Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
285
provides a good background and a tour giv es an insight into one of the most impor tant
families in Mendoza.
Cobos, Agrelo.
&
261/490-0214.
www.catenawines.com. Reservations required. Free tours with stan-
dard tasting Mon-Fri 9:30am and 11am, 2 and 3:30pm; Sat 9:30 and 11am.
Bodega Ruca Malen
This is one of many F rench-owned
bodegas
in the L uján
area. The state-of-the-art orange brick building is known for its outstanding four-course
bodega
lunches that highlight pairings fr om the winery's top two lines: R uca Malen and
Kinien. The guides are entertaining, and the atmosphere is posh and generous. Tour costs
are discounted if you purchase wine.
RN 7, K m 1059.
&
261/410-6214.
www.bodegarucamalen.com. Reser vations r equired. English-lan-
guage tours Mon-Fri 10am and 3pm, Sat 10am; t ours with lunch M on-Sat noon and 2pm. Tours $10
(£6.80). Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat 10am-12:30pm.
El Lagar Carmelo Patti
Finds
Patti is the r eal deal—a winemaker who w elcomes
each visitor like a family member, while maintaining traditions that date back centuries.
A bohemian ar tist and wine scholar , he'll offer y ou a tasting straight fr om the barr el,
which is a rarity. Señor Patti's English isn't great, so it's a good idea to bring along a guide
if you don't speak Spanish well, to help you appreciate him fully (see “ Tour Operators,”
earlier in this chapter). When it's time for a tasting, see if y ou can convince Carmelo to
uncork a bottle of the 2002 G ran Assemblage blend.
San Martín 2614.
&
261/498-1379.
Tour reservations required. Free tours Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
Finca Decero
A brand-ne w single-vineyard winer y (they make all their wine fr om
one single piece of land) that 's making high-quality wines in their trademar k “by hand”
style, it's worth visiting D ecero to see their modern and incr edibly gentle basket pr ess.
They have a very good sit-down “tasting pairing” tour that includes a deli plate.
Bajo las Cumbres 9003, Agrelo.
&
261/524-4747.
Reservations required. Tours $8 (£5.40), a vailable by
request only Mon-Fri 9:30am-3pm and Sat-Sun 10am-2pm.
10
Luigi Bosca
The Arizu family, which o wns one of the most pr olific wineries in the
country, has welcomed tourists for decades—so many tourists, in fact, that buses line up
outside to get in. R egardless, it's worth a stop to see inside a v ast operation. Don't miss
the champagne either.
San Martín 2044.
&
261/498-1974.
www.luigibosca.com. Tour reservations required. Tours $5 (£3.40).
Tours run 10:30am, 3 and 5pm.
Tapiz
This winemaker is the creator of the label known as Zolo in North America.
Your tour begins with a horse-drawn carriage ride thr ough the property. After a chance
to touch and feel the vines, head in for a taste of whatever wine they're featuring that day.
All tours ar e private. The guide, Car olina Fuller, is an unpr etentious professional who
makes you feel like you are the only visitor. They also have a fabulous lodge and r estau-
rant in Maipú (p. 287).
RP 15, K m 32. A grelo
&
261/490-0202.
www.tapiz.com.ar. Reser vations required. Tour cost of $8.50
(£5.75) waived with purchase of wine or lunch at Terruños. Free tour with standard tasting Mon-Fri 10am,
noon, 2 and 4pm; Sat 10am and noon only.
Vistalba
Carlos Pulenta, the man behind Vistalba, is a star here for his dedication to
quality and
terroir.
The winery is a vision of technological wonder, while the downstairs
tasting room is stunning, with its natural wall.
