Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
284
Bottle Your Own (& Maybe Buy a Bodega While You're at It)
Who wouldn't want to own his or her own piece of the Luján de Cuyo paradise?
You can become the proud owner of a vineyard estate, and bottle your own pre-
mium wine as part of
Finca Los Amigos
(www.fincalosamigos.com), one of a
number of similar projects in the area. The Mendoza Vineyard Village is a
150-hectare (370-acre) complex of vines that is to be subdivided into 25 individ-
ual vineyards and 50 estate homes. For prices starting at $33,000 (£22,300),
potential homeowners can become “vineyard members,” with access to an exclu-
sive resort that comes with oenologists to help you impress your friends.
impeccably detailed, with big beds. The ceilings and walls ar e cur ved, and bathr ooms
include soaker tubs. Each unit has a priv ate outdoor hot tub and a stunning upstairs
terrace—it's impossible to say which offers a better vie w of the sun setting behind the
Andes. A peaceful spa, a stoked wine cellar, and a first-rate restaurant are on-site as well.
Though it is far from town and inconvenient if your goal is to tour a lot, Cavass is ideal,
however, for those seeking seclusion and r omance. Ask about packages for multinight
stays.
Costa F lores s/n, Alt o A grelo.
&
261/15-454-4118
(c ell). w ww.cavaswinelodge.com. 14 units . $460
(£311) double; $580 (£392) suite. AE, MC, V.
Amenities:
Restaurant; wine cellar; pool; gym; spa; bicycles.
In room:
A/C, TV, CD players, high-speed Internet, minibar, fireplace, private deck, private Jacuzzi.
La Bourgogne
FRENCH This restaurant may be the best one in M endoza,
and it cer tainly riv als any other in the countr y. F amed chef J ean P aul Bondoux has
trusted local F ederico Zeigler with his signatur e blend of F rench techniques and local
ingredients. Set inside Carlos Pulenta's modern and ser ene Vistalba winery, the menu is
incredibly creative (cold avocado soup with fennel and onions) and surprising (pumpkin
and grapefruit ravioli in prawn broth). Fish of the day is served with watercress, couscous,
and wasabi crisps; duck br east is pr epared with chestnuts in a M albec sauce. The wine
list is exceptional—don't miss the Vistalba Corte B blends, and don't be shy about asking
your waiter or the friendly sommelier for suggestions. I t's now open for lunch only.
R Saenz Peña 3531.
&
261/498-9421.
www.carlospulentawines.com. Main courses $8-$15 (£5.40-£10).
AE, MC, V. Tues-Sat 12:30-3pm.
10
What to See & Do
Luján de Cuyo is home to many, many
bodegas.
We've selected the most visitor-friendly
and unique ones, to give you a taste of what is out there. Also worth considering are
Alta
Vista
(
&
261/496-4684;
www.altavistawines.com);
Terrazas de Los Andes
(
&
261/
488-0058;
www.terrazasdelosandes.com);
Familia Belasco
(
&
261/524-7864;
www.
familiabelasco.com), which has a fun and interesting scent-discovery room; and
Achaval
Ferrer
(
&
261/498-4874;
www.achaval-ferrer.com).
Bodegas
Bodega Catena Zapata
This strange M ayan temple is the sho wcase for one of
Argentina's most r espected and influential winemakers, N icolás Catena. H is journey
from California to the top of the crop in Argentina is legendary, and he is usually credited
for giving bir th to the M albec boom. The microclimate here is exemplary of the L uján
terroir.
I t's not a v ery personaliz ed or informativ e tour, but ther e is a shor t film that
