Mendoza

1. Bodegas Salentein

The Salentein winery complex is situated at the foothills of the Andes, in the Uco Valley, about an hour and a half's drive from Mendoza city. The soil, altitude and desert conditions are ideal for growing grapes. The cellars are 9m below ground and kept at a constant temperature of 12° Centigrade.

In the Prinus room there are 12 French casks which hold the limited edition wines, made only when the harvest is exceptional. There are three tasting rooms with tables made from enormous, solid stone slabs. Accommodation is available at the Bodegas Salentein ranch and the restaurant serves regional foods.

Bodegas Salentein, Route 89, S/N, Km. 14, Los Arboles, Phone: +54-26-22-42-95-00

2. Bodega Benegas

Don Tiburcio Benegas was a visionary and a pioneer in the Argentinian wine industry in the late 19th century. Around that time, there was a crisis in the production of wheat and alfalfa. He shared vine cuttings that he had brought back from France with all who showed an interest in viticulture.

His great-grandson now owns Bodega Benegas and operates from a large building built in 1901. Bodega Benegas has the capacity to ferment 80000 liters of wine in concrete tanks, mature the wine in 350 French oak barrels and store 200000 bottles of corked wine. The winery produces four lines of wine from three vineyards near Lujan de Cuyo.

Bodega Benegas, Aráoz 1600 (Ruta Prov. 60), Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, CP 5507, Phone: +54-26-14-96-07-94

3. Bodega Trapiche

Bodega Trapiche was founded in 1883 and was one of the first wineries in the fledgling Mendoza wine industry. The winery received its first international award in Paris in 1889.

Today, it is Argentina's largest exporter of fine wines, has twice been named Argentina's Wine Producer of the Year and is one of the top 50 most admired wine companies in the world. The winery's Visitor Center is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. The winery cultivates 1255 ha of its own vineyards and collaborates with over 300 other growers. They produce mostly red wines but also a white Pinot Grigio.

Bodega Trapiche, Calle Nueva Mayorga s/n, M5513 Maipú, Mendoza, Phone: +54-26-15-20-76-66

4. Cacheuta Thermal Baths

The Cacheuta Thermal Baths are located 30 minutes' drive from Mendoza city, on the old road leading to Uspallata pass and the mountains of Chile. They were developed in 1904 and made popular when the railroad passed by in 1910. They were destroyed by a glacial flood in 1934 and rebuilt in the 1980s.

There are several stone pools with water set at different temperatures. The hotel spa provides services such as hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, reflexology and massages. Visitors can also enjoy a mud bath and a spell in the grotto sauna. The restaurant offers a buffet, barbecued meals and an a la carte menu.

Cachueta Thermal Baths, Ruta Prov. Nº82 Km 38 Cacheuta, Mendoza, Phone: +54-26-24-49-01-52

5. Bovedas de Uspallata

The domed Vaults of Uspallata were built in the 18th century by Jesuit monks. There are examples of hydraulic mills, smelting furnaces and aquaducts in the colonial mining complex.

Gold, silver and copper were among the minerals mined there. General José San Martin (1778 – 1850), a Spanish Argentinian military leader, instrumental in gaining the country's independence, lived at the complex and held office there during his liberation campaigns. The stone and adobe buildings have been converted into a small museum. Permanent exhibitions explain the indigenous culture of the area, smelting, metallurgy and mineralogy, and the life and work of General San Martin.

Bovedas de Uspallata, Provincial Route 39, km. 12. St. Albert. Uspallata, Phone: 02-62-41-55-57-07-55

6. Skiing in Penitentes

This 300 acre skiing resort is at the base of Mt Aconcagua, 25 km from the national border. The name is derived from the ice formations which look like penitent people praying. There are ski lifts and 25 tracks of varying difficulty at Penitentes.

Nordic, Alpine, competition and extreme skiing courses have been set and there are facilities for snowboarding and heli-skiing. The resort is suitable for skiers of all levels and is a fun family day out. There is a ski school for those wishing to improve their skills, a shop selling ski gear and memorabilia, and a restaurant on the premises. There is accommodation for almost 2000 people in the vicinity. Skiing in Penitentes

7. La Posada del Jamon

This ranch inn in the Uco Valley is a family-owned enterprise. The specialty of the restaurant is pork, prepared according to regional and national traditions. Ham, from pigs raised on the ranch, is cured and sold on site and used in the restaurant.

Fruit and vegetables are also grown on the premises at La Posada del Jamon, as are the grapes used to make the two house wines. There are an additional 200 labels of local wines in the well-stocked wine cellar. Guests can stay overnight in fully-equipped cabins, with access to the swimming pool, bicycles and acres of grounds.

La Posada del Jamon, Route 92 - Km. 13 - Vista Flores, Mendoza, Phone: +54-0-26-22-49-20-53

8. Finca Blousson

This refined, yet rustic, country style restaurant is situated in the Uco Valley, at the crossroads of provincial routes 89 and 94. The farmhouse is on the way to Manzano Historico, where national hero, General José San Martin, is thought to have rested in a tree on his way back from Chile.

The Finca Blousson restaurant sits in the shadow of the Andes, close to many wineries. The house has two balconies which overlook the valley, with views of the mountains and the vineyards. There are two rooms in the small guest house, for guests who wish to stay over.

Finca Blousson, Route 94, km 14, Tunuyan, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Phone: +54-9-26-11-56-55-33-82