FUN:travel – Mendoza, Argentina – Day 4
March 1, 2013 by Susan Clarke
The ABC’s of Chile
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Day 25 – Saturday, February 23 – Mendoza, Argentina – sunny w/high clouds, 90’s
Domaine St. Diego
- B – 7:30 wake up – still not sleeping good & no coffee until 8:00
- A – 9:00 excursion begins – “The Malbec Effect” Wine Tour (Javier @ B&B Plaza Italia is driver/guide) – $163 pp
- B – 9:15 pick up couple from Diplomat Hotel (thought we would be alone)
- A – they’re “aussies” and FUN!
- 9:45 – 1st stop – Domaine St. Diego – very boutique winery – family owned – only 5000 cases a year – only sold there – complete tour of vineyards & olive trees – learn about irrigation system – all water is controlled & released @ limited times through various canals
- C – tasting 3 wines – sparkling rose, 2 malbecs, one aged in oak – VG
- 12:00 – off to 2nd stop @ Vistalba – one of the brothers who owned Trapiche built new winery
- B – arrive 12:30 – have to listen to more of how to produce wine ( we’ve been to so many wineries around the world that it’s boring because it’s repetitious)
- B – wines just so-so
- A – 1:40 – head to Ruca Malén for 5 course food & wine pairing overlooking the vineyard
C – 1st course – goat cheese truffle, dried chili peppers & greens – 2011 Yauquén Torrontés
2nd course –roasted beet terrine on smoked butternut squash cream – 2011 Yauquén Bonarda
3rd course – quartirolo cheese, crisp sausage & roasted carrots salad – 2006 Ruca Malén Malbec
4th course – grilled steak w/potatoes, tomatoes & onions roasted w/rosemary –raisin chimichurri, black olives & black pepper butter – 2010 Ruca Malén Reserva & 2008 Kinién Cabernet Sauvignon
5th course – slices of seasonal fruit w/raspberry sorbet scented w/black pepper
- 4th stop – boutique winery & totally forgot to write down the name – think I had too much wine? – buy bottle for the room $13
- 6:00 – arrive back to B & B
- C – gift – bottle of Yauquén Bonarda wine from Javier
- A – still full from lunch so no dinner
- pack, visit w/other guests & drink more wine before bed
FF – (FUN-fact) – The settlers from Italy and Germany planted the first grape vines and produced the wines that have made this the wine capital of Argentina.
Water Canal System