Jay, We went to Mendoza about three weeks ago. Our tour guide was Macarena Villalon and she is with Contact Us | Aventura & Wine
I cannot recommend her enough. She speaks perfect English and she has worked at some of the wineries in Mendoza. Everyone seemed to know her and doors were opened to us that I am sure are not for most.
Our tours were arranged by this couple:
Leticia and Alex Kostovetsky
Travel Consultants
Buenos Aires - Argentina
TEL : +54-11-4833-4891 Desk
CEL : +54 911 4030 1734 Leticia
CEL : +54 911 4470 3323 Alex
They booked through aventura but you could go with either. They arranged everything including a driver. We had a blast. Some we toured:
Vistalba
Monteviejo (Clos Siete Group)
Cantena
Susanna Balbo (Dominio del Plata)
Corazon del Sol (Group of several mostly start up wineries) Ferrer makes their wine of Achaval Ferrer
Achaval Ferrer
Pulenta
Andeluna
We also had a six hour guided tour of the city which was great.
e-mail address for Alex and Leticia: leticia-alex@fibertel.com.ar
We will soon be leaving on the first leg of our trip which is to Cape Town and we will eventually wind up in Mendoza 27-30 December. We have pulled AF from the tour list and will be seeing Carmelo Patti instead. Having dinner with Mark Addington and his wife at his home and will be tasting his wines (Lost in the Andes) there. Brennan Firth of Cepas Elegidas is arranging a private tasting in Mendoza probably at our apartment. Busy schedule but we will be returning with wine that we can’t buy here.
On a side note, we will be visiting wineries while we are in Montevideo and in Punta del Este, Uruguay as well. I was able to find a few examples here at home and what I tried was quite good. I had no real experience with Tannat but found the Bodegas Carrau Amat and Ysern to be quite good with some decanter time. There is also a boutique producer of Zin and Zin blends (Artesana) in Uruguay and we hope to pick up a few from them.
The only problem is limiting my purchases to two cases which is all my two wine suitcases can carry. A good problem to have.