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Susana Balbo, Argentina’s first female winemaker, owns the Agrelo winery Dominio del Plata. The restaurant, Osadia de Crear, which translates to “dare to create,” offers a fusion of Argentinian and Mediterranean seasonal cuisine using local ingredients like Mendocenean tomatoes, domestic goat meat, and herbs from the garden. The caprese salad, the roll of suckling goat, and the cheese and sweets dessert are highlights on the menu. The restaurant also has a deli, offering meat and cheese platters, fresh salads, and gourmet sandwiches made with homemade bread. Picnic baskets are available for guests who want to dine alfresco among the vines. Don’t leave without trying the Susana Balbo Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the winemaker’s personal favorite. Cochabamba 7801, Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza; [email protected]; +54 261 498 9200

A 75-minute drive south of downtown Mendoza lies the province’s burgeoning wine destination—the Uco Valley. Composed of three subregions—Tupungato, Tunuyan, and San Carlos—the Uco Valley is a 45-mile long strip of land sitting 3,000–5,000 feet above sea level at the foot of the Andes mountain range. The terroir of the Uco Valley is conducive to growing quality wine grapes, especially Mendoza’s flagship malbec grape, as well as merlot, cabernet sauvignon, torrontes, and chardonnay. Some of the world’s most significant winemakers have been lured to Uco Valley’s fertile soil. Over the past ten years, grape production has doubled in the Uco Valley thanks to international investment. State-of-the-art wineries, gourmet restaurants, luxury boutique hotels, and golf courses are popping up more frequently in the region as the wine tourism industry continues to grow. A visit to Mendoza would not be complete without a visit to several of Uco Valley’s distinctive wineries for wine tasting, dining, and soaking up the stunning landscape. Uncorking Argentina, Trout & Wine & Ampora Wine Tours can create personalized itineraries of Uco Valley’s top experiences.

Parapithecus Evolution Bar (named after an extinct primate) is a two-story bar and nightclub with bar food and live music on select nights. The upstairs has an outdoor section overlooking Aristides when you need to come up for some air. This place rocks til the early morning. Arístides Villanueva 265; +54 261 201 2482

Bonafide is a classic Argentine café whose roots reach back to 1917 in Buenos Aires. The name stands for “good faith” to reflect his family’s history in the coffee business and a symbol of trust for his clients. They also sell “Bocaditos” (sweet bites) and “Nugaton” (wafers filled with nougat cream), which have become classic Argentine chocolate snacks. Peatonal Sarmiento 102 - Mendoza. Tel: +54 261 423-7915

Possibly one of the most recognized malbec wine labels by the American market, Bodega Norton is one of Mendoza’s most prolific wineries. Founded in 1895 by the Englishmen Edmund James Palmer Norton, the winery has grown significantly under its Austrian management since 1989. Each year, Bodega Norton continues to garner serious accolades for its wines and talented winemakers. During the harvest season, Bodega Norton offers a variety of experiences for wine lovers to get their hands dirty in the vineyard. You can harvest the grapes, picking them off the vine and tasting the flavors of the different grape clusters. You can also choose to be a winemaker for the day, creating your own “blend” of wine, combining varietals and discovering their aromas, textures and complexity. Both experiences require 24-hour advance reservation. Ruta 15, km 23.5, Perdriel, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza; +54 261 490 9700

One of the most beautiful natural lakes in Mendoza is hidden in San Carlos. The provincial reserve “Laguna del Diamante” is 10,600 feet above sea level with a view of the towering Maipo Volcano. Its name comes from the volcano’s diamond-shape reflection in the lake. It takes several hours to get to from downtown Mendoza with a four-wheel drive vehicle, but it’s worth the trip. Hike around the four-mile lake, where your only company will most likely be guanacos and foxes (neither are dangerous). You can also go fishing, which costs $20 pesos. The area is naturally windy all year round, so bring a warm coat and comfortable shoes. A shuttle from the main square in San Carlos departs early in the morning and the last one returns at around 8:00 PM or you can camp overnight, ($750 pesos for a round trip shuttle ticket). There’s a $300 peso discount if you stayed in Uco Valley the night before. Laguna del Diamante is only open from January to the first week of April.

Posada Borravino is tucked away along one of Mendoza’s oldest poplar-lined streets in the city’s Chacras de Coria neighborhood. The country inn has eight distinct guestrooms that offer a peaceful respite in a quiet Mendocenean neighborhood. The hotel’s design is simple but elegant. Rooms feel clean and refreshing with rustic yet stylish furniture, patina walls, and high, white-washed wooden ceilings.

A boutique hotel experience in every sense, here guests frequently mingle in the sun-drenched living room and cultivate friendships over bottles of malbec and long evening asados (barbecues). The back garden provides an inviting place to enjoy a good book, dip in the small swimming pool, or simply soak up the tranquil atmosphere. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about what to do and see in Mendoza—from winery tours to adventure activities. In the evenings, Posada Borravino is lit up by dozens of scented candles, creating a magical ambience that casts a rosy glow on your entire stay.

If you’re looking for a day of grape-free respite in Mendoza, head off-the-grid to the hot springs of Cacheuta. The Terma Spa welcomes guests with an assemblage of thermal baths overlooking the scenic Mendoza River flowing downstream from the Andes. The indoor/outdoor thermal spa circuit winds through waters ranging in temperature from 73 to 105 degrees. Bubble beds, a water volcano and foot baths are strategically placed throughout the circuit to knead tense muscles. The Natural Solarium has a basin of therapeutic mud for slathering all over your body and baking on the pool deck. Scrub yourself clean in the bithermal hydrojet shower and kick back on the flowering Andaluz patio. Next, head underground to the vaporarium and detoxify in its natural steam. Relax in the verdant garden until you’re ready for an afternoon spa treatment or another convalescing soak in Cacheuta’s healing mineral waters.

On this episode of “View From Afar,” Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, talks about a decade of exciting events and how the country can make inbound travel easier for international visitors.

Bodegas Salentein is one Mendoza’s oldest, largest, and most famous wineries located in the Uco Valley. The 5,000 acres of land where Salentein sits was once cultivated by Jesuit missionaries. Bodega Salentein strives not only to carry on the Jesuit tradition of winemaking, but also preserving a spirit of service to the community in which it operates. The winery’s stunning architecture is built in the shape of a cross. Its inspiring design is enhanced by the cultural and spiritual offerings on property. Bodegas Salentein’s cultural center, Kilka, exhibits a permanent collection of Argentine art and classic 19th and 20th century paintings by Dutch artists. The Kilka Gallery showcases contemporary artwork from various international artists that are available for purchase. An absolute must-see is the winery’s Gratitude Chapel, which was built as a tribute to nature using sustainable materials and a rural stonework technique native to the area. Posada Salentein is a an exclusive estancia located on the winery grounds that has 16 double rooms, an outdoor pool and a cozy fine dining restaurant that’s open to the public. Wine tastings are held among Bodegas Salentein’s 5,000 french oak casks in the wine cellar, where classical music events are also performed. Winery and art tours must be reserved in advance (Tuesday-Sunday). Ruta 89 S/N, Km 14, Los Árboles, Tunuyán, Mendoza; [email protected]; +54 0262 242 9500 ext. 3200

Make time to stop at the boutique winery La Azul for a tour with the winemaker and lunch at their parrilla-style restaurant right next door. You’ll enjoy the hospitable service, gourmet cuisine, and spectacular views. Pair your meal with a bottle of Azul Reserva, which is a blend of malbec and cabernet sauvignon that’s been aged for 15 months in French and American oak barrels. Ruta 89, Camino a Tupungato, Tupungato, Mendoza; +54 0262 242 3593

Casa Antucura is an idyllic eight-suite wine lodge with majestic views of the Andes Mountains. Located in the heart of the Uco Valley, the farmhouse-inspired boutique hotel is a remote getaway for relaxing and contemplating Mendoza’s beauty. Characterized by elegance and refinement, the country home was built for guests to enjoy the picturesque working vineyard and its fine wines.

Peruse the lodge’s art collection and expansive second-floor library, which features more than 7,500 multilingual books amassed by the hotel’s French owner. From coffee-table books on travel to celebrated classics, the library has an eclectic collection worth exploring. Grab a book and curl up next to the fireplace in the luminous sitting room, or swim off jet lag in the large outdoor swimming pool surrounded by a beautiful rose garden. For relaxation, book yourself a treatment in the spa.

Finca de Las Lechuzas specializes in horseback winery tours through the scenic vineyards of Agrelo in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. You can choose a morning, afternoon, or evening ride with a gaucho guide. The tours take you through the stunning countryside visiting 2-3 wineries with tours and tastings in each. There is also an option of lingering for an afternoon winery lunch. Some of the wineries you can visit include Viña Cobos, Decero, Belasco de Baquedano, Septima, Ruca Malen, Melipal, Cruzat (sparkling wine), Norton, and Terraza de los Andes. You can also nibble on homemade goat cheese with a visit to the goat farm Casa Cortegoso. Ruta 7 and Costaflores, Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza; +54 261 562-8223

O. Fournier is a modern architectural marvel located 80 miles (90 minutes) from downtown Mendoza in the district of San Carlos. It is one of Valle de Uco’s farthest wineries to visit, but it’s worth the drive to enjoy O. Fournier scenic views, distinctive design, and award-winning restaurant. José Manuel Ortega, a Spanish banker, bought the land in 2000 and contracted local architects to begin building O. Fournier in 2002. No expense was spared and no detail was overlooked to achieve Ortega’s vision. His talented wife, Nadia Harón, who delved into her passion for cooking when the pair moved to Mendoza, has become one of the country’s most notable chefs. Her restaurant, Urban at O. Fournier, blends Argentine and Mediterranean-Spanish flavors and traditions using fresh ingredients grown on the property’s 650-acre farm. If you find yourself falling in love with O. Fournier’s wine and landscape, you may just be tempted to purchase a small plot of land from Ortega to harvest your own wine and create your own signature blends. Reservations to visit the winery and restaurant must be made in advance.

A five-minute walk from Chacras de Coria’s central plaza, you’ll find Clos de Chacras, a charming historic winery that has been delicately restored. Owned by a winemaking family whose ancestors emigrated from Switzerland in the late 1800s, Clos de Chacras’ wine and cuisine both feature a touch of European flair. The restaurant’s menu is predominantly Italian mingled with hints of French sauces and familiar Argentinean staples and cooking styles. The dishes change with the seasons so that the freshest ingredients are used. The tasting menu offers four courses with three wines, or you can order a la carte. Artisan olive oil, cheeses, ice cream and jam complement Clos de Chacras’ Gran Estirpe wine. In the warmer months enjoy alfresco dining on the patio, or move inside by the cozy fireplace on chillier nights. Monte Libano S/N, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza; +56 261 496 1285