Mendoza

Mendoza – Vineyards with a View (6 days)

Day 1

Upon your arrival at the Mendoza Airport you will be taken to your hotel in nearby Chacras de Coria, which is on the outskirts of the city and in the heart of Mendoza’ wine country.  That evening you will dine at renowned Chef Francis Mallman’s 1884 Restaurant, located in a historic winery called Bodega Escorihuela.  This beautiful restaurant, which has been rated among the top ten most desirable restaurants in the world by a London Times list, will immediately set the mood for your culinary voyage.

Day 2

After breakfast at your hotel, you will embark on a 45 minute drive to visit the Zuccardi Family Winery.  There you will receive a guided tour of this magnificent facility and learn all about Mendoza’s wine region, observe the wine making process, conduct your own tasting and even visit an in-house art museum as well.  Don’t know too much about wine?  Don’t worry, if you are new to wine they’ll teach you all the basics and have you sniffing different aromas and tasting all the subtleties in no time.  After touring the winery, you will stroll over to the Zuccardi Family restaurant, a gorgeous location surrounded by vineyards.  The place alone will get you in the mood for lunch, which will include typical Argentine cuisine with a touch of Mendoza’s regional recipes. In the afternoon you will visit nearby olive oil and balsamic vinegar factories – yes, it will seem like you are in Italy!  In the evening we will take you to dinner at La Sal Cultural Restaurant.  This restaurant offers a fusion of old Mendoza traditions handed down from generation to generation and new and dynamic influences that make this a mandatory stop on any gastronomic adventure in Mendoza.   

Day 3

After breakfast you will receive your first cooking lessons with Federico Ziegler, Chef of La Bourgogne Restaurant at Finca & Bodega Vistalba de Carlos Pulenta (Carlos Pulenta?s Vistalba Vineyards and Winery). This place will take your breath away. Here, at the foot of the majestic Andean mountain range, you will find vineyards in practically every direction, a gorgeous winery, a world class restaurant, a stunning club with an underground lounge specifically designed for wine tastings, and an inviting lodge with views that will leave you speechless. But don?t let the beauty of it all distract you from the task at hand, for Chef Ziegler will guide you on preparing some delightful Mendoza style empanadas and some of his other favorite recipes as well. For lunch you will enjoy your own creations paired with some of the wineries finest selections. In the afternoon we will take you on a city tour of Mendoza. Dinner is on your own.

Day 4

You’ll really enjoy this day!  After breakfast we will take you on 1.5 hour drive to the Uco Valley, a spectacular place at the foot of the Andean mountain range.  There you will visit the Andeluna and Altus wineries, a sensory extravaganza.    Your eyes will take in breathtaking views while your palate goes for a ride.  “Ahhh” is generally the word of choice here.    You will receive your second cooking lesson at Altus and enjoy lunch based on your own creations again. After returning to Chacras de Coria and resting at your hotel (enjoying yourself can be tough work, we know), we’ll take you to dinner at Azafrán Restaurant.  The checkered floors and old wooden tables will bring home style cooking to mind.  But with innovative and creative twists in traditional recipes and over 300 wine labels to choose from, you’ll have to admit your Mom never cooked liked this.   

Day 5

After breakfast at your hotel, we’ll take you on an interesting art tour which will include stops at 3 different art studios.  Lunch is on your own and the afternoon is free for rest or shopping.  For dinner your last evening we will take you on a very special wine tasting and farewell dinner at La Cava de Cano.  This restaurant is set in the old residence of Don Guillermo Cano, a Governor of the Province of Mendoza from years past.  The combination of history, a cozy atmosphere, great food and fine wine will be a perfect finishing touch to your vacation.

Day 6

Breakfast, hotel check-out and transfer to the Mendoza airport.

 

Estimated Program Prices (contact us for an exact quote)

Lodging at Club Tapiz, Lares de Chacras or Finca Adalgisa (6 day program)
Price: US$2,200 per person     Non-Cooking Participants: US$2,025 per person
Single Occupancy:  Add US$350 per person.

Included:  Airport transfers, lodging (double occupancy), 2 cooking lessons, all meals as indicated on the schedule, tickets for any attractions listed on the schedule, and ground transportation during the tour.  Soft drinks and a reasonable amount of wine are served with lunches and dinners included in the program.

Not included:  Airfare, airport taxes, gratuities (tips), travel and medical insurance, alcoholic or other specialty drinks not included with program meals.

* As noted in our terms and conditions, circumstances may arise that will require Culinaria, at its own discretion, to make changes in program schedules and itineraries and/or in service providers.  In such cases, Culinaria will seek to minimize any changes and to substitute services for ones of equal or similar value.