Mendoza, land of sun and great wine. You hear this from locals and visitors alike. There is plenty of sun, definitely great wine. With over 2,000 wineries, new wines being released all the time, and many places to taste boutique wines and new bottlings from established wineries.

We have been spending the winter here to check this hypothesis. so far, we made forays into two different areas to check out wines, landscapes and of course, food.

Riccitelli Winery

Situated in Las Compuertas, winemaker (enologo) Matias Riccitelli and team have built a growing operation using local grapes from vines planted as early as 1908. Their wines are organically, made with the spirit of ‘less is more’. No filtration, no sulfites, with the least possible intervention. We tasted several wines here, each one a surprise. Republica de Malbec is rich, bold, with soft expression of tannins and highly recommended. The name is a fitting tribute to the labor of the many people who have contributed to making this wine possible.

Finca del Nunca Jamas (Never Ever Winery)

Situated in Tunuyan, and the heart of Valle de Uco. This area has been a center of grape growing for many years, with high altitude and different soils vineyards in this area producing different grapes to produce several excellent wines. Among the wines we tasted was a zippy white made from Pedro Ximenez grapes, more commonly associated with Jerez from Spain. The Cabernet Franc we tasted straight from the barrel! It had a slight note of tobacco, which brings to memory Dalmore whisky.

The lunch was great, starting with an amazing whole wheat bread topped with roasted onions, we enjoyed spinach pasta with morels and entraña and ended with scrumptious dessert of profiterole filled with cream and pavlova.

On our way back to the city, we drove back through Tupungato where you could see grapevines stretching out for acres. The other of the road was jotted with oil rigs and surrounded by the harsh rugged and beautiful landscapes with wide open skies and amazing mountains.

We concur that yes, Mendoza has plenty of sun, a few wintry days that brought in the needed snow to the mountains and some cold air to the city. This has been a really warm and sunny winter.. we are loving it!

Much more to see and do in Mendoza, stay tuned…

Walk good!

Buenos Aires is a pulsating South American city consisting of many different neighborhoods, some traditional and many that continue to evolve. It is a city full of activity, attracting people from the surrounding areas, of Buenos Aires province.

Many futbol (football/soccer) teams remain in neighborhoods, within the capital city and surrounding areas. Which games you can go see will vary depending on the season.

For those interested in music, there are many venues where you can find live music almost any day of the week. We stopped by Thelonius Club to listen to Jazz and it was fantastic. (https://www.instagram.com/theloniousbuenosaires). You can check out their programming here (https://bue.tickethoy.com/lugares/thelonious-club). Thelonius Club is located in the Palermo Soho neighborhood which is filled with restaurants with a variety of cuisines. ice cream shops. If you are an ice-cream lover, Alchemy is a great find for your next visit: (https://www.instagram.com/alchemy.ba/)

Even though we had several recommendations from friends regarding food, coffee and more , Buenos Aires is a city that lends itself to walking and discovering on your own. In winter, it a very pleasant place to just stroll and let the day unfold.

Some suggestions for having a wonderful Buenos Aires experience:

1. Get local money by exchanging dollars right away. You may be able to exchange at the ‘Blue’ rate, a rate far higher than the official rate. The official rate is what you will get when using your foreign credit card. The exchange at the Ezeiza airport is as good a choice.
2. Get a local SIM card and add a pack of data. Coverage in Buenos Aires is similar across carriers (Claro, Movistar, Personal). You can easily add money to your SIM card in kiosks around the city.
3. If you plan to use public transportation (buses or trains) get a SUBE card at a kiosk and load it with money for a few trips. Trips are inexpensive and allows for travel throughout the city.
4. Though I have not a prepaid credit card, it may be a good way to move around and minimize handling cash. Check out wise (https://wise.com/help/articles/2968915/can-i-get-the-wise-card-in-my-country).
5. Cabify or Uber are apps for rideshares that work well. Sometimes it will take a while to get a car assigned so you need a bit of patience.
6. If you arrive at Aeroparque, the local airport, you can get a guaranteed rate for a taxi by scanning a QR code outside at the taxi stop and enter your destination. The taxi drivers will charge you the stated amount. This help to illuminate potential surcharges and surprises.
7. Some local parks close on Monday!!!. For example, Jardín Botánico Carlos Thays. Plan accordingly.
8. Make reservations ahead for lunch and dinner if possible. We were able to get a table at Tigre Morado on a Saturday for lunch but needed to leave before the people that had reservations came. A few place to check out the food are Aho Negro, La Dorita, Panederia Ritz for sandwiched de Miga and please don’t forget to try a street food stands for a choripan on the go.
9. Many restaurants open until late. If you don’t feel like going out, PedidosYa or Rappi can get you almost any food you want. You can pay with argentine pesos if you don’t have a debit or credit card.

Buenos Aires is a walkable, green city with wide boulevards, museums, theaters and restaurantsand it is a food lovers paradise. The mix architecture, music and art has a surprise waiting for you in every corner. There is history and culture to keep you interested, and plenty of food and drink to keep you energized as you discover this sprawling city.

Till next time.

We are starting to document our journey as nomads. Taking new steps in places we thought we knew, discovering new places, sounds, tastes and smells.

We are passionate about food, where the ingredients come from, and how it is made. Many great conversations start around the table, preparing food and remembering something you tasted somewhere.

Join us as we share our experiences.

Alex and Phyl