Argentina with Chateau Montelena

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. And we’ll visit a travato, where an expert third-generation butcher will discuss the art of preparing Argentina’s famous steaks. This will prep us for lunch paired with malbecs at Lagarde, one of Mendoza’s oldest wineries.

Stomachs satiated, we head back to our home for the next two nights, a luxury, 16-room boutique hotel where snow-capped peaks look over lush vineyards and a pool. We gather again for a welcome dinner at Bodega Vinorum, a family-owned winery known for their limited-run, premium oak-barrel-aged wines. The mountains still in our periphery, we toast with some Montelena wine 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 sit down for a three-course lunch and wine pairing at Susana Balbo Wines. Travel + Leisure dubbed her “Argentina’s Woman of Wine” and we’ll see exactly why sipping bright and fruity torrontés and complex malbecs at her award-winning winery. We’ll be sure to save room for our epic private dinner tonight at Finca Bandini, feasting and celebrating along with their stellar, award-winning wines.

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 Paul Hobbs Winery, where modernity reigns supreme—it’s two sides of the Argentinian wine scene, both captivating and delicious. Next, we make our way to Ojo de Agua; we’ll feast on lunch in the middle of this Argentinian paradise, peering out across the vineyards.

After lunch 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 there, 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. The lunch awaits us at a charming local hacienda where we’ll eat freshly harvested seasonal ingredients cooked with traditional methods. We’ll eat side-by-side gauchos and enjoying food and quality time the way the locals do.

In the evening we are the honored guests at Bodega Monteviejo where celebrated local chef and entrepreneur Nadia Haron prepares 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 our next base with a delicious family-style lunch at 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 milonga dance event with incredible dancers and tango demonstrations.

The barrios of Buenos Aires are essentially separate villages—today we’ll embark on tasting tours of two historic neighborhoods bursting in local color and lore. First 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 the intimate and truly amazing farewell dinner—a perfect mix of elegance and exuberance filled with toasts and deliciousness. 

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.