Loving Argentina
Since arriving in Argentina our diet has taken a bit of a pounding. In addition to all the steak, red wine, empanadas, dulce de leche, great ice cream …. that we have been consuming, we have had to introduce a fourth meal time, in the late afternoon, so we can make it through to the crazily late Argentinian dinner time without getting hungry. (A considerable turnaround for Rach, who was trying to get us to cut back to one meal a day only a few months ago!)
We made the most of the Argentinian wine by cycling around several of the bodegas in the Cafayate and Mendoza regions and sampling their harvest. In Cafayate a chilled glass of Torrontes was excellent and Mendoza was overflowing with great Malbec. In fact we had to limit our visits as we couldn´t stop buying bottles to take away with us. Rach had only just thrown away a load of clothes in order to make her ruc-sac lighter and wasn´t to impressed when I suggested the extra room could be used for our surplus wine supplies!
Gateway to the wines, Cafayate
Bodega El Esteco, Cafayate
Old oak barrels
Inside the bodega, Mendoza
The bottling process
Cycling the wineries
Cheers!
Taking a break from the booze we headed out to the stunning Quebrada de Cafayate - a sandstone gorge (or is it canyon?!) with several distinctive and colourful landforms. Obviously after a hard day in the Quebrada there was only one way to relax – a steak dinner and a bottle of red! (and yes the steak is as good as everyone says!)
Quebrada de Cafayte
Garganta Del Diablo
The amazing orange rock up close
Me at the Quebrada
Oh man, it’s only 10am here and now I want some steak!!!
mmm, can’t beat that argentinian diet! It might still technically be morning, but I’ll join VC on the steak and add a large glass of malbec – it is the run-up to Christmas after all!
Mendoza converted me into a vino tinto drinker and I’ve never looked back!
After reading your blog i walked into the kitchen and said ‘negin, lets have steak and a glass of red tonight!’ I am now sitting here waiting for my beautiful dinner to arrive! Unfortunately Neg had already started cooking spag bol and the only red we had was Ribena…. i’m sure it will be just as nice.