Imagen blogging: January no 4, Uco Valley Mendoza

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.

View of the Uco Valley

I took that shot from the car, I used my polarizer filter to reduce the reflection, Olives Plantation

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.

Gratitude Chapel

After what we went directly to the entrance building to start the tour and tasting.

Entrance Building and Art Gallery

The Bodega

The most amazing cellard!

The Tasting

Art blending with the architecture!

After an amazing visit at Salentein we went to Andeluna for a 6 courses lunch.

Our 6 Courses Menu

Andeluna Kitchen

A Table With a View

Homemade Olive Bread.

Amazing Food

Smoked Trout

Chef Santiago Orozco Russo

Braised Pork, melting in your mouth!

The Filet was amazing!

The Mousse, fantastic

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.