Argentina with Ben Eisendrath of Grillworks

Day 1: Buenos Aires

Bienvenidos a Argentina! Our trip begins in the evening when we’ll convene at our hotel for a sumptuous introduction to Buenos Aires. After getting to know Ben and munching on a few local specialties, we’ll venture out into the city for an immersive dinner.

Alongside Ben and a local chef, we’ll be roll up our sleeves, learn the art of the empanada and sit down for a lively family-style dinner while toasting the adventure ahead.

Day 2: Buenos Aires

The barrios of Buenos Aires are essentially separate villages. Today we’ll embark on a tour of a few historic neighborhoods bursting in local color and lore. First it’s off to the iconic Plaza de Mayo where we’ll stand in awe outside the Catedral de Buenos Aires and Casa de Gobierno.

Then off to unforgettable La Boca, lined with its iconic bold and brightly painted buildings, where we’ll listen to street musicians on Caminito street. Next is a visit to San Telmo, the city’s oldest barrio, whose cobbled alleyways make up the heart of tango. We’ll sit down for lunch at one of Ben’s favorites, Parilla La Brigada, before exploring Plaza Dorrego’s leather-filled boutiques.

On the way back to the hotel, we’ll head to the 1908 Colón Theater, South America’s finest, with an insider’s look at the ornate building’s frescos, backstage area and studios. After an optional sunset cocktail and photo-op in Puerto Madero, we’ll have dinner on our own and meet back up to top off the night with a festive tango event.

Day 3: Buenos Aires

We’ll continue our exploration of Buenos Aires in the barrio Recoleta. This is Eva Perón’s old stomping grounds, where mansions line stately boulevards linked by blooming jacarandas and locals sip frothy cortados at sidewalk cafes.

After an immersive tour including its iconic cemetery, we’ll be whisked off to La Malbequeria, a renowned wine bar, for a beautifully paired lunch.

If art is up your alley, you’ll want to join our optional visit to the Buenos Aires’ largest museum, MALBA, where you can see original works by icons like Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Joaquín Torres-García.

After an afternoon siesta, we’re off to our intimate Buenos Aires farewell dinner for a multi-course celebration of Argentine cuisine paired with some of the finest local wines.

Day 4: Mendoza

This morning we take a short flight to the heart of Argentina’s wine country! If you’ve ever enjoyed a glass of Malbec, you’ll love its homeland. We’ll start with a look into Mendoza, the nearly 500-year-old bohemian town with an Art Deco center, and after a city tour, we’ll begin with the two things that make Mendoza famous: food and wine.

Lunch is at the fiercely local winery, Lagarde. The dishes here embody their “landscape cuisine” and honor the strong Incan heritage in the region. The wines, harvested since 1897, are full-bodied, smoky odes to gaucho culture and the rugged terroir.

After some downtime at our stunning boutique hotel, we’ll gather again for dinner at the foot of the snow-capped mountains at family-owned Bodega Vinorum. Here, we’ll toast our arrival to Mendoza and marvel at the storybook views in every direction.

Day 5: Mendoza

After breakfast, our wine immersion begins anew. Our first stop is the renowned Bodega Cruzat for a refreshing toast of its sparkling wines—each bottle derives from hand-picked varietals sourced from the Uco Valley. Every transcendent wine tasting deserves another, so we’ll shuffle over to another heralded estate for a flight of some younger wines and a conversation with the cellarmaster.

Next, we’ll make our way to Finca El Paraíso for a picturesque (the Andes Mountains are literally hovering behind the estate) three-course lunch with wine pairings, of course. Don’t be surprised if you see Ben with his sleeves rolled-up and collaborating with chef Pablo del Río as we indulge in the charred delicacies of an authentic asado.

In the late afternoon, we’ll return to the hotel for a moment of siesta before a special dinner at Casa Bermellon.

Day 6: Uco Valley

Today we tap into our inner gaucho with a full-on Andean adventure! You’ll have two choices: you can choose to climb up the mountain on horseback or head down to the water and try your hand at fly fishing with Ben. We’ll reconvene for lunch at a local hacienda—far from a simple boxed lunch, this will be a banquet of freshly harvested seasonal ingredients cooked with traditional gaucho methods.

Our bellies full, we’ll check into our beautiful Uco Valley home—the Vines Resort and take some time to decompress and relax.

Dinner tonight is yours to embellish.

Day 7: Mendoza

We’ll start the day in exquisite repose—seriously, you’ll have time to relax and stroll the grounds of our breathtaking hotel or even breakfast in bed.

Lunch is a special treat; Enjoy panoramic vineyard views while the sun dips behind the Andes at Monteviejo—the French-Argentinian fusion restaurant nestled in the heart of the Uco Valley. From there, we’re headed to Diamandes Winery for one final wine tasting.

And you won’t forget tonight’s dinner at Francis Mallmann’s Siete Fuegos (“Seven Fires”), one of Argentina’s most notable restaurants. We’ll watch in awe as a team of chefs prepare a gaucho-worthy feast of slow-grilled rib eye roasted on seven types of open flame. Wrapped in alpaca blankets, we’ll toast with Ben to this perfect end to our week together.

Day 8: Mendoza

Alas, it’s time for our journey to end. We’ll celebrate our adventure over breakfast, with a last cortado or glass of Malbec, before offering fond farewells.