Presents: Argentina Wine & Passion

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1 Presents: Argentina Wine & Passion Day One Depart USA! Depart home for your South American adventure. Day Two -- Arrive in Buenos Aires. Welcome to Buenos Aires! Your private escort will meet you as you pick up your luggage. From the airport, you will arrive at your hotel located in Palermo Soho, a newly fashionable area of design, restaurants, bars and street culture. The traditional low houses of this area have been adapted into boutique cafés and bars, creating a truly bohemian feel. Once you arrive at your hotel, unpack, relax and enjoy your first taste of Argentina! Your 4-star hotel features daily breakfast, 24 hour concierge, Jacuzzi, solarium terrace, heated swimming pool, Zen patio, sauna, massage room, gym and internet access. The rest of the day is yours to explore your surroundings, sip on a glass of wine, or linger by the hotel pool while taking in the spectacular views of the city. Tonight, dinner suggestions can be arranged upon request. Day Three - Embrace Buenos Aires. After breakfast at your hotel, you are off to explore Buenos Aires! Don t miss the chance to visit the four historic parks and plazas of this magnificent city: Plaza de Mayo, Parque Lezama and La Boca, Plaza San Martin and Recoleta.

2 Plaza de Mayo is considered the heart of Buenos Aires, both from a historical and political point of view, and is the site where the city was founded. Parque Lezama and La Boca are two areas of the city known as the Old South. One of the oldest districts in the city, this area is crowded by artist s ateliers, colorful houses of rambling architecture, antique shops and cobblestone streets, all of which showcase the early times of Buenos Aires. Plaza San Martin and Retiro show the passage of the Old South to the new residential district, developed at the turn of the 19th century when Buenos Aires began modeling and building after the strong European influences strained upon them. Recoleta, the sophisticated and stylish district of French influence, is noted for its historic architecture, avenues and barrios. A must see while touring Buenos Aires! This evening, sample the eclectic cuisine of this remarkable country. Cuisine of Argentina is distinctive in South America for its strong resemblance to Spanish, Italian, French and other European flavors, rather than of the traditional Latin American palate. Argentina is also one of the world s major food producers. Have dinner at the small intimate wine bar, Gran Bar Danzon. Day Four - Gaucho Day at Estancia La Cinacina. Today you will be stepping back in time and enjoying the life of the Argentina Gaucho on this special trip to San Antonio de Areco. Meet your guide and other Gauchos-in-training to spend the day learning all about the life of Argentinean cowboys! Once you reach the town of Areco, you will enjoy a tour of the Main Square, the Old Bridge, other historical sites and the most outstanding silversmiths in the River Plate area. Finally you arrive at the Estancia, in the Pampas region. You will be welcomed with music, empanadas, salami, country-made bread and drinks. Next, you will take your choice of a guided horse back ride or carriage ride around the Estancia grounds. A traditional Argentinean BBQ lunch will be served. During lunch you are welcome to participate in the folk singing and dancing. Your day ends with an exhibit of the real gaucho horse riders and the different buildings that make up the Estancia; including the main house, ranch house and stables.

3 Before you depart back to Buenos Aries you will be served a traditional hot drink with sweet stuffed pastries! You will return to your hotel this evening to relish your final night in Buenos Aries. Day Four Arrive in Mendoza. After enjoying breakfast and a leisurely morning at your hotel, pack up your belongings in preparation of your flight to Mendoza. Meet your guide in the lobby who will escort you to the domestic airport in Buenos Aires. Upon arrival into Mendoza, you will be met by a local host who will escort you on a grand Mendoza city tour and then transfer you to your hotel. Mendoza is situated on the major road between Argentina and Chile; hikers often frequent the city on their way to climbing Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere. Your tour includes a visit to the main plazas, Plaza Independencia, Plaza España and Plaza Martín. You will also visit the Las Heras Street Museum and the historical indoor Food Market. Lastly you head to Parque General San Martín, a beautiful park that pays homage to the hero of the Argentine War of Independence. Before retiring to your hotel you are scheduled to visit one of the most prestigious tasting rooms in Mendoza to enjoy a reserve flight tasting of five premium wines from several boutique wineries that you will be visiting over the next few days. Enjoy! Your hotel in Mendoza is a charming boutique property that comes complete with its own private bodega. Reminiscent of a late 1800 s Tuscan villa, dwarfed by mighty pine, palm trees and surrounded by neat rows of vineyards, the hotel has only 7 rooms all equipped with tall French doors, wide windows and elegant, ochre-colored décor. This evening, you may wish to borrow one of the hotel s bicycles to explore the local bodegas of the area. Or, simply relax in the hotel lounge, followed by a sophisticated dinner in the superb on-site restaurant which utilizes fresh, local produce accompanied by a highly-rated wine list. Day Five - Wine Tour of Lújan de Cuyo. This morning, enjoy a hearty breakfast as you prepare for a full day of wine tastings. Meet your local guide in the lobby for a visit to three wineries of the Lújan de Cuyo, home to the Malbec grape and where the most prestigious Argentine wineries are located.

4 The first winery was built in 1901 by Agustín Álvarez, then governor of the Mendoza province. As one of the few historic Mendoza relics left from the end of the 19 th century, this adobe style building has a stone cava which provides an excellent place for wine barrels and bottles as the temperature changes between summer and winter are minimal. The wine tour takes you from the vineyards and sorting machines to the fermentation and aging rooms, offering an intimate glimpse into the winemaking process from grape to bottle. Next, you will visit a winery that came into existance by an encounter between two men with an admitted mutual dream of having their own vineyard in Mendoza, that paradise sits at the foot of the snowcapped Andes. Immediately they came to an agreement and began working on the project with a devotion only to the production of excellent wines, months later they produced their first vintage. From the beginning the work was focused in the quality of the wines. After the fourth crop (2002) the construction of its cellar began. The winery has 27 hectares of vineyards in Agrelo, but it also uses quality vineyards belonging to small producers with long traditions of excellent vines. You will enjoy a traditional Argentinean lunch paired with wines on the second story tasting terrace offering stunning views of the Andes! Your final winery visit is in the prestigious region of Perdriel. To produce their wines, the owners recovered an old winery property in Sotero Arizu, one of the pioneers of Argentinean wine production. The wines are produced with vines planted at different heights terraces of the mountain, and they are distinguished by their balance between intensity and elegance. Upon completion of today s tour, you will be escorted back to your hotel in Mendoza to enjoy the duration of the evening at your leisure. Relax and savor the excellent food and wine of the region. Dinner recommendations can be made upon request. Day Seven - Cooking Class & Wine Tasting in Uco Valley. Early this morning, meet your local guide who will escort you on a ninety minute drive down to a relatively new and very exciting wine region, where great grapes, walnuts and various fruits grow in abundance. The Uco Valley is a unique region with varying elevations and abundant sweet water that provides local winemakers with some of the best terrior they could ever wish for. The distinct quality of the grapes grown here have encouraged many modern and progressive wineries based in the Lujan and Maipú regions to also plant vineyards here in the Uco Valley.

5 Your first visit will be to a local estate winery established by two local brothers. Originally, the building was a warehouse but it has now been skillfully transformed in a winery defined by gravity, benefitting from the experience and wisdom of the two brothers father, who manages the daily operations. Their 2002 varietals were rated in the top seventy wines coming out of South America This is a sure sign of greatness in the making! A tasting here will be followed by another small, rural winery which features its own highly rated bistro, set in a very cleverly converted vineyard workers cottage, on the grounds of the winery. After a morning of wine tasting you will meet one of Mendoza s most talented young chefs who will give you the opportunity to prepare a traditional, regional dish from the restaurant menu. Later, enjoy your masterpieces on the vineyard s patio with the majestic backdrop of the Andes in full sight. Your lunch is complemented by the select wines of the vineyard, befitting of a celebration of the remarkable food and wine of this incredible destination. Arriving back at your hotel in the early evening, ask the concierge for a dinner suggestion or head out on your own to the restaurant 1884 at Bodega Escorihuela for an unforgettable dinner. Day Eight Mendoza at Leisure. Mendoza is an action enthusiast s fantasy, as there are numerous activities to be enjoyed, including: mountaineering, hiking, horseback riding, rafting and other sports. Especially of note are the two major industries of Mendoza, olive oil production, and of course, wine making. Enjoy your final two days in Mendoza anyway that you wish! We suggest you have lunch at the upscale deli Azafrán, a local favorite. Day Nine Ride through the Vineyards. If you wish, a ride through the vineyards can be arranged for you today. You are going to be taken on a horseback ride through the vineyards and surrounding area of a local winery. Your cabalgata (horse-ride) takes you through their vineyards ascending to the Mirador Cerro Melón where you will enjoy an outstanding view of the "Vistalba Valley" and the Andes. Next, the winery s oenologist will tell you about the history of the winery, their wines and the characteristics of each varietal; Malbec, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The ride is complimented by wine and grape tastings and traditional Argentine maté and tortitas. On return to the winery you will enjoy a traditional lunch amongst the vineyards.

6 Arriving back at your hotel in the early evening, we encourage you to make your final night in Mendoza a memorable one! Day Ten - Depart for Home. This morning, your driver will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and escort you on to the domestic airport in Mendoza. Once you arrive in Buenos Aires, you will be transferred to the international airport in time to catch your departing flight to the United States. We wish you Chau, Suerte! Bye and Good Luck in preparation of fortuitous things to come INCLUDED: Day One: No inclusions Day Two: Private transfer from airport to Buenos Aires hotel 4-star overnight accommodations in Buenos Aires Day Three: 4-star overnight accommodations in Buenos Aires Day Four: Full Day excursion to La Cinacina *Includes: Transportation, English-speaking guide, welcome snacks, lunch & tour of Estancia 4-star overnight accommodations in Buenos Aires Day Five: Private transfer from Buenos Aires hotel to airport Private transfer from airport to Mendoza hotel Grand Mendoza City Tour & private wine tasting en route to hotel *Includes: English-speaking guide & driver

7 Day Six: Full Day Lújan de Cuyo wine tour & tasting *Includes: (3) winery tours & tastings, English-speaking guide & driver Traditional wine-paired lunch among vineyards Day Seven: Full Day Maipú wine tour & tasting *Includes: (2) winery tours & tastings, cooking instruction at winery, English-speaking guide & driver Traditional wine-paired lunch among vineyards Day Eight: Day Nine: Optional: Ride through the Vineyards tour & tasting (not included in package) Optional: Lunch at a winery (not included in package) Day Ten: Private transfer from Mendoza hotel to airport Private transfer from domestic to international airport terminal, in Buenos Aires

8 NOT INCLUDED: Prices do not include costs of obtaining passports, visas, inoculations, excess baggage charges, all items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls and cables, internet access, meals not specified in the itinerary, personal and baggage insurance, local airport taxes and tips to waiters, hotel staff, tour conductors, sightseeing drivers and guides. Gratuities: Tips to tour guides, waiters, hotel staff and baggage handling are not included and are at the tour participant s discretion. Guidelines for gratuities will be provided with final tour documents. Most meals, unless otherwise noted on itinerary, or room service charges Intercontinental flights Tips to drivers and guides Porterage at arrival Luggage handling fees at hotels Travel insurance Excessive baggage or shipping charges Storage and/or transportation of excess baggage Charges for extra meals, transport, sightseeing service or other optional additions to your itinerary are your responsibility and must be paid locally. Excess time beyond contracted service carried out at the request of the passenger for driver, guide service, vehicle charges, etc. Additional wait time or additional service due to delayed or cancelled airlines Any items not specified under inclusions PLEASE NOTE: Every effort will be made to confirm your requested sightseeing tour as outlined in the itinerary; however, individual wineries, museums, estates, etc. can change their hours of operation at short notice. In the event that a particular tour closes on the day or time of your visit, your guide will offer alternative arrangements. LAND QUOTE RATE PER PERSON: Vacation Price Starting at: $2, USD per person double occupancy. EXACT VACATION QUOTE: Will be calculated based on dates of travel, hotel category and transportation type.