Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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a historic building. Their wines have been receiving many international awards, and their
bilingual guides are excellent.
To the south of Chacras is the Museo de Bellas Artes de Mendoza, San Martín 3651
( & 261/496-0224; admission $1/70p), also kno wn as the M useo Fader, after its chief
painter, F ernando Fader. H oused in a brick mansion surr ounded b y a lo vely gar den,
rooms are dedicated to national and international ar tists.
Farther do wn the same r oad is Bodega Lagar de, S an M artín 1745 ( & 261/498-
0011; www.lagarde.com.ar), one of the oldest and most traditional wineries in Mendoza,
with the credo that wines should reflect the vineyards. It is a relaxed, friendly winery that
hasn't been slicked up for tourists, so it 's a bit untidy. The tour includes a fun lesson in
champagne bottling, and they now offer an extensive five-course country-style lunch for
$45 (£30).
Chacras de Coria After Dark
Some of Mendoza's top nightclubs are in Chacras de Coria, side b y side along the Pana-
mericano H ighway. S ome of the names ar e ev er-changing, but look for La G uanaca,
Pasión, or Cemento.
LUJAN DE CUYO
17km (11 miles) S of Mendoza
Just south of Chacras de Coria, L uján de C uyo proudly proclaims itself “La Tierra del
Malbec,” the land of M albec. The area's dry, hot weather and high altitudes make it an
ideal gr owing place for full-bodied wines. I n the distance, the eternally sno wcapped
Cordón del P lata mountain range dominates the vie ws. A large ar ea made up of a fe w
sprawling towns, this is the place to explor e the success and allur e of Argentina's most
hyped vino tinto. The town of Luján de Cuyo, at the center of the r egion, offers little to
visitors except for a few great ice-cream shops.
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Getting There
Luján de Cuyo is a v ast area. The main bodegas, in and ar ound Agrelo and Pedriel, can
be accessed b y public bus no . 10 fr om downtown Mendoza, which takes y ou into the
center of Luján. From there, you need to take a taxi to outlying areas. If you are driving,
take Hwy. 40 south of Mendoza.
Getting Around
If you've arrived by bus, grab a taxi fr om the center of town to reach the bodegas. If you
are driving, stick to main r oads and follow well-marked signs to each bodega. None are
too far from a main national or pr ovincial highway, and most are well marked.
Visitor Information
The Visitor Information Center, 1000 Saenz Peña ( & 261/498-1912 ), is open M on-
day through Friday from 8:30am to 6pm and on w eekends from 10am to 4pm.
Where to Stay & Dine
In addition to the restaurants in this section, many of the bodegas listed below in “What
to See & Do” also serve lunch.
Cavas Wine Lodge This lodge is an oasis of luxury amid a vast vineyard, with the
High Andes ser ving as a stunning backdr op. Everything here is priv ate, high-end, and
the feeling is definitiv ely ex clusive. Suites ar e scatter ed two-b y-two in spacious adobe
bungalows throughout the vineyard, all facing west to the mountains. I nside, rooms are
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