the Patagonian destination that combines dream landscapes and a surprising wine route

The most knowledgeable and lovers of wine may already know: there are a corner of Patagonia, very close to the Andes mountain range, where for several years some of those “pearls” that are only found in wine bars and selected restaurants have been made. For others, these vacations can be an opportunity to discover them directly where they occur, surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in the south of the country.

We are talking about Trevelin, a town of Welsh origin with less than 10,000 inhabitants located 25 kilometers from the city of Esquel, in the province of Chubut. In the last decade it became famous for an unthinkable phenomenon: boasts the largest tulip field in the countrywhich bloom only one month a year and whose multicolored spectacle attracts thousands of tourists from different parts of the world every October.

But beyond that specific event and this growing wine route, the natural attractions that surround Trevelin and the commitment of its community to promote and develop this environment meant that in 2022 it received the support of the World Tourism Organization, which included it in its list Best Tourism Villageswhere it stands out the best rural destinations worldwide.

Depending on the days you want to spend in Trevelin, these are some of the spots that cannot be missed:

• Los Alerces National Park: From the town there are several ways to access this jewel of 263,000 hectares declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with more than fifteen interconnected rivers and lakes and ancient trees that can reach 70 meters in height. You can trek, kayak, camp or stay inside in its cabins and inns.

• Nant and Fall waterfalls: Easily accessible from the town on Route 259, it is the place where the Nant y Fall Stream, which originates in Lake Rosario, runs through the steppe and upon entering the Andean forest it generates seven waterfalls over 400 meters.

• Lago Bagillt: A protected area located 1,000 meters above sea level in the middle of virgin forests and water bodies fed by glaciers. Ideal for a day trip, it can be done in a 4×4 or on a walk with a guide that, for the most experienced, will take them to the mythical refuge of Cerro Cónico.

• Río Grande or Futaleufú: Fed by the lakes of the Los Alerces National Park and other rivers, it zigzags along the border with Chile and is the most chosen by sport fishing fans (brown and rainbow trout are the stars) and kayak lovers.

As if the region’s scenic attractions were not enough, in recent years Trevelin has also become a small expanding wine hubwith a handful of producers who discovered the potential of this southern terroir and others who are joining the trend.

In 2019, the National Institute of Viticulture officially recognized the place as the first IG -geographical indication- of the province of Chubut, which allows its wines to be distinguished by their place of origin and their particular qualities.

“Although there are different expressions, in general they are characterized by their freshness and their intense natural acidity due to their short and very cold summers. Really They are very different wines from the rest of the country and are worth trying. if you don’t know them,” recommends sommelier Javier Menajovsky, organizer of fairs such as Expo Vinos de la Patagonia, Vinos y Negocios and Alta Gama.

While there are already thirteen vineyards in the region, here we suggest four that can be visited and that offer tastings.

It is the winery located closest to the picturesque center of town, which can even be reached by walking along Avenida Fortín Refugio and Paseo Costanera to the Old Bridge that crosses the Percy River.

just there, Four hectares of vineyards are planted on the banks of this river. of friends Rance Rathie and Travis Smith, two Americans who arrived from Montana more than two decades ago and started a tourism venture (Patagonia River Guides) as fly fishing guides.

Later, upon seeing the potential of the land for wine production, they embarked on the adventure of venturing into an area totally unknown to them and with the difficulties that the extreme climate (the temperature range can be 30°C). From there the name arose, due to the perseverance embodied in the realization of the project with which today they present their bottles of three varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminermade under the careful supervision of winemaker Sofía Elena.

Visits: Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with prior reservation by WhatsApp: 2945-551279. They include a tour of the vineyards, winery and tasting of three labels, $7,000. Instagram: @contracorrientebodega.

Taking route 259 towards Chile, the first obligatory stop on the wine route is Nant y Fall, the pioneer winery in the area, founded by Sergio Rodríguez from Mar del Plata. Like other migrants, he arrived in Trevelin with his parents and his son Emanuel (today the person in charge of making the wine) in search of a change in life.

They bought a field crossed by a stream, they removed the rosehip plants that covered it and began offering parking and assistance to mobile homes and camping to tourists. It wasn’t until 2010 that they decided to plant vines, an activity that Sergio’s maternal grandparents had developed in Italy.

The first 200 bottles came to light in 2016. Now they are in their eighth harvest and They produce 10 thousand bottles a year. Have 11 tags with varietals such as Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Chardonnay, which they sell almost entirely to the almost 25,000 tourists they receive each year. They also offer cabin accommodations ($25,000 to $52,000 per day).

Visits: The guided tour with tasting of a label costs $2,500. It is open every day from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and they have a restaurant (Sangre Tinta), where they serve stuffed pasta, homemade empanadas and desserts such as Welsh cream cake. Instagram: @vinasdelnantyfall.

More than a winery, it is the home of the Yagüe, the couple composed of Marcelo Yagüe and Patricia Ferrari, who almost twenty years ago fell in love with the 16 de Octubre Valley and turned a wild property into a postcard that enchants with its natural beauty and the hospitality of its hosts.

Marcelo is dedicated to the real estate business and raising cattle and Patricia is an architect and gardening enthusiast, but here, over time, They discovered a new passion, viticulture, which they embraced with remarkable commitment. They traveled through Europe to learn from the best winemakers and agronomists, and today they already have experience in several harvests.

The six hectares of vineyards emerge neatly in columns with the snow-capped peaks silhouetted in the background and invite you to have lunch outdoors with a unique view, or at least try a glass of the Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Semillón, some of the high-end varietals that are made on sitewith organic practices in the winery they set up in their own home.

For those who also decide to stay in the place – they rent the entire chalet and two fully equipped cabins – the experience will be complete: priceless waking up to the singing of birds and breakfast with products from the countryside and their own garden.

Visits: The tasting tour costs $10,000. Lunch in three steps, $30,000. Reservations by WhatsApp: 2945 64-1010. Instagram: @casayague.

At the end of Route 259, just 2 kilometers before the border crossing with Chile, is this lodge established 14 years ago. on the banks of the Futaleufú River with the impressive view of the intense blue waters and the Andes. Its owners, two oil businessmen (Carlos and Eduardo Otero), created it to receive fishing enthusiasts, but finally they also joined the trend of planting vineyards on their lands.

The difference, in this case, is that they bet on sparkling wines. After carrying out geographical and climatic studies, they discovered that the very particular coordinates of the place where they are located – in the center of a forested area (the Valdivian jungle), surrounded by mountains, with the influence of the Pacific Ocean – favored them with “more intense” summers. friendly” than in the rest of the area and they could bet on the bubbles.

They just bottled two limited game lines between 300 and 700 units each, made from Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay with the champenoise method. Only this summer they are making them known to visitors, so those who come will be trying them for the first time.

Visits: The tour of the vineyards with a tasting of the two sparkling wines accompanied by tapas costs $15,000. Requires prior reservation at +54 9 297 474-8514. Hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Instagram: @entresenderoslodge.

More information: Mixed Tourism Entity of the city of Trevelin. Tel. 02945 480120. info@trevelin.tur.ar. https://trevelin.tur.ar.