Last Tuesday we began our trip to the north of Argentina and Bolivia. Although we started by going not north but west to Mendoza. Mendoza is famous for it’s wine, clean streets, dry desert climate and for it’s proximity to Aconcagua, South America’s tallest mountain at nearly 7000 metres.

We caught the overnight bus from La Plata, and arrived about 11am in the city of Mendoza. Our first day was for exploring the city and on the second we caught the bus to Maipú, a nearby town and the location of several bodegas (wineries). Maipú is a small, quiet town, and it was a beautiful sunny, slightly cool day, perfect for sightseeing. We started at San Felipa (“La Rural”) in Montecaseros, a traditional bodega which also housed the Museo del Vino (Wine Museum). There are free tours around the museum and the guide spoke in both Spanish and English. It was fascinating to see some of the old machinery and barrels from the past. The tour also included the modern workings of the bodega, lots of stainless steel barrels and machinery in contrast to the old wooden barrels and equipment. The tour concluded with wine tasting and the opportunity to buy.

Below are some photos from the bodega. I’m posting this from San Juan, a city north from Mendoza. Our route so far: La Plata-Mendoza-Uspallata-Parque Provincial Aconcagua-San Juan. Postings and photos from Uspallata, Aconcagua and San Juan to come.

Photos taken inside the Museo del Vino

Outside the Wine Museum

Grapevines outside the Museum