Wednesday 20th to Friday 22nd September 2006: ARGENTINA, Mendoza

With sadness we left Buenos Aires for Mendoza, but we were much cheered when we got on our bus as we had chosen to pay a little extra and try out the first class option! With fully reclining seats (literally beds), dinner (2 courses) and breakfast with wine, english movies plsu champagne and chocolates, it was definitely worth the extra pesos as this was the most comfortable and luxurious journey we have ever taken in our lives!!!!

Mendoza lies at the foot of the Andes (it´s snow capped peaks are always in view) and is the wine making province of Argentina. Having sampled lots of different types of wine in Buenos Aires (mostly Mendozan) we looked forward to visiting a bodega (vineyard) and sampling more wine.

Our visit to La Rural Bodega 15km outside Mendoza was interesting but rather frustrating as we couldn´t fully understand the spanish speaking guide. Still we enjoyed the views, looking at the antique wine making equipment and most of all the free wine tasting at the end.

Antique wine making equipment

Now that´s what you call a wine cellar!

La Bodega Rural Vineyard
(snow capped Andes in background)