TRAVEL & WINE EXPERIENCES AROUND THE WORLD
Updated 09 Sep 2024
Buenos Aires
Its all about the Vino. Food. Cocktails. Vines.
Recently visited Argentina and met up with the sommeliers, the winemakers and the wine lovers from this part of the world and it took my heart away. These are some of my travel highlights. Photo by Martin Sanchez
Food and Vino.
Wine is best with food and friends. Here's some of our favourites.
Don Julio
Don Julio | One would visit Buenos Aires just to visit this place. One of the best steak houses in the world. Parrilla fire grilled steak paired beautifully with the best wines of Argentina. Be sure to make a reservation way before you arrive in Buenos Aires.
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Guatemala 4699, C1425 Cdad. BA
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https://www.parrilladonjulio.com
Photo from Facebook/parrilladonjulio/
+541148326058
Vini Bar
Vini Bar | Somm Luciano Sosto founded this wine bar and it's quickly becoming one of the popular to check out with a curated list of wines to try.
Jorge Luis Borges 1965, C1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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https://www.instagram.com/p/CwtL--5PtMr/
Photo from Instagram
Belisario Roldán
Belisario Roldán | Introduced to me by one of my local friends. Located next to a Horse ridding school and stables, the grounds are perfect to showcase their Argentinean fire grilled ribeye paired with Malbec.
Chef's Table Francis Mallman guested chef recently at Roldán. Friendly waiters and sommeliers ensure a great experience for everyone with an extensive wine list to pair.
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Av. Pres. Figueroa Alcorta 5100, C1426 CABA
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Photo from Instagram/Roldanba
+541143281326
San Telmo Market
San Telmo Market | Wine tasting and Beer & Empanadas in the midst of busy and bustling San Telmo Market. This is one of my best experiences in Buenos Aires.
Defensa 963, C1066AAQ CABA, Argentina
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Photo from Author
Bar El Federal
Bar El Federal | An historical icon with over 150 years in history, it was declared Notable by the Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires and a Site of Cultural Interest by the Buenos Aires Legislature.
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Started as a grocery store, it housed a brothel and a warehouse with a beverage outlet. It witnessed the transformation of the city, the yellow fever epidemic and the tragedy of a femicide, in addition to having served as the setting for classic Argentine cinema. It was established as the most symbolic Café Bar in San Telmo.
Carlos Calvo 599, C1068 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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http://www.barelfederal.com.ar/bar-el-federal/
Photo from Facebook/Bareslosnotables
Back to Wine School.
Check out some of these masterclasses and wine tasting while you are visiting.
CAVE Wine School
CAVE Centro Argentino de Vinos y Espirituosas | A visit to the school for Sommeliers that teaches wines, cocktails, beers.
Speak to the teachers and students, checkout their website for a Masterclass. One might catch Paz Levinson in one of her super masterclasses.
ABF, Juncal 838, C1062 Buenos Aires
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Photo from Instagram/cavearg
Wine Varietals of Argentina.
Here's some varietals that's uniquely or signature to Argentina. Map from Winefolly
Malbec
Argentina’s most famous red, full-bodied with smooth tannins and fruit aromas. Although the grape originates from France, it adapts very well to Argentine soil, so much so that Argentina is now the world’s biggest producer. There are malbecs from various regions, but 86% is produced in the province of Mendoza in the west of the country. This wine goes very well with an Argentine asado.
Bonarda
Bonarda is the second most cultivated red variety after Malbec and one of the most traditional. It's deep colour and its adaptability to hot regions. Good body and colour with raspberry aromas and subtle aniseed notes.
Torrontés
Considered the most famous criolla variety and is found only in Argentina and is said to be the country’s signature white wine. Wines from the Cafayate Valley GI (Salta) particularly stand out. Its light yellow wine with golden, green hues has aromas of flowers; rose, jasmine and geranium and often has fresh acidity.
Pinot Noir
Argentina offers a unique take on Pinot Noir with its wines from Neuquén and Rio Negro in Patagonia. Wines balance sweet red fruit flavors with leafy herbal tea-like flavors, dark fruits like raspberry, blackberry, beets and earth stand out.
Just over 1 hour flight away from Buenos Aires lies the famous wine region of Mendoza.
Back to the Vines.
Lujan de Cuyo.
Bodega Catena Zapata
Bodega Catena Zapata | A visit to Bodega Catena is a must when visiting Mendoza. In 1994, when Nicolás Catena put Wine of Argentina on the world map with his Catena Malbec.
Making wines from the Arianna Vineyard that saw high attitudes of 5000 feet of elevation to iconic wines that tells the story of the noble Malbec grape in their family's 120-year history.
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Cobos S/N, M5509 Luján de Cuyo
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https://catenazapata.com/contact.php
Photo from Facebook/bodegacatenazapata
Uco Valley.
Bodega SuperUco
Bodega SuperUco | Started as a passion project between the four Michellini Brothers and family members in 2011, this biodynamic and organic estate has views of the of the desert valleys of the Andes.
Their signature wine inclue Calcareo, SuperUco & Genitori. Grape varieties range from Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Merlot
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RP94, M5562 Los Chacayes
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Photo from instagram/superuco
Río Negro Region of Patagonia.
Chacra
Chacra | Río Negro is a a surprisingly perfect spot for Pinot Noir. Smack in the middle of Patagonia where temperatures gets quite high while the strong winds coming down the Andes cool the vines. Created by Piero Incisa della Rocchetta in 2004 with the intention of expressing the terrior of of Mainqué in the Río Negro region of Patagonia.
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Río Negro Province, Argentina
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Photo from Facebook/Bodegachacra
Jazz and Cocktails.
Of speakeasys and cocktails, there's lots to choose from in Buenos Aires.
Backroom Bar
Backroom Bar, Palermo | Sits discretely next to a bookshop with a backroom for live Jazz music every night. Extensive Cocktails and wines with very friendly staff and sommelier with great jazzy chill vibes.
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Jorge Luis Borges 1975, C1414 CABA
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www.instagram.com/backroom.bar/
Photo from instagram/backroom.bar
Floreria Atlantico
Floreria Atlantico | A hidden door in a florist store that opens up to a hidden bar with some of the curated artistic cocktails drawing from the stories of native people.
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Arroyo 872, C1007 Buenos Aires, Argentina
https://floreriaatlantico.com.ar
Photo from Instagram/floreriaatlantico/
Resources. Guides.
Here's some resources and guide to help you plan your trip to Argentina.
​WofA Wines of Argentina
The most comprehensive resource for wine regions of Argentina.
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https://www.winesofargentina.org
Photo from Facebook/winesofargentina
​Sol Salute
This is the comprehensive travel guide resource you would need to travel in Argentina. Erin is a Texan expat currently residing in Buenos Aires. She cover everything from food, travel, wine, arts, culture, money, cards, living in Argentina.
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https://solsalute.com/argentina-food-travel/
https://www.facebook.com/solsalute
Curated.
Matthieu is based in Paris.
He works as Chef de Cabine PNC. He is also an onboard Sommelier.
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JJ is based in Sydney.
He works as a Business First Cabin Crew and is a Sommelier in the sky.