You guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your chosen Hotel

Day   2 )     Friday  5th March .   Wine tour - Lujan de Cuyo .

Your bilingual wine guide picks you up from your hotel at 9.00am and we go to Lujan de Cuyo, considered to be the home of our best Malbec terroir.   It is a half hour drive south of Mendoza city.   Our first visit of the day is to   Bodega Achaval Ferrer, a small and stunning winery started by two young Argentine men together with one of Italy`s brightest winemakers.   This is the first Argentine winery to gain 98 points for their Altamira wine.   Here we will taste all of the component wines that go into their Altamira and then the blend itself.    All of their wines are very highly point-rated and are consequently much sought after.  From here on to our second winery Hacienda del Plata , which is small, passionate, dedicated and family run.   We enjoy a tank and barrel tasting of wines difficult to find in the world.   Here you will participate in a chocolate cookery class, a really unique experience.   Onwards to our third winery Bodega Melipal, a relatively new winery, owned by one of Argentina`s largest soy bean producers and exporters. The fact that the owners, both husband and wife actually planted vines themselves speaks volumes for their commitment and dedication and this is reflected in the very good wines that they produce. Small production and again difficult to find. Here we will enjoy a high end gourmet lunch, served with the best of their wines. We will take you back to your hotel by 16.00 approx.   In the evening, at 20.30 your guide will accompany you out onto the Hyatt Terrace, from where we will have absolutely the best view of the spectacular “Via La Blanca”, a very colourful parade when all of the wine districts drive past with their theme-decorated festival vehicles, each with their own “Harvest Queen” contestant.   You will hear vociferous support for each beautiful young lady.   Ample quality Hyatt foods and wines included .

Day 3 ) Saturday  6th   March .   Diplomacy, Porsche and Show Day .

We are fortunate in Mendoza, insomuch as amongst our 1,000 wineries two of them are owned by different and famous brothers.   Bodega Vistalba is owned by the elder brother Carlos Pulenta, who quite apart from his passion for wine is also the Honorary Consul for the governments of Holland, Finland and Great Britain. Located within the winery is the world famous La Bourgogne restaurant, sister of the one in the Alvear hotel in Buenos Aires.   Here we will enjoy a superb lunch and drink the spectacular Corte B and Corte A.

Onwards and a thirty minute drive will bring us to the winery owned by Hugo and Eduardo Pulenta— Bodega Pulenta Estates This talented pair are responsible for making a “special” bottle of wine which is on the front seat of every new Porsche car you buy, not altogether surprising as they race Porsche cars as a hobby.   You will taste four great wines, all 90 points and over and in every sense equal to the famous cars.

Back to your hotel for a siesta and you really are advised to have a sleep------because----  
In the evening we will pick you up at 20.30pm to watch The Central Act – the big,   impressive and   brilliantly choreographed celebration of the annual wine harvest. This spectacular, shown on TV attracts Argentina's great and beautiful, including the President. It is held in the Griego Theatre, a 25,000-seat natural amphitheatre in Parque General San Martin. This is a celebration of the history of Mendoza, its wine, its terroir and its beauty queens. The show concludes with a stunning firework display. We try to get you back to your hotel by 02.00 hours (traffic permitting).

Day 4 )    Sunday   7th   March . -   The   Great Argentina   Beef   Experience.

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel at 12.00 and we will travel out to Bodega Zuccardi in the Maipu region. This is the region where all of the welcome immigrants (Mendoza`s saviours) were given their piece of land upon arrival in the late 19^th century. Here Jose (Pepe) Zuccardi   has built five mini wineries all under the one roof. Here is also any winemakers dream, 21 stainless steel tanks solely dedicated to finding “new” grapes and seeing if they can be made into commercially viable and consumer friendly wines.   Much more importantly, this winery has a totally authentic Argentinian experience restaurant where we will have the tradiitional Sunday lunch---The famous Empanadas, followed by the unique “Asado”---Argentinian Bar-B-Que, food fit for Kings and Gauchos. The restaurant is set amongst the vines and is surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens, idyllic.

Day 5 ) Departure .

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport in time for your flight and accompany you through to your departure gate.

Consult us for prices by emailing Charlie at ask@troutandwine.com

This is a very exclusive, private tour. However, for the main event, the Central Act, we will be joining other exclusive tour clients.