Mountain, Vineyards & Blue skies at the Uco Valley

An intimate and relaxing gourmet & wine experience awaits in the Uco Valley.

Finca La Azul represents the story of a family business venture well taken care of. Francisco Hinojosa arrived to the Uco Valley in Mendoza almost 100 years ago, to find cheap, arid and stony unoccupied grounds. The Hinojosa family believes that he was the visionary man that started the winemaking culture in this area, given that today is one of the most coveted zones in Mendoza for the growth of special quality grapes destined to fine wine production. The thermal amplitude of the Uco Valley makes a perfect terroir for these grapevines.

Nowadays, Francisco´s heirs run the business and it was his daughter Shirley who decided to open the House of Guests almost three years ago. Finca La Azul´s main house was originally her home for more than 20 years. After taking care of the wine family business, she thought that she wanted to have interesting people to talk to once she grew old and to share her time, cooking and life anecdotes.

For this matter, the 50 mt2 main house was remodeled and expanded to reach 1000 mt2 and host six rooms. Keeping in mind sustainable details, it was decided to protect the house both from cold and heat by building thick stone and sand walls (materials from the very own finca), installing double glass windows and convection heating with wood stoves.

The ranch also works with sustainable agriculture, controlling the use of water and using eco-friendly products to grow peaches, plums and grapes for refined and sparkling wines.

In the very words of Tomás, one of Shirley´s sons, the same soil that in 1991 was an empty open field, today is a long grown land inhabited by plants, families and technological elements and tools (such as an avant-garde irrigation system) for an intensive care of the crops, a handy aid for the finca staff´s daily work.

As for the House of Guests, Shirley´s idea is for the visitors to feel pampered and at home. To share and cook for them and show how the Argentine people life is.

Within an intimate environment between vineyards and fruit trees, right next to the Hinojosa family home, any of the six rooms provide breathtaking views of the Andes and coziness. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom with bath tub and views, hi-tech TV, Netflix and the best wines.

Being a multicultural family, the gastronomic proposal is a mixture of aromas and flavours. Spanish, Italian and Arabian influences originate intense and traditional creole dishes prepared with seasonal fresh ingredients grown in their very own garden. Of course, always perfectly paired with the wines of this land.

Depending on the season, Finca La Azul offers different activities such as harvesting or cooking. Wine tastings at the wine cellar are always present and a vast collection of classical literature books is available for guests to read and relax at the library. Enjoy cocktails at sunset watching the mountains, a romantic dinner at the vines under the starry sky or a summer lunch at the quincho.

At this homey and friendly space, Shirley and her family will be waiting for you to talk about wine, taste and drink it, show you around this wonderful scenery and enjoy with you its tranquility, gladly offering you their home.

For more information about this marvelous House of Guests, please contact your Kallpa Executive.

 

Self Bike through the Vineyards in Mendoza

Ride a bike and wander on your own through the vineyards in Mendoza. Enjoy the scenery & taste the secrets of our wines.

This wine journey takes you to Mendoza, where you will ride in the vineyards of renown wineries and learn about what makes this region so special for this industry. The idea is to enjoy the landscape, the excellent wines and also to learn their secrets.

bike-tour-vineyards-1

The meeting point is in Chacras de Coria town (16 km far from Mendoza), where the bikes are delivered. After an introductory briefing and suggestions about the wineries available in the surroundings, you can select the ones you want to visit according to your interests. The guide will make the reservations at the chosen wineries before you start biking. Then, start cycling!

You will make three stops according to the grapevine produced in this region: Chardonnay, Syrah and Malbec. At every stop there’s a wine tasting and an expert leads you through the different varieties, irrigation systems, and the benefits of different vine training systems. Each tasting is paired with a regional cheese and cold cuts platter so the flavours of the different grape vines are accentuated.

bike-tour-vineyards-2

The last winery to visit usually also has a restaurant, so you may have a regional or gourmet tasting lunch (depending on the place), also paired with the most excellent local wines.

You must be back at Chacras de Coria’s meeting point by 4 pm to return the bikes, so after lunch there’s still some time left to visit a couple of wineries more to complete the vineyards experience.

Bikes are sustainable vehicles and in combination with a must-see landscape this becomes a very entertaining outdoors activity. Travelers are more and more focused on experiencing and not collecting destinations, therefore this bike tour offers a fun option and the certainty of a unique experience in its style, in contact with nature and good wine, so typical of this region.

bike-tour-vineyards-3

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Departure time: 9.30 am
  • Estimated arrival time: 4.00 pm
  • Days of operation: Mondays through Saturdays.
  • Includes: bike with helmet, map and a bottle of water.
  • Not included: roundtrip transfers to the meeting point, entrance fees to the wineries, meals, tips, extras.
  • Some of the suggested wineries for visiting are Clos de Chacras, Nieto Senetiner, Alta Vista, Vistalba, Lagarde, Kaiken, Carmelo Patti.

 

Open fire cooking class in Mendoza

Imagine yourself by the fire, surrounded by the vineyards, a glass of Malbec in your hand and learning the secret tricks of a local Chef to cook Argentinean specialties and taste them afterwards.

At Finca Adalgisa in Mendoza, Chef Cristina Brino teaches how to prepare local traditional dishes that can be easily made at home.

index04_Cooking Class fire

Using only fresh products, some of which are cultivated and recently harvested at the Finca´s own garden, Cristina prepares a three course dinner in a clay oven or on an open fire. You may participate in the preparation or just look and taste.

Cooking Class empanadas 3

The cooking class starts with the typical clay oven meat empanadas, learning to make the dough and the stuffing. Then, moving along to the open fire, we will prepare the main course: a rib eye steak with fresh chimichurri -an Argentinian sauce based on Arauco olive oil- and grilled vegetables. Last but not least, caramelized fruit in the clay oven as a dessert.

Cooking Demostration

No need to worry: all the dishes can be made at home in a conventional kitchen and with fresh products that may be found in any place of the world.

Cooking Class main course

Enjoy the experience with a Finca Adalgisa Malbec, share a warm conversation with Chef Cristina and take back home an apron as a reminder of this special cooking class in Mendoza.

ASADO FINCA ADALGISA

FACT SHEET

  • When: From October to May, any day of the week at 7 pm upon request (depending on Chef´s availability).
  • Where: Finca Adalgisa, Mendoza
  • Pax requirements: from 2 up to 8 people
  • Any dietary restrictions should be previously advised.

INCLUDED

  • Cooking class, ingredients and cookware.
  • Three course dinner after class.
  • Wine and water throughout the whole experience.
  • Gift amenities.

NOT INCLUDED

  • Transfers from and to other hotels.