Argentina in pictures: Mendoza

During a tasting lunch with the Chakana team at Cavas Wine Lodge in Mendoza, db snuck out after dessert to snap these two guys who were hard at work pruning the vines.

The sun came out to play during an overnight stay at Bodega DiamAndes in the Uco Valley, one of the seven French-owned estates that forms Clos de los Siete, an ambitious project set up by Michel Rolland in 1999.

The Clos de Los Siete estate spans 850 hectares divided into seven plots, each with its own winery, with the 130-hectare DiamAndes run by the Bonnie family, owners of Château Malartic-Lagraviere in Pessac-Léognan.

One of the highlights of the visit was the chance to take in all seven estates during a leisurely morning trot around the vineyards using DiamAndes’ fleet of trusty steeds.

My chosen nag, Canario, proved an amusing riding partner. Frequently stopping to munch on vine leaves, on realising he was lagging behind the pack, he’d burst into an impromptu gallop, leaving me holding on for dear life.

Seasoned snapper, Colin Hampden-White, had more luck with his steed, and trekked through the estate like a pro.

Led by Jean Jacques Bonnie of Château Malartic-Lagraviere (centre), while trip organiser Sophie Jump and Colin Hampden-White enjoyed the view from above, wine writer Richard Hemming opted for two wheels over four legs.

Our ebullient host, Jean Jacques Bonnie, spoke of the difficulties of breaking the UK market over dinner, proclaiming: “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere,” leading Hemming to dub him the Frank Sinatra of Malbec.

During a tour of the DiamAndes winery the next morning, designed by Argentinian architectural duo Bórmida & Yanzón, wine writer James Lawrence found divine inspiration in the cellar.

Next on the agenda was a visit to Chakana in Lujan de Cuyo, co-owned by the affable Juan Pelizzatti. Founded in 2002, the estate takes its name from the Southern Cross constellation, referred to as Chakana by the Andean people. Pelizzatti will soon be swapping sunny skies for England’s green pastures, as he is headed to Devon in January to study sustainable horticulture at Schumacher College. Photo credit: Colin Hampden-White.

During a tour of the Chakana estate, Colin Hampden-White snapped these adorable piglets dining on vine leaves.

No visit to Argentina is complete without partaking in an “asado” barbeque, which take place daily in the summer months. Among the meaty delights on offer are chorizo sausages, morcilla (blood sausage), ribs and vacio (flank). All are delicious, but the lure of the empanadas often makes it impossible to finish the meal.

During the asado, which took place at Morada de los Andes, we were joined by winemaker to watch, Sebastian Zuccardi, who recently took over all winemaking duties at his family estate, Familia Zuccardi. During lunch, he spoke of indigenous red grape Bonarda’s bright future in Argentina.

Also at asado was Argentinian winemaking legend Roberto de la Mota. The erstwhile head winemaker of Terrazas de los Andes and technical director of Cheval des Andes, de la Mota now runs Mendel Wines in Lujan de Cuyo.

Taking time out from hosting, the brothers Rosberg – Andres (left) director of La Morada de los Andes and president of the Pan-American Sommelier Alliance, and hotelier Martin sip on Malbec and puff on Cuban cigars by the pool.

And finally… while he told db that Cabernet Franc is the future for Argentina, Alejandro Vigil, chief winemaker of Catena Zapata, has an indelible reminder on his forearm of the grape that shot the country to fame.