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argentina

Explore in 24: A Foodie’s Tour of Mendoza

by Amanda Barnes June 15, 2015

If you have come to Mendoza to eat to your heart’s delight, then this is the itinerary for you. Vegetarian’s need not apply.

6pm: Start your night off with some wine tasting which inevitably builds an appetite. Book your own wine tasting with our local experts in a beautiful historical home where you can taste through Argentina’s key varieties, nibble on a few delicious local cheeses and get those taste buds going…

8.30pm: If you want to stay in the city and get a taste of some real Argentine cuisine with a gourmet touch, try out Siete Cocinas (Mitre 794) where chef Pablo del Rio serves up typical ingredients and dishes from the seven cuisine regions of Argentina; or try the fun, younger brother restaurant Fuente y Fonda (Montevideo 675) that specializes in family-sized Argentine dishes like milanesas and deep pasta dishes . Just outside the city center is Argentina’s most famous TV chef Francis Mallmann’s 1884 restaurant (Belgrano 1188, Godoy Cruz) where diners come to splash out and eat big.

11pm: Skip dessert because the real sweet tooth indulgence here is the ice cream, for which you have to go to one of the many popular ice cream parlors which will stay packed till 2am. Top scoops are the many dulce de leche flavors and wine inspired flavors like Malbec & Cream, and Torrontes sorbet. Try visiting Ferruccio Soppelsa or chocolate specialist Bianco y Nero, both of which have outlets all over town.

9am: Argentines don’t really do breakfast, so most breakfasts on the run consist of coffee (usually bad) and a tortita (a savory bread roll made with beef dripping). If you do like a breakfast though, go to Brillat Savarin (Juan B Justo 135) where you’ll meet petit France in Mendoza with dulce de leche and Malbec macaroons and ham and cheese croissants. Pack some to go and enjoy them during a morning stroll in San Martin Park.

11am: The best way to indulge in you culinary bone is with a winery lunch – courses paired with wines and making a game of flavor, texture and color are a delight to the eye and tongue. Check out our Top Five Winery Restaurants (LINK) or try a cooking class at Norton or Zuccardi (LINKS) to learn your way around some Argentine classics like homemade empanadas and steak with chimichurri sauce.

3pm: Siesta.

June 15, 2015 0 comment

By Region Argentina Features Buenos Aires Travel & Culture

Where to Watch the Copa America in Buenos Aires

by Amanda Barnes June 15, 2015

written by Amanda Barnes

Argentina will want to put the disappointment of last year’s World Cup final behind them by going one better at the Copa America 2015. Despite being held across the border in Chile, you can rest assured that the atmosphere in bars, pubs, and clubs across the country will be just as electric. But where can you watch this scintillating spectacle of football in the nation’s capital? Well, here is our guide on Where to Watch the Copa America in Buenos Aires.

El Alamo

If you are looking for somewhere to watch a game with all-but guaranteed coverage, cheap drinks and a mostly English-speaking clientele, this hugely popular American-owned bar is your best bet by a distance. However, the absence of locals gives El Alamo the feel of a North American enclave. Big and boisterous crowd can be somewhat of a distraction from the game, but you’ll enjoy the atmosphere if you are more into the action around the bar than the action on the pitch.
Uruguay 1175, Recoleta

Gibraltar

If you have come from the UK and find yourself missing home, this well-known watering hole will be comfortingly familiar. Although the Gibraltar offers a good range of drinks at reasonable prices and some excellent grub too, this true English style pub only has two televisions and uncomfortably big crowds make getting served or even catching a glimpse of the action a challenge.
Perú 895, San Telmo

Locos X El Fútbol

Conveniently located one block from the Recoleta cemetery, this café-bar has more screens than you can shake a stick at and is always ready to accommodate the needs of visiting sports fans. While service might be a bit slow, there are plenty of large screens to keep your attention while you await a brew or two.
Av. Las Heras 2101, Recoleta

Sugar

Perhaps the most well-known option in all of Buenos Aires, Sugar benefits from a prime location in Palermo Viejo and caters for everyone with a wide range of sports coverage and regular drinks promotions. Because of this popularity, you should expect colossal crowds (queues for the Super Bowl snaked down the street and into the distance).
Costa Rica 4619, Palermo

Sullivan’s Irish Bar

Very close to Plaza Serrano and almost always open, Sullivan’s is at the very least a reliable failsafe. The menu is decent and the surroundings pleasant enough to keep you hanging around long after the end of sporting proceedings. This is your typical Irish bar in a foreign country.
El Salvador 4919, Palermo

If you have any other suggestions on where to watch the Copa America in Buenos Aires, let us know by commenting below.

We also have guides on where to watch the tournament in Mendoza and Santiago too!

June 15, 2015 0 comment

Mendoza News By Region Argentina Features Wine

Bodega Casarena launches The Icon

by Rachel Davies June 14, 2015

written by Rachel Davies

It took 4 years in production, but Bodega Casarena has finally launched their new top level wine: The Icon. A blend of their two top single varieties DNA Malbec and DNA Cabernet Sauvignon, the Icon is a rich new addition to the winery’s bursting portfolio, including their recently premiered Single Vineyards collection.

Each Single Vineyards wine is named after the owner’s grandchildren, Jamila’s Malbec, Lauren’s Malbec, Lauren’s Cabernet Franc, and Owen’s Cabernet Sauvignon, to name a few. The philosophy behind their Single Vineyards line is to show the impact the soil has on the resulting wine. Jamila and Lauren’s vineyard are in Lujan de Cuyo and only 5 kilometers apart, but the soil changes notably – and so does the flavour. Jamila’s Malbec comes from rocky limestone and shallow soil giving the wine a fresh taste with mineral and red fruit notes. Lauren’s Malbec comes from clay soil with stones creating black fruit flavors, more intense than the lighter Jamila’s Malbec.

Bodega Casarena was built in 1937 and is co-owned by a North American and an Argentine family who have developed five different lines of wine. Take your pick of which to sip as you sprawl out on the comfy lounge chairs on the outdoor patio at this winery in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza.

June 14, 2015 0 comment

Mendoza Features By Region Argentina Features Wine

Visiting Norton with Jorge Riccitelli

by Amanda Barnes June 13, 2015

written by Amanda Barnes

When someone is voted ‘Winemaker of the Year’ by Wine Enthusiast, it’s a big deal. When they are the first person in South America to be given the honour, it’s an even bigger deal. But meeting Jorge Riccitelli, you’d never know. A humble and always smiling man, it is clear to see why Riccitelli is one of Argentina’s most loved winemakers.

As Head Winemaker of Norton for over 20 years, Jorge Riccitelli has won over hearts with his wines in Argentina and abroad for their simple and fulfilling style and their great price points. The award as best winemaker he humbly attributes to his wines and not to himself as a personality. He describes his wines as “happy” because they enable people to enjoy them in good company, heightening the friendly atmosphere, but not demanding your total attention on the wine. For Jorge Riccitelli, wine is something to make your life better, not to complicate it.

Although that’s not to say that Norton’s wines play by all the rules… Take Quorom as an example. A wine that blends not only varieties but also vintages: Quorom 1 has 60% Malbec 2002, 22% Merlot 2005 and 18% Petit Verdot 2006. When asked about why they decided to make this wine, his simple answer is “why not?”

Moving up the line you can taste Norton’s top wines: Lote – a single vineyard line which has some gorgeous Malbecs from three different vineyards in Mendoza; a collection of their Sparkling wines including the delightful champenoise method ‘Cosecha Especial’; and Gernot Langes. Named after the owner, Gernot Langes-Swarovski, their icon blend is a stunning mix of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Wait, Swarovski did you say? “Yes,” Jorge’s eye sparkles, “all the women recognize that name…” And as Jorge himself continues to makes gems in the bottle, his name too is bringing a sparkle to many a wine drinker’s eye.

June 13, 2015 0 comment

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