The Wine Republic

Friday, May 18th

Last update01:44:09 AM GMT

About us Advertise / Publicidad

You are here:

Wine Tours

Bareback Mountains

Riding horseback and drinking Malbec in the mountains – Amanda Barnes gets a taste for the outdoor Argentine life.

Mendoza: mountains, gauchos and wine. The first three images that spring to mind. If you are looking to tick all three off in one day, possibly the best way to do so is with a wine tour by horseback.

But getting a horse, booking a winery, finding a gaucho and knowing where to go is a pretty tall order for anyone who just wants to enjoy themselves or relax in Mendoza. This is where an experienced tour company comes in. I booked myself in for a wine tour on horseback with Trout & Wine Tours for that true outdoor Argentina experience, but when the air conditioned minivan and an English speaking guide turned up to where I was staying I started to worry that maybe I wouldn’t get to meet my genuine gaucho or have a rustic outdoor experience. I was wrong. Our guide told us all about the history of Mendoza and its mountains and as we pulled up to Finca Las Lechuzas it was clear that this was going to be a proper country day out.

Where to Wine in Mendoza

mendoza-wine-tour_0ae212c2e_3 WINE TOURS

You cannot come to Mendoza without doing a wine tour. Your budget will determine greatly what quality of tour you do, with Maipu the most economical as it is the most accessible and popular to tour by bike. However Lujan de Cuyo has the best range of fine wine establishments - old and new, boutique and industrial, foreign and Argentine.

The vast majority require prebooking and private transport to get to. There are 1,000 wineries in Mendoza but there is basically a core 50 wineries that are worth visiting in the sense that they have good wines, beautiful locations and knowledgeable guides. The vast majority are located in Lujan de Cuyo. A recommended wine tour company is Trout & Wine, Sarmiento 133, Galeria San Marcos. Tel 4255613; www.troutandwine.com.

A Tale of Two Tours

Malbec made Argentine wine famous, but its true French roots are lesser known on this side of the Atlantic. Amanda Barnes goes in search of the original Malbec - in Cahors, France before indulging in a luxury tour of its adopted home here in Mendoza.

The French Connection

Coming from Argentina, the first thing that really strikes you about Cahors is how green it is. Emerald green fields run into sloping lime green lawns with brooding pine green forests above –this is a very lush landscape. And typically on the day we arrive, it's raining.

Nestled in the middle of Southern France, almost equidistant between France's two coast lines, the Lot region has a privileged position in the heart of food and wine country between Bordeaux and Provence. So it is no surprise that the local gastronomy is one of the main attractions for visitors of Cahors, as well as the stunning medieval architecture, multitudes of resplendent and crumbling chateaus and a host of outdoor activities.

Mr. Hugo Bikes

Biking is one of the best ways to travel around Maipu's wine circuit, and for this Mr. Hugo is your man. Mr. Hugo and his wife Norma started renting out bikes over five years ago and in this time they have learnt about what is really important to visitors: good equipment, solid advice, immediate emergency response, and free wine for everyone!

Hugo sets you off with a bottle of water, a map, and a direction and it doesn't take long to hit the first winery (which certainly eases any pain of actually exercising). When you return the owners sit you down with some wine, music, and friendly conversation before helping you onto the bus and waving goodnight.