devoted to preserve this species and its natural habitat. Besides, although penguins are harmless and they are not aggressive at all, if they feel threatened they will defend themselves with their strong, sharp beak.

This fauna reservation was created in 1979, by means of a decree of the Chubut Province, with the purpose of protecting one of the sites with the most diverse fauna within Argentina, and the greatest continental Magellan Penguins colony.

General Features

Punta Tombo is surrounded by the typical lonesome and arid landscapes of the Patagonia Plateau. But its emptiness is just an illusion; if you learn to observe in detail, you will discover all the life wealth hidden in its bushes and under the endless looking sky. Of course, there are also lambs (typical Patagonian livestock), as well as guanacos and choiques (ostriches), maras (Patagonian hares), foxes, and martinetas.

Once you start getting closer to the coast, you will be surprised by a hectic fauna activity. This rocky territory hosts a great quantity of sea birds: southern seagulls, skúas, royal and black necked cormorants, Antarctic pigeons and petrels. Also, these coasts are frequently visited by sea lions as well as the southern whales, dolphins and orcas.

Whale-watching season

From July to December, Southern Right whales can be seen from the coast of the Valdés Peninsula and Puerto Madryn. They migrate to the peninsula every year to mate.

The cities of Puerto Madryn, Trelew, Rawson and the little village of Puerto Pirámides, (this one in the Peninsula de Valdés), are the entrance to the extraordinary world of the Southern Whale and Dolphins. Every year they come to the coast of Patagonia to accomplish their eternal rite of mating.

An unforgettable excursion of sea fauna watching

The wale watching is done from Pirámides and there are six companies authorized in the Province for this. They take the necessary care not to produce environmental impact and not to alter the whales' behavior.
The trip starts going along the coast in both directions and then getting one or two miles into the sea, to get in touch with the whales.

Contact Us and let us help you plan a perfect trip to the Puerto Madryn. Let our travel experts help you plan your trip effortlessly and work on an unforgettable experience in Patagonia.