German
Argentina: Bodegas, Zonda Wind & men's trip
January 2024
Bodegas in the Mendoza region of Argentina
For 2 weeks we visited more than a dozen bodegas in the Mendoza region.
See also photo gallery Bodegas part 1 and Bodegas part 2 for some descriptions:
Bodega Zuccardi
In 1963, engineer Alberto Zuccardi planted the first hectares of vines in Maipu. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, the winery was voted the best in the world. The building, constructed from materials such as iron, sand and stone, with a metal dome, is an architectural jewel built by Fernando Raganato. Zuccardi is considered a benchmark in Argentinian viticulture.
Bodega Alfa Crux
With a futuristic architectural design by Bórmida & Yanzón that will delight anyone who strays into the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Alfa Crux is one of the wineries recommended for immersing yourself in an unforgettable wine experience.
Argentina: Bodegas part 1
SoloContigo Wines
The winery was designed by renowned architects Bórmida & Yanzón according to the design priorities of Noel and Terry and built as a house winery. The winery welcomes visitors with an airy, comfortable environment, an outdoor terrace, an abundance of artwork and a curated music screen. The winery has a production capacity of 100,000 liters in stainless steel, concrete and French oak tanks. The owners, Noel and Terry, both art collectors, live in Toronto, Canada, but spend part of the year in Argentina.
Argentina: Bodegas part 2
MAAL Wines
Alfredo Merlo and Matias Fraga have dedicated themselves to wine. Their mission is to produce Malbec wines. Their main estate building houses old-fashioned tanks and barrels made of wood and metal that are no longer used but are a match for modern technology. The bodega is made entirely from recycled materials.
One of their Malbec Imposible: the winery was founded on a vineyard in Vista Flores that many doubted would serve its purpose. Critics said it was impossible to make wine there, and so the name was born: Imposible.
Special pricing!
At the exclusive Bodega Susanne Balboa, we bought a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc at the wine bar and drank it in peace in the beautifully manicured garden. We ordered a piece of cake for me from the waiter. The bodega's restaurant is also known for its special patisserie. The cake and wine were excellent.
When we received the bill, we were amazed that the slice of cake cost a quarter more than the bottle of wine.
Potrerillos Reservoir
Travelers usually take a short photo stop at one of the miradors above the reservoir on their way to Paso Cristo Retentor and Aconcagua Park. We spent three days at a viewpoint that was difficult to reach. Mostly in very good weather with good views. Blue water surrounded by mountains. Magnificent scenery.
One night, however, we experienced stormy winds, heavy rain, and thunderstorms, as it could be otherwise.
Camping Municipal de Rivadavia
We knew that you shouldn't spend a weekend at a municipal campsite. We made an exception and were rewarded with many unusual impressions. We were amazed at how even older people spent the night on stone benches or curled up on the seats of a Fiat Uno. Just a few hours before dawn, in fact. Large families spent the night huddled together in tents that were far too small. Almost every family had at least one crying baby. Ultimately, the sense of togetherness among these families was hugely impressive.
Tough luck. On Saturday afternoon, a neighbor asked me for insulating tape. He used it to patch up the huge loudspeaker boxes and we were then able to enjoy loud music!
Zonda Wind
A completely new term for us. Zonda is a regional term for a foehn wind in the eastern Andean region. Although the zonda occurs almost everywhere in western Argentina, its effects are strongest in the provinces of La Rioja, San Juan and in the north of Mendoza, where it is influenced by the high Andes.
In Malargüe, we had to leave our normal spot several times over three days due to trees that were in danger of falling. The dangerous times are announced in the Meteo reports.
Dique Cuesta del Viento
Beautiful landscapes to photograph and explore. Kitesurfing and windsurfing are practiced here. As scheduled, the wind picks up every afternoon and it's a party with these sports! But when we were there, the wind was so strong that no one was to be seen on the water.
Cuesta de Huaco
Very pretty. Difficult road to drive on, with poor road surface, extreme bends and many narrow sections. Beautiful landscapes to marvel at along the way. We liked the Huaco-Canon very much.
1979 - 6 Sahara friends with 3 off-road vehicles in search of a well in the Algerian Sahara
Bir Jedid, a point in the Algerian Sahara. The idea of searching for this well in the Sahara was born at a campfire in Switzerland during an Africa drivers' meeting. At that time without GPS! Only with Russian maps and a compass. We were on the road with three four-wheel drive vehicles:
- with one of the first V8 Land Rovers, which was made available to us by my Range Rover garage, complete with mechanic. This vehicle was our service vehicle with Kurt the cook and the mechanic. Funnily enough, the chef usually drove it!
- Our entertainment team Hans and Roeck were on the road in a Lada. The two jokers came up with all kinds of nonsense.
- With my first Range Rover, Albert and I were on the road as a film and navigation team.
Our film, shot on Super 8 and partly with original sound, was special and original for the time. Unfortunately, we only digitized the film material much too late. As a result, we lost some of the color quality. But the film is still entertaining.
See photo gallery under Videos!
