A dream trip to Argentina's wine country: Mendoza Vineyard Hot Spring Resort

After drinking two or three glasses of malbec wine, who has never dreamed of planting some grapes in a small scenic spot and mixing the wine himself?

For most of us, this daydream is just a whim. Once we consider practical problems, we no longer dream of becoming an elegant winery owner. But there is an easier entrance to the wine world, and that is the grape vine in Mendoza, Argentina. This private brewery is due to the bold idea of an American and a passionate Argentine.

More than ten years ago, Michael Evans was looking for his next goal. Prior to this, he worked for the presidential campaign and served as the chief operating officer of Rock the Vote. He is very interested in making wine, but he doesn't want to invest heavily in buying vineyards. Evans met Pablo Gimenez Riili Riili, the third generation winemaker in Mendoza. Riley also went to law school and worked in the real estate industry, but by this time he had developed his family vineyard from a local table wine manufacturer to a famous exporter. In 1980s, Argentine wine won a good reputation. Li believes that Mendoza Vineyard is the only vineyard that combines the shrewd mind of North Americans with the sincere feelings of Argentines. Unlike several other privately owned vineyards in Mendoza, wine is the most important thing in Mendoza vineyards.

Evans and Riley's idea is to sell small plots of land (the smallest area is only one acre) in the famous grape producing area of Uco Valley to interested winemakers, and then let these small land investors connect with award-winning winemakers and first-class agronomists and adopt the most advanced irrigation system. The vineyard has developed more than 130 small landowners, planted 28 varieties of grapes, and produced 230 kinds of high-quality wines, from daily drinking at home to bottled wines supplied to wine shops and restaurants. Just like Nigel Cooper's wine brand Nashville shell, it specializes in supplying his local restaurants.

But somehow, in the past ten years, although many investors have actively participated in planting, they have not found a practical way to stay here for a long time, and tourists can't experience the brewing process for themselves. Mensa Vineyard has only three humble huts for vineyard owners to live in, and there are no decent hotels. Investors usually live in Mendoza, which is 90 minutes' drive from the English Channel. They will come to the vineyard for lunch and a walk.

At the request of investors, Vines Resort Spa opened last autumn, which changed this situation. Resorts and hot springs are also marketing tools to attract new potential investors, although the publicity is cautious. This place is not only a comfortable base camp for vineyard investors, but also convenient for them to inspect their own grapes; It is also open to the public, becoming the first truly five-star hotel in the British Valley.

This means that the vineyard resort is very suitable for tourists who want to relax in the picturesque and undulating wine country. This place is close to Buenos Aires, Patagonia and other South American tourist attractions, and it is also an attractive tourist destination in itself. This resort has 22 villas with one bedroom and two halls. The villa is uniquely decorated and spacious, with a fully equipped kitchen, a real fireplace and a spa-like bathroom. The outdoor bath is located on a private terrace overlooking ponds, vineyards and snow peaks. This resort also has a beautiful swimming pool, a spa that will open next year, and a gym with the best view (beautiful scenery in four directions) that I have ever seen. The vineyard has established a cooperative relationship with local sports equipment suppliers, which means that tourists can easily participate in excellent hiking and horseback riding activities. Nino Masi, an enthusiastic mountain guide, strongly recommends climbing the mountain to watch the sunrise. If there are dark clouds in the morning, you can enjoy the sunset. Although it is rare, it still makes me meet it. )

The Siete Fuegos restaurant in the resort is the brainchild of Argentine chef Francis Mallmann, who also owns the vineyard. Actually, there are seven stoves here. Almost all delicious food (except eggs for breakfast and pasta for dinner) is cooked on the stove. Chef Diego Irrera has been a chef in Mahlman 1884 restaurant in Mendoza for ten years. He is not afraid of fire, and his cooking is very delicious, whether it is in the main restaurant, cooking class, vineyard private kitchen or family dinner held on the long table next to seven stoves every week. There is no doubt that on the various and eclectic wine lists (all wines are produced in Argentina), there are some delicious wines that can be paired in interesting ways.