Argentina

Wine Country Excursions in Mendoza, Argentina

Itinerary VIP Mendoza / Uco Valley - 5 Days / 5 nights

Arrival Day: You will be greeted by your bilingual host or hostess in the VIP lounge at the Mendoza airport, then driven by private car to your hotel, the Mendoza Park Hyatt, about a fifteen minute drive. The Hyatt is a deluxe European-style hotel ideally located in the city. After freshening up, your host and driver will take you into the nearby wine country for a visit to Familia Zuccardi Winery for lunch, followed by a tour and tasting. Afterwards, you'll have the option of visiting another winery, La Rural and their wine museum, for example, or returning to town for an orientation city tour and afternoon coffee or tea. Your host will leave you at the hotel to relax early evening. Spa treatments can be arranged. Your host will pick you up at the hotel and take you out for cocktails and a fine dinner in one of Mendoza's best restaurants. Here you can sample a variety of wines with the various courses of your meal. We can also arrange for a distinguished winery owner to join you. Overnight at Park Hyatt.

Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel, then a beautiful drive to Terrazas de los Andes Winery. Located in the district of Pedriel, this area is considered of the best pedigree in terms of wine growing quality. Terrazas is the fine wines division of Moet & Chandon. You will be greeted by the Terrazas winemakers who will give you a tour of the winery, followed by a tasting. (For those who want to visit as many wineries as possible in a day, we could stop off on the way to Terrazas at wineries that could include LaGarde, Alta Vista, Vina Amalia, Luigi Bosca, or others.) A short drive to the Chandon Winery. An orientation presentation and sparkling wine tasting, followed by a sumptuous private lunch. After lunch you will travel to Club Tapiz, a delightful small lodge surrounded by the Tapiz vineyards and adjacent to their original winery. Take a siesta, lounge by their pool, or walk through the vineyards.
Tonight you will dine in the excellent Club Tapiz restaurant, and enjoy a sampling of Tapiz fine wines. Overnight at Club Tapiz. (or if you prefer, a return to Mendoza for overnight at the Hyatt.)

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Day 3: After breakfast, a pleasant drive to the Catena Zapata Winery. This is one of the most beautiful and striking wineries in the world; designed as a replica of a Mayan pyramid. You will take a tour of the winery and enjoy a private tasting session in the elegant tasting room. A short drive to the Dolium Winery. This is a small boutique winery owned by Mario Giadorou. Mario is a successful engineer and has built this winery with some radical concepts. For example, the entire winery is built underground to maintain ideal temperature controls. Tour the winery and tasting, followed by a private lunch on the top floor terrace overlooking the vineyards and the Andes. Late afternoon drive to the Septima Winery. Septima is nestled into the foothills of the Andes, a relatively new winery owned by the Spanish group, Codorniu. Tour and tasting. As an option, instead of another winery tour, we can arrange horseback riding, hiking, golf, shopping, or a relaxing massage. This evening your host will take you out for cocktails, then to another fine restaurant that can include "1884", the historic Francis Mallman restaurant located in the old Escorihuela Winery. Overnight at the Hyatt.

Day 4: After breakfast, a drive through the countryside to the splendid Uco Valley. This is a rural area close to the Andes and ninety kilometers south of Mendoza City. Your destination is Estancia "Los Chulengos". Here you will ride horseback in the mystic foothills to take in the awe-inspiring scenery. After the ride, you'll enjoy a typical Argentine asado (barbecue) with the snow-capped peaks of the Andes looking over your shoulder. The asado will include roasted lamb, various prime cuts of Argentine beef, a variety of sausages, empanadas, fresh salads and bread, and of course, a splendid selection of hearty wines. After lunch--A short drive to the Salentein Winery, one of the most famous in Valle de Uco. Orientation tour and private tasting. Then a drive up to Posada Salentein, a comfortable private hosteria in the Andes foothills. Relax and settle into the lodge. Enjoy the pool or we can schedule a massage. You can also take a walk through the vineyards, or along a trout stream. Dinner at the lodge with a further sampling of fine Salentein wines. Overnight at Posada Salentein.

Day 5: After breakfast you'll drive out through the foothill countryside to visit the Clos de Los Siete complex in Vista Flores that includes the Monteviejo and Flecha de los Andes Wineries. This is one of Mendoza's most storied winery projects. Here you will enjoy an orientation tour and private lunch at Monteviejo, along with a tour and tasting at Flecha. After lunch you'll continue south through the Uco Valley to the Finca La Celia Winery for tours and tastings. If you would like some exercise, La Celia has a wonderful stable for horseback riding through their vineyards, and up to their private reservoir. The scenery is awe-inspiring with the Andes as your backdrop. Drive back to Mendoza. Relax and freshen up at the Hyatt, then out for dinner at another top Argentine restaurant, or to the home of a winery owner for a private dinner. Overnight at the Hyatt.

Day 6: Breakfast, then your host will escort you back to Mendoza airport and help you with your VIP check-in for your departure.

The Cost: for this VIP all-inclusive package, or your customized version of it, is $450 per person per day -- $2,250 total per person. The charge is based on 5 nights, no charge for the departure day. This itinerary can also be customized with less expensive options. Prices will be quoted based on the options you choose.

Choose from options such as Fly Fishing, Dorado Fishing and Wing Shooting, Ski Las Lenas, Rafting, Horseback riding,Golfing, Kayaking, Mountain biking, Treking & Climbing,or combine travel to Chile and experience their Wine Country. We will customize a trip to meet your expectations.