US Airways - November 2012 - (Page 20)

Wine & Dine your expectations. Visiting three or four, including a leisurely lunch, is a more realistic goal. (Note: Some wineries close on the weekend, and many of the larger ones require reservations, so be sure to call ahead.) The wide-open spaces are part of Mendoza’s charm, so an easy pace is called for. Plus, you’ll have ample opportunity to balance out the wine tasting with the local cuisine. Don’t miss the mom-and-pop asados serving up grilled grass-fed beef topped with the always-present chimichurri (a robust garlic, parsley, and olive oil sauce) or local shops turning out golden meatand-olive-filled empanadas from woodfired ovens. The eateries are easy to find in the rural towns along the way, even if your Spanish is rusty. Keeping travel time in mind, there are a few ways to approach a visit. A two-day stay primarily centered on the city of Mendoza is the best bet for a tight schedule. The city has a decidedly European feel with tree-lined streets and large plazas, as well as plenty of tasting options (including many hardto-find and boutique wines) at local shops and vinotecas like Mendoza Wine Connection, Vines of Mendoza, and Sol y Vino. Take a quick cab ride to neighboring Godoy Cruz to visit Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón and CARO, a joint venture between Bodegas Catena Zapata and Château Lafite Rothschild. The sweet spot, however, is a fourWine bar server at mendoza’s Finca Adalgisa hotel Tasting room at vines of mendoza day stay, based in Mendoza city (the Park Hyatt is a terrific spot to cool your heels), with day trips to Luján de Cuyo and Maipú. Luján de Cuyo has a high concentration of wineries and is broken into norte (north) and sur (south). Combine a visit to northern Luján de Cuyo with nearby Maipú to get the most bang for your buck. Producers to seek out in these two areas include Alta Vista, Bodegas Nieto Senetiner, Trapiche, Vistalba, and Familia Zuccardi. The expansive southern portion of Luján de Cuyo is worth a day of its own. Some of the notables include Bodega Catena Zapata, Bodega Renacer, Bodega Norton, Viña Doña Paula, Dolium, Bodega Septima, and Finca La Anita. A more extensive, weeklong exploration of the countryside should include the Uco Valley and the high-elevation vineyards in Tupungato and Tunuyán. Overnight stays in a local posada (a country inn) ensure an authentic, rustic wine-country experience, though some are quite posh. This option allows visits to wineries such as Bodegas Salentein, Rutini, Masi Tupungato, and O. Fournier. Transportation options are numerous and range from rental car to tour bus to bike. If you’re comfortable following a map and managing your intake of wine, then a rental car is a solid choice. If driving is not your idea of fun, ask the hotel concierge to arrange a private car or taxi. You’ll spend about $125 a day for the service, but taking this route gives you access to someone who knows the area and may very well have an inside scoop on Mendoza’s hidden gems. Scott Jones, former executive editor of Southern Living, is the president of Jones Is Hungry (jonesishungry.com), a culinary media company. MIHO Gastrotruck Ten to Try the wines below represent a mere fraction of mendoza’s highquality output, but this mix of grape varieties and price points is a good place to start. Red Viña Doña Paula White alta Vista malbec ($18) BoDega Catena ZaPata premium torrontés ($13) Familia ZuCCarDi photos by yadid levy/alamy alta malbec ($50) BoDegas nieto senetiner serie a torrontés ($15) BoDega Catena ZaPata bonarda Reserva ($14) Familia ZuCCarDi alta Chardonnay ($35) traPiChe emma bonarda ($30) BoDega renaCer broquel Chardonnay ($18) BoDega FranCois lurton enamore ($30) Gran lurton Corte Friulano ($25) 20 november 2012 usairwaysmag.com http://www.jonesishungry.com http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - November 2012

US Airways - November 2012
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Best Holiday Getaways
Hub Crawl: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Wine & Dine: Mendoza, Argentina Wines
Wine & Dine: Barbecoa Restaurant, London
Adventure: Thrifty in San Francisco
Adventure: Skiing Mt. Baker, Washington
Great Escapes: Red Horse Inn, South Carolina
Gear Up: Bar Ware
Making It Real: America's Historic Sites
Best of Education: Miller School of Albemarle
Silent Heroes: Honor Flight Network
Crossing Borders: Charlotte, North Carolina
Best of Health: Lankenau Medical Center
University Spotlight: University of Dayton
Celebrate Richmond, Virginia
Special Section: Chateau on Central
Must Read: Heisman — The Man Behind the Trophy
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Giving: Miles for Good
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - November 2012