Argentina with Alex Raij

Bienvenidos 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—we’ll follow Alex through the meandering streets until we reach the entrance of the town’s finest producer of alfajor: traditional cookies stuffed with dulce de leche and crowned with all kinds of different toppings from marmalade to walnuts.

And no trip to Mendoza is complete without a visit to the butchery, where an expert third-generation butcher will discuss the art of preparing Argentina’s famous steaks. Hint: don’t miss the picada (charcuterie board) as we’ll be sampling a diverse array of hams and salamis.

But for now it’s onto a Malbec-driven lunch at Lagarde, one of Mendoza’s oldest wineries. Stomachs satiated, we head to our home for the next two nights, a luxurious 16-room boutique hotel where snow-capped peaks look over lush vineyards and a pool. We gather again for a welcome dinner at family-owned Bodega Vinorum and, the mountains still in our periphery, we toast to our journey to come!

We’ll start the day with morning at the hotel, maybe relaxing at the hamam—South America’s only Turkish-style bath house—or just take time to rest. Next, we’ll make our way to Finca Decero Vineyard for a picturesque (the Andes Mountains are literally hovering behind the estate) three-course lunch with wine pairings, of course. Still have room more? Good! Because now it’s onto another of the region’s most heralded wineries for a tasting tour through their flagship vintages.

In the late afternoon, we’ll return to the hotel for a moment of siesta before our epic private dinner—a sunset cooking and eating experience featuring Chef Jaime Baeza as he prepares tapas, meat and other traditional Argentine recipes over an open fire. Imagine a warm, twilight evening, organic steaks marking the air with a piquant char, glass upon glass of nuanced Malbec, and you still won’t capture the magic of this enchanting barbecue. Stick around after the meal as we’ll be treated to a Menodza-style, artisanal ice cream tasting.

Today we’ll vine-hop deeper into wine country towards our next home, the Uco Valley. First stop is at small, boutique Bodega Cruzat for a refreshing toast of its sparkling wines. Then we visit Viña Cobos Winery, where modernity reigns supreme—it’s two sides of the Argentinian wine scene, both captivating and delicious. 

For lunch, we’re pairing local delicacies and rare vintages at Finca Bandini where we’ll also take part in an Argentinian pastry cooking class. Our bellies full, we’ll check into our beautiful Uco Valley home—The Vines Resort, owned by legendary chef Francis Mallmann. And you won’t forget tonight’s dinner at Mallmann’s Siete Fuegos (or “Seven Fires”), one of Argentina’s most notable restaurants. We’ll enjoy a gaucho-worthy feast of slow-grilled rib eye roasted on seven types of open flame, gathered around the fire and staying warm under woolen Alpaca blankets.

We tap into our inner gaucho today with a full-on Andean adventure! After breakfast, we’ll climb into our 4WD vehicle and ascend 6,000-foot peaks. From here, we’ll continue climbing by horse or foot along the trails. Up top, we’ll celebrate with a glass a wine and snacks to tide us over on the way down where lunch awaits us at a local hacienda: freshly harvested seasonal ingredients cooked with traditional gaucho methods.

In the evening we are the honored guests at Bodega Monteviejo where a celebrated local chef presents a special paired menu featuring asado-style meats cooked to perfection.

On to Buenos Aires! After bidding farewell to the Mendoza countryside, we’ll fly to Argentina’s vibrant, mesmerizing capital. On arrival, we’ll toast the city with a delicious lunch at award-winning La Malbequeria.

We’ll start 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 checking into our hotel, we’ll head to the 1908 Colon Theater, South America’s finest, with a VIP look at the ornate building’s frescos, backstage area and studios. After a busy day, we’ll have dinner on own and meet up later to top off the night with a festive tango event with incredible dancers.

The barrios of Buenos Aires are essentially separate villages – today we’ll embark on tasting tours 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 inside Catedral de Buenos Aires and Casa de Gobierno.

Then, we’ll visit San Telmo, the city’s oldest barrio, whose cobbled alleyways make up the heart of tango. We’ll watch locals dance, play soccer, and hang out at leafy plazas, then drop by the vast local market. Then, in unforgettable La Boca, we’ll savor a warm chori-pan (grilled chorizo with chimichurri) and sip on a local beer, as we listen to street musicians on Caminito street, lined with its iconic bold and brightly painted buildings.

After an afternoon siesta, we’ll meet up at our hotel’s rooftop bar for a final sparkling view of the city, cocktail in hand. Then we’re off to our intimate farewell dinner for a multi-course celebration of Argentine cuisine paired with some of our favorites wines from the week.

Don’t worry, our experience isn’t over yet! After a late breakfast, we’ll visit Barracas, a once-isolated port area of warehouses and barracks that’s become the city’s vibrant barrios, thanks to an artist-led revival the past two decades. The heart of it is along Pasaje Lanín, where local artist Marino Santa María layered modest houses in sparkling mosaics. Then, we meet the man whose intricately ethereal vision has transformed these streets. Marino will give us an exclusive tour of his studio where we’ll learn the secrets behind his creativity and try our hand at mosaic artwork to take a piece of the Buenos Aires art scene with us.

We’ll celebrate our day, and our journey, with a last cortado or glass of Malbec, before offering fond farewells.