In hindsight we should have planned on staying more than the four nights we booked in Mendoza. We absolutely loved this city. In our three full days there we did two winery tours and a walking tour of the city. Oh, and consumed some amazing steak and wine.
Karen did an incredible job of finding us a wonderful hotel within easy walking distance of five epic and historic parks in the city.
Despite the fact that Mendoza is located in a desert, you would never know it when wandering around this oasis. 500 years ago the Incas conquered this area and built an intricate irrigation system which allowed water to be delivered to people and their farms. When the Spanish arrived they recognized the brilliance of the system and extended and maintained it.
This system is still in use today. In fact, because water is so important here they actually have a 4th arm of their municipal government that only deals with water.
The easy access to water and the fact that they have laws as to the minimum number of trees along roadways makes for a delightful environment when walking in the city. The +30°C temperatures would be debilitating without the trees, but with them the city is open to be explored any time of day.
Of course the biggest draw of Mendoza is the wine. With over 900 wineries in the Mendoza area it is impossible to get to them all, but we managed to try six of them.We paid the bit extra and went on tours that took care of transportation and bookings. It was worth it. Plus we met some wonderful people from around the globe.Though the Grand Reserve you see here was excellent wine, even the young wines we tried were all great.Getting a chance to see some of the evolution of wine making in the region was fascinating. For all the horrible things the Spaniards did here, the introduction of vines was a positive influence.We also got to visit a couple of olive farms which are a huge business in the region. Most production is modern now, but the old school crushing methods for olives were cool to see.The olive oil and olive tastings were fun, and a nice chance to absorb some of the wine we were also consuming during the day.During our walking tour in town the guide pointed out a quote by Louis Pasteur which pretty well summed up life in Mendoza. Translated it is, “Homage to Mendoza Land of Sun and Good Wine Wine is the Most Sane and Hygienic of Beverages Pasteur”The variety of architecture in Mendoza is quite impressive as well.In the Plaza Independencia they have nightly shows at the main water fountain with music and lights. It is wonderful to see locals gathering to relax and enjoy some entertainment.The largest park in Mendoza which takes up just over 40% of the area of the city is dedicated to San Martin who lead the drive for independence. The main gates are quite impressive, especially when you find out the city got them for free from the makers in Scotland (they did have to pay shipping). They were originally for the Ottoman Empire, but after World War 2 there was no Ottoman Empire so Mendoza scooped them up.The Rose Gardens in the park were beautiful and a wonderful place to relax.We did manage to experience one of the 17 days every year of light rain, but it still was beautiful.
As we departed Mendoza for Buenos Aires we both heartily agreed we need to return there. The people, the attitude, the food, and especially the wine make it a city that should be on everyone’s South America check list.
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