We were looking forward to this day in Mendoza. We started with a city tour to get a better feel for the city. We saw tile painting of the founding of Mendoza, the remains of the oldest church in the city, and a beautiful park with a man-made lake that can only be used by the members of the rowing club located on the lake.
Time to go to the wineries for our tastings. Our first stop was Maison Alta Vista, a winery that has a variety of Malbec wines grown in different terroir (earth). They indicate that there is a significant difference in the grapes grown in different areas of the Maipu Valley, creating a unique flavor. We tasted a variety of wines to determine if we could see how the earth changes the flavor. They also had a sparkling wine and several wines that were a mix of grapes. The grounds are beautiful, too.
Next, we went to the Trivento Winery. Tte grounds of this winery are absolutely beautiful. As you walk into the building, you see two large paintings of women drinking wine. I thought of a local painter friend who could create something similar easily, maybe for a local restaurant?
There are displays of their wines and in-depth discussions about the wines they offer. We tasted a couple of unique wines – a white Malbec and a rose Malbec. Nowhere else did we see these wines. The flavor was amazing. We would have liked to bring some back home but it was not possible.
Yesterday (December 6), while in Walmart, I looked at the huge wine selection available, probably set up for the upcoming holidays. And, right in the front were the Trivento wines we liked – the white and rose Malbec. And, they were on sale for $209 pesos! We now have a nice collection of these two, as they will probably disappear after the holidays!
We next went to another bodega that specializes in unique virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars.
After the tasting, we were treated to a delicious lunch. We had amazing empanadas with a dipping sauce and a choice of two entrees. I had eggplant and hummus, while Jim had meat that was very tender and veggies. I didn’t get a picture of his meal, unfortunately, because it disappeared too quickly! As you can see I ate first and photographed after!
Time to head back to Mendoza to savor the day and the incredible wines. When we arrived, we passed by an official building that had a ceremony of uniformed soldiers dressed like those from 100 years ago. They played trumpets and drums, walked in synchrony, viewed by students on the steps of the building. Our guide saw this ceremony for the first time in her life, so it was a very special opportunity for us.
It was a full day, very enjoyable. Tomorrow, we leave Mendoza and our tour. Next, we fly to Buenos Aires on our own to explore this amazing city.