Fully Escorted Wine Tour to Argentina

Fully Escorted Wine Tour to Argentina
12 DAYS / 11 NIGHTS
Wine Sommelier – Peter A. Rod
Peter is a thirty-year veteran of the hospitality and wine businesses and has spent much of the last
fifteen years teaching about all things wine. His many years working in top Canadian restaurants as
maître d’hotel and sommelier combined with his international wine travels and now as full-time
member of the Faculty of Wine Programs at Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute all
combine to give him a thorough understanding of the art of providing high quality, memorable wine
adventures for discerning, affluent, knowledgeable or novice wine enthusiasts.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 APR 25
BUENOS AIRES (D)
Welcome at Buenos Aires! Meet our guide and transfer to the hotel. Welcome dinner at typical parrillada
restaurant with wine included. Return to the hotel. Overnight at Buenos Aires Grand.
DAY 2 APR 26
BUENOS AIRES (B/D)
Breakfast. Half Day City tour over Buenos Aires city. We will discover the magic of Buenos Aires in a 4hr city
tour in which you will visit the outstanding building of the National Congress, the ancient Council, the
Metropolitan Cathedral and the Capitol (better known as "Pink House"). The buildings that surround the
"Mayo Square" consist of the above mentioned spots. The tour also includes the magnificent areas of Recoleta
and Palermo, with their beautiful parks and buildings, the Colon theatre, one of the five most important Opera
theatres of the world and many other buildings and palaces of architectural, historical and cultural value. We
will visit San Telmo area, one of the most antique districts of the city, as well as the Boca district, with its
"caminito"- a picturesque pedestrian street, where you will find its colorful metal sheet tenements. Finally,
the tour will lead us to the recently recycled district of Puerto Madero, old area of the Buenos Aires port. Free
afternoon.
Half Day Tour of Remarkable Bars and Cafés with wine tasting and dinner tango show (PM; pick up
around 18.30hs): an interesting way to approach Buenos Aires's spirit is through its bars and coffee shops,
selected for to their antiquity, architectonic values, particular atmosphere, and being of reference to Buenos
Aires and its people. Then, guided wine tasting and dinner at “Bar El Querandí”. For six decades it was a
meeting point for writers, artists and students. Nowadays this traditional corner of Buenos Aires invites you
to share a Virtual Wine Route of Argentina featuring introduction to the grapevines in America and Argentina,
description of the vine growing regions and wine tasting and dinner in this magical environment. A ride
through images showing the unique Argentinean viticulture starts at The Querandí’s Cellar. We will describe
three different terroirs, climates and geographies from the most prestigious wine making areas. We will
present the emblematic variety from each zone, and continue with the tasting of the wines, matched with
exquisite regional food.
NORTHWEST REGION: Torrontés matched with empanada from Salta.
PATAGONIA: Pinot Noir or Merlot matched with mushroom snack
CUYO REGION: Malbec matched with grilled tenderloin, vegetables and onion.
You will enjoy Dinner & tango show at El Querandi and at midnight return to the hotel. Overnight at Buenos
Aires Grand.
DAY 3 APR 27
BUENOS AIRES / SALTA (B)
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to board the scheduled flight to Salta, one of the most attractive cities in the
country. Salta is, beyond any doubt, the Argentine city which has best preserved its colonial heritage. Arrival
and reception at the airport; transfer to the hotel.
This afternoon, you will do the Half Day city tour to Salta city. This visit will allow us to have a look at the
most precious gems dating back to colonial times, such as: the Church and Monastery of San Francisco, the
“Cabildo and Historic Museum of the Northwest”; the San Bernardo Monastery, dating back to the late XVI
century; and the Main Church Italian-styled building containing the Independence Wars hero's mortal
remains, General Martín Miguel de Güemes. The tour goes on towards the city's outskirts, up to San Bernardo
Hill, where you will get a great view of the city and the Lerma Valley. Return to the hotel. Overnight at Ayres
de Salta.
DAY 4 APR 28
SALTA / CAFAYATE (B/L)
Breakfast. This day, you will do the Full Day Cafayate. It is a whole day tour along this peculiar geography
sculpt by the winds and sun: we will appreciate the amazing rocky formation of ravines and multicolored
hills, that protect villages by means of adobe brick and straw constructions. Along the road to Cafayate, we
will find small agricultural-livestock villages such as Cerrillos, La Merced and El Carril, where these activities
are developed. Further on, we will cross Quebrada de las Conchas in a route of 52 miles, which is the prelude
to the Calchaquíes Valleys. Here, the wind erosion has captured a succession of natural caprices like the
famous Garganta del Diablo (a closed and profound canyon); then at the view of the visitor appears the
Amphitheatre (amazing mountain formation with a surprising acoustic), the Frog, the Fray, and the Nun
Procession, the Obelisk and the Castles, whose names express the images that they name.
The dryness of the landscape changes when reaching Cafayate, where great areas of vineyards can be
observed. The region is worldly well-known since apart from its natural beauties, here the famous “torrontés
wine” is manufactured – it is a white and fruit wine, very typical of the Salta Province.
Arrival at Cafayate Wine Resort, where we will make check in. At noon time, we will enjoy a lunch at Cafayate
Wine Resort, at the beautiful gallery, surrounded by the vineyards (if weather conditions allows).
In the afternoon, we will be transferred to the Vine and Wine Museum (Museo de la Vid y el Vino)
http://www.museodelavidyelvino.gov.ar/# We will enjoy a Dynamic and interactive exposition about the
history and characteristics of the vineyards of the Calchaquies valleys and its altitude wines. There are some
scenic and light effects, and audiovisual presentations.
Accommodation at Cafayate Wine Resort
DAY 5 APR 29
CAFAYATE (B/L)
Breakfast. This day, you will make Full Day visit to the most important and family vineyards of Cafayate
area. We will visit each wine installations, learn about the wine process and make different wine tastings of
the most emblematic lines.
- El Porvenir http://www.elporvenirdecafayate.com/en We will taste Laborum wines, Malbec,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Torrontes, Chardonnay, Rosé of Malbec and Amauta.
- El Esteco (Patios de Cafayate property) http://www.elesteco.com/comin/inicio/ We will visit the
installations of one of the best well known vineyards of Cafayate, we will make wine tasting and
have exquisite lunch.
We will be tasting: Chañar Punco wine (combines Malbec with Cabernet Sauvignon); Altimus wine
(54% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 10% Tanant); Fincas Notables
series wine Malbec, Cabernet, Tanant; Estecos wines Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon.
We will also have included the Ciclos cortes bi-varietal for Malbec and Merlot grapes; Don David
wine Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Tanant, Syrah, Viognier Rose, Torrontes, Chardonnay,
Extra Brut Esteco sparkling wine, Rose and sweet Torrontes.
- Vasija Secreta winery: http://www.vasijasecreta.com/?lang=en situated at the entrance itself of
Cafayate town, hosts the valley’s oldest winery.
Its origin dates back to last midcentury, and along its history it has been Salta inhabitants’
traditional wine, given the quality of its products as well as its manufacturing crafts tone.
Its vineyards’ justified fame is the result of its location. It is a Mesopotamia flanked by the Esteco
stream and Chusha river, where a dry and sunny environment blends with underground humidity
higher than the rest of the valley, which determines the different soils and vines behavior.
The Torrontés wines have a higher solar exposure due to their location on the high slopes, whereas
our red wines French vineyards flow along sediment-rich lowlands with mean temperatures.
In all cases, the vineyard production has been limited, looking for a balance where the extracts,
acidity and aroma, and flavors conjugate in each variety’s optimal grade. The result is an
exceptional raw material, a critical condition for great wines.
We will have included wine tasting of its VAS wines, Sauvignon Blanc, Torrontes, Reserve Malbec,
Gata Flora wines, Cabernet, Pink, Tannat, Torrontes and Malbec.
http://www.vasijasecreta.com/?cat=3&lang=en
Return to the hotel. Overnight at Cafayate Wine Resort
DAY 6 APR 30 CAFAYATE / SALTA / MENDOZA (B)
Breakfast. Transfer back to Salta city, passing by Route 68. We will visit one more winery on the way back to
Salta. Arrival and transfer to the airport of Salta. Today we will continue to the final destination of our
itinerary, Mendoza, Argentina's prime and best known wine growing area. Mendoza has over 140 hectares of
vineyards (68% of the total surface in Argentina cultivated with grapevines). A most privileged area for high
quality wine production due to its location at the foot of the Andean Cordillera which creates the perfect
blend of latitude, altitude and soil. Club Tapiz Lodge is a small hotel housed in an estate built in 1890 and
surrounded by extensive vineyards. The house was restored preserving a Renaissance style villa structure;
maintaining vintage elements. The Club also has one of the best restaurants in Mendoza: Terruño, where the
famous chef Max Casa prepares regional dishes to combine great wine with great food. The best wine is the
world wide warded Tapiz Malbec. Accommodation at Club Tapiz Winery Lodge.
DAY 7 MAY 1
MENDOZA (B/L)
Breakfast. A full day devoted to visiting some of the best wineries in Argentina with guided wine tasting
in all of them and lunch + Wine Maker for a day at Norton. This tour allows the visitors to learn more about
harvesting, winemaking process and the viticulture's history in Mendoza. We will visit three wineries, in one
of which we will participate in an introductory talk about wine tasting to understand its properties, guided by
an expert. Wine tasting is included in all the wineries we will visit along the tour. We will visit:
- Catena: http://www.catenawines.com/es/ we will get to know about wines in this region,
methods, installations and wine process. We will also make wine tasting of the most important lines
and varietals. PREMIUM wines are included.
- Norton with lunch & Wine Maker for a Day tour:
http://www.norton.com.ar/home.php?idIdioma=2 With 5 vineyards spread over the main terroirs
of the province of Mendoza - all of them within a privileged zone known as the First Zone for the
quality of its grapes – Bodega Norton has the best grapes for the production of quality wines. The
average age of our vines is around 30 years, although we have a large number of hectares planted
with 80 year-old vines. We will get to know in detail the emblematic wine variety: Malbec. We will
get to know about its elaboration prior the selling process. PREMIUM WINES are included.
In this wine cellar, we will also have included a very particular and interesting tour called
Winemaker for a Day. Each passenger will select varietal wines in order to make a unique blend,
according to each own style and preferences, discovering aromas, flavors, textures and complexity.
Then, the jury will select a winner between the best and will label the wine.
Then, we will enjoy lunch at Norton`s: La Vid, matching with the typical dishes of the region.
Then, we will continue and visit the last winery of the day:
- Weinert winery: http://www.bodegaweinert.com/ We will learn about their wine process and
select their best wines to taste.
Accommodation at Club Tapiz Winery Lodge.
DAY 8 MAY 2
MENDOZA (B/L)
Breakfast. We will enjoy a Full Day Wine Tour at Uco Valley region with an exclusive lunch. PREMIUM
WINES are included. We will visit 3 very important and international well known wineries of the Uco region
and will be able to taste their most well known wines:
- Salentein http://www.bodegasalentein.com/english The luxury range wines of Bodegas
Salentein are well-structured and elegant, characterized for their deep colors and rich and complex
aromas and flavors. All wines are aged in French oak barrels.
- Andeluna http://www.andeluna.com.ar/site/en/
We will visit its installations and get to know about their wines. They offer casting with the
intention to delight to each visitor, so he could share the essence of their wines.
We will also have included the lunch. Their gastronomic proposal was born in the Argentine
Cuisine, with regional ingredients, foods that were elaborated from different immigrant and
domestic recipes. The products offered are greatly, organic from an orchard located at 5 km from
the winery, carefully selected from Andeluna. For that same reason, the menu changes according to
seasons, all the team participates in each new proposal, from the chef to the wine tester, to fulfill in
each reap, the best of the 6-points menu they offer : in each bite, each wine-pairing, each image,
each scent.
- O Fournier http://www.ofournier.com/ The winery works with leading international suppliers,
mainly from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, for the following winemaking processes:
Harvesting: The grapes are picked manually, by the company´s own workers, and placed in 18-kg.
boxes, allowing the Bodega to control the quality of the grapes right from the vineyard.
Grape selection: The best grape clusters are selected at a sorting table.
Moreover, from the 2002 harvest, there is a second sorting table for the removal of stalks.
Crushing: The winery uses a crushing-destemming machine, with adjustable stainless steel rolls.
Only half of our grapes are crushed. The grapes fall inside the vats through gravity, avoiding the use
of pumps.
Fermentation: The winery´s stainless steel vats are equipped with a hot and cold water device. Since
the 2002 harvest, the company has used dry ice for the cold maceration of its best wines.
Pressing: The winery uses a vertical hydraulic basket press with electronic pressure control for
pressing the marc.
Ageing: The ageing process takes place in 225 litre barrels, 80 per cent are made of French oak and
the rest of American oak. The barrels are stored in underground cellars, where the temperature and
humidity are strictly controlled. The winery purchases barrels from prestigious coopers as France,
Spain and USA.
The tour starts when you discover the building at a distance, with the mountains as a backdrop all
around. It goes on with a series of visits through the interior of the winery, and it reaches its climax
when you get to the gate of the tunnel, which automatically opens into an impressive and
unexpected cellar, at 33 feet underground. The visit ends when you come up again and are welcome
by a lake reflecting the majestic Andes range reappearing there.
After this intensive full day visit, return to the hotel. Overnight at Club Tapiz
DAY 9 MAY 3
MENDOZA – NEUQUEN (B)
Transfer to the airport of Mendoza to fly to Neuquen. Welcome and transfer from Neuquen airport
to the hotel located in the city centre. Accommodation in Neuquen centre, main spot from where
the group can start exploring the last wine region of Argentina: Patagonia. Overnight at Casino Magic.
DAY 10 MAY 4
NEUQUEN – PATAGONIAN WINE FIELDS – NEUQUEN (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel. We will do the Full Day Wine fields of San Patricio del Chañar with lunch
included. This day we will visit 3 wineries of San Patricio del Chañar, the most important wine
region of the Patagonia. With the historical foundations erected by the successful pioneers of the
region, new investors, both from Argentina and abroad, arrived in these lands to put their hopes on
Patagonian Wines. Their arrival in Argentina gave rise to a new and promising wine making region.
Investments have increased and the local viticultural industry has changed under the international
quality and high technology concept.
We will first visit Familia Schroeder winery http://www.familiaschroeder.com/?lang=en The
Bodega Familia Schroeder is the result of a pioneer family’s effort that made their dream come true.
The entrepreneurial spirit allowed them to dominate Patagonia’s arid soil and to flourish an oasis of
high quality vines. Lying on the side of a slope, the winery presents an avant-garde architecture that
takes advantage of gravity in the winemaking process. Excellence is the secret that delights the
most demanding palates and enable to make the wines that the world expects from Patagonia.
Rocky ground, generous ice melt water, wide temperature range between warm days and cool
nights, frequent wind and low humidity creates the perfect conditions for the vineyards. Endless
blue skies and starry nights guard the 140 hectares planted with Malbec,
Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and
Torrontés. The visit starts in the vineyard and includes every stage in the winemaking process,
allowing tourists to learn how the wines are born, visit the dinosaur’s cellar and the restaurant. The
tour finishes with a complete wine tasting.
Then, we will visit NQN winery www.bodeganqn.com.ar, which origins date back to 2001, when
San Patricio del Chañar was developed as a wine making project undreamed of until that time. Two
thousand hectares of Patagonian desert were turned into a beautiful blanket of vineyards. Bodega
NQN emerged out of this development, located in a region with excellent climate conditions for
growing vines and a significant temperature gap, a fundamental aspect that makes grapes ripe
slowly and favors better sugar accumulation, acidity levels, aromas and flavors. The winery tour
includes the crush and tank areas, where visitors are described the quality of the vineyards, the
grape storing tanks and the different elaboration areas. In the tasting, sale and merchandising
room, visitors are invited to taste wines next to the oak barrels. A place that stands out is Malma
Restó Bar, where the specialty of the house is Patagonian cuisine, a mixture of different cultural
traditions: Aboriginal, Spanish, Italian, Jewish and French cultures, among others, which have left
their culinary mark here. Visitors may also go on special tours around our vineyard and experience
grape harvest from the inside. We want to invite visitors to be close to the vineyard, the place
where our wines are born, and have a direct experience with the hard work performed there. Grape
harvest is the most important activity ( from mid February to the end of April).
We will be tasting the most diverse varietals and blends, with a typical Patagonian lunch at Malma
restaurant (at NQN winery), matched with the best wines and sparkling wines.
Then, we will continue and visit the last winery of the region and without any doubt one of the best
wineries of Argentina: Bodega del Fin del Mundo. http://bodegadelfindelmundo.com/en/index/#
It is the first winery in the Province of Neuquén. The vineyards are located in San Patricio del
Chañar, 55 kilometers away from Neuquén, a place where the agro-environmental conditions are
ideal for growing vines. The fantastic temperature range – higher than 20ºC between night and
day - caused by warm sunny days and cool nights, brings balance to the grapes and gives the wines
their color, acidity, aromas and structure. Intense sun rays pass through the
almost always clear sky, thus allowing the grapes to ripe in the correct manner. Low humidity and
scarce rainfall – only 180 mm a year – keep the vineyard extraordinarily healthy.
The first vineyards were planted in 1999 and since then, 2000 hectares were planted, 1000
hectares out of these 2000 would be part of the project to build the winery known as Bodega Del
Fin del Mundo. It is important to emphasize that the rest of the existing wineries in San Patricio del
Chañar have their origins in the mentioned project.
Bodega Del Fin del Mundo produces its wines by using the highest technology. This enables the
improvement of wine making techniques and increases quality, emphasizes the wine personality
and style, keeps the consistency of the products and defines the traceability of raw materials from
the vineyard to the bottle, taking care of every step. The winery has 200 stainless steel tanks, 104
concrete pools, 2200 oak barrels, and 4 French oak casks of 6000 liters each one.
Fermentation is done in stainless steel tanks under temperature control. White wines are produced
in pursuit of the perfect harmony between sugar and acidity, which brings fresh, balanced wines,
full of aromatic potential. The red wine maceration process takes about 25 days. Some red wines
are aged in American and French oak barrels. This gives complexity and ageing potential. The aim
of the winery is to keep up the quality of our products by using cutting edge technology and making
the best use of our spectacular Patagonian terroir.
The 1000 hectare vineyards grow in this Patagonian scenery, naturally healthy and on sandy and
stony soils. Distribution is 85% of red grapes, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir,
Tannat, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, and 15% of white grapes, with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay,
Semillón and Viognier.
We will participate in a wine tasting, to be able to discover the different variety the winery
produces.
After this full day tour, we will return to the hotel located in the city of Neuquen. Overnight at Casino
Magic
DAY 11 MAY 5
NEUQUEN – BUENOS AIRES (B/D)
After breakfast, transfer to Neuquen airport to fly back to Buenos Aires. Arrival at noon time. Free
afternoon until aprox 18.15hrs.
From 18,15, we will start the Food & Wine Argentinian Experience, that consists on:
 6:15 – 7:30pm Wine Experience
Why not start the night early and join us to explore the world of wine from a completely different
perspective? With our signature style and focus on fun and interaction, this is much more than your standard
wine tasting, this is a Wine Experience! First, awaken your senses by exploring the nuances and aromas in
Argentina’s flagship wines – Torrentes, Bonarda and Malbec – and try to identify the 20 different smells in our
aroma area. Next, learn from our resident mixologist how to make, shake and create three wine-based
cocktails with red, white and rose wines from award-winning wineries, and enjoy three perfectly paired
gourmet appetizers to complement them.
 7:30 - 11:00pm The Argentinean Experience Dinner
The Argentine Experience is designed to give you an introduction to the best of Argentine cuisine and culture.
This is not a cooking class, but a fun and unique experience, where you will meet and dine with people from
all over the world. You are able to taste some typical dishes of Buenos Aires, while tasting exquisite wines. We
have chosen 1 Torrontes and 2 distinct Malbec wines, from boutique wineries in Mendoza, paired to
complement our food. Learn about and enjoy unlimited wine throughout the dinner.
Finally, you are able to taste traditional dulce de leche, alfajores, while you will get taught about the history
and etiquette of mate, Argentina’s national pastime, and prepare it from scratch among yourselves.
Return to the hotel before midnight. Overnight at Buenos Aires Grand.
DAY 12 MAY 6
BUENOS AIRES (B)
Breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to the international airport of Ezeiza (Ministro
Pistarini) to fly back home. End of our services.
Tour price in US funds, per person, based on double occupancy: USD 5545
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: USD 1195
Included:
- Private transfers with personalized English speaking guides
-Hotel accommodation including all taxes and service charges
- 3 nights in Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires Grand (4*++) in Dbl/Sgl with breakfast
- 1 night in Salta: Ayres de Salta (4*) in Dbl/Sgl with breakfast
- 2 nights in Cafayate: Cafayate Wine Resort (wine lodge) in Dbl/Sgl **vineyard view** with breakfast
- 3 nights in Mendoza: Club Tapiz (std wine lodge) in Dbl/Sgl with breakfast
- 2 nights in Neuquen: Casino Magic (4*sup) in Dbl/Sgl with breakfast
- Private tours mentioned with personalized English speaking guides
- Meals as per itinerary
- Tips for portage
- Domestic flights
Exclusions:
- International tickets
- Optional tours and meals not mentioned
- Items of personal nature
- Restaurant Tips & gratuities
- Items not listed under inclusions
International Air Quotes
Please inquire for best airfares for your city:
Approximate fare from Toronto, including tax: $1470 CAD per person