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| I took that shot from the car, I used my polarizer filter to reduce the reflection, The Entrance to the Uco Valley |
The Uco Valley in Mendoza is one of the most fantastic place
I ever been, it is considered one of the top wine regions in Mendoza. The high
elevation, alluvial soils, irrigation sourced from the Andes Mountains,
with
over 250 sunny days a year, almost no rain and vast temperature differences
between day and night are all conducive to growing quality wine grapes. These
climate and geography elements come together to provide excellent fruit
ripening and concentration, developing colors, aromas, flavors and textures
resulting in wines that are deep in color, intense in aromas and rich in
flavors at a very affordable price.
The best Malbec in the world, and the food, the valley has
some of the best restaurants in Argentina.
I and two of my friends, Anne and Arnold, Arnold was so kind
to drive us for the day, he also took the reservations for me and Anne to visit
Salentein winery and for our 6 courses lunch at
Andeluna winery, and acted as
our guide as he knows the region very well.
Even if my birthday is only in February, my friend Anne
wanted that day to be my advance birthday celebration, I am so glad, cause it
was one of the best birthday celebration I ever had thanks to my friends.
We left the city around 9am to be in the valley around
10:30, the cloud were low, that meant that the view of the Andes would be covered, the cloud were very interesting and gave a
different mood to our excursion.
Our first stop was at the top of the hill overlooking the valley,
that’s where I realized how vast the valley was, I had no idea, so much land,
just amazing such a large country, so much green, beautiful.
Not only are they growing wine but all the orchards, from
walnuts to olives to peaches and oranges, name it and it might grow here.
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| View of the Uco Valley |
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| I took that shot from the car, I used my polarizer filter to reduce the reflection, Olives Plantation |
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| I took that shot from the car, I used my polarizer filter to reduce the reflection, Olive Plantation |
Our second stop was at the most popular winery in the Valley
“Salentein”,
the “King of the Valley”.
Salentein has the “single biggest cool climate
estate” in Mendoza. This estate in Valley de Uco has a linear distance of 22
kilometers on an area of 800 hectares with vineyards at altitudes ranging from
1,050 to 1,550 meters. A variety of microclimates (with different temperatures
due to solar radiation), endowed with great thermal amplitude, a diversity of
soils, altitudes and orientations, offers a unique ecosystem for growing
grapes, and led to the discovery of new winemaking profiles.
Our first stop was the Gratitude Chapel,
the austere chapel was built using only environmentally friendly materials. The
innovative building enhances the beauty of the landscape and creates a uniquely
inviting spot to enjoy an afternoon. Created both for the celebration of
service at winery and for the open participation of community, the chapel is
located at the entrance road to Killka. It consists of a small chamber with a
large atrium, in the style of the old Andean chapels, where mass can be
celebrated framed by the magnificent scenery.
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| Gratitude Chapel |
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| Gratitude Chapel |
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| Gratitude Chapel |
After what we went directly to the entrance building to start the tour and tasting.
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| Entrance Building and Art Gallery |
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| The Bodega |
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| The Bodega |
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| The most amazing cellard! |
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| The Tasting |
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| Art blending with the architecture! |
After an amazing visit at Salentein we went to
Andeluna for a 6 courses lunch.
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| Our 6 Courses Menu |
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| Andeluna Kitchen |
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| A Table With a View |
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| Homemade Olive Bread. |
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| Amazing Food |
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| Smoked Trout |
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| Chef Santiago Orozco Russo |
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| Braised Pork, melting in your mouth! |
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| The Filet was amazing! |
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| The Mousse, fantastic |
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| My Birthday Cake, a real dream. |
It was an amazing lunch, the food the wine everything was excellent, one of the best meal ever!
Before returning to Mendoza we stop by
The Vines of Mendoza.
In 2005, Pablo Gimenez Riili and Michael Evans recognized
the world-class potential of Mendoza’s Uco Valley and invested in 250 acres of
land. Their purpose: to bring the dream of owning a vineyard and making your
very own premium quality wine to reality. The Vines of Mendoza has since sold
Private Vineyards to more than 130 owners from around the globe, expanded the
property to 1,500 acres and established the highest quality winemaking
enterprise in the region.
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| The Grapes at The Vines of Mendoza |
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| The Vines Resort |
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| The Vines Resort |
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| The Vines Resort |
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| The Vines Resort |
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| The Andes and the vineyards |
Going back to Mendoza after a memorable day!!!
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| I took that shot from the car, I used my polarizer filter to reduce the reflection, The Andes and the vineyards |
