The numbers rule: within Argentina’s punished economic scenario, the growth of foreign tourism continues to rise and compensates for the decline in domestic travelers.
In the case of Mendoza, a report from Ieral, from the Mediterranean Foundation, reveals that in 2023, there were fewer national tourists but foreigners grew 7% compared to the previous year. This caused the level of spending to be equal in the last two years.
During the year, foreign tourists (representing 15% of total travelers) spent about 290 million dollars in Mendoza, this is 83% more year-on-year in dollars.
The report says more foreigners arrived, attracted by a favorable exchange rate, and, in the case of Brazilians, in search of wine tourism experiences.
What experiences set trends in Mendoza
Motorcycle and collector car rides along the wine roads, themed scenesmeetings of famous chefs and DJs, night harvest in the moonlight and pop art restaurants, are the trend of this season in Mendoza, the main province of wine tourism.
March started with a meeting of 170 Harley Davinson motorcycles who toured the wineries and mountain roads.
Follow the calendar with Winery Rallywhich takes place between March 14 and 16, and closes at Easter, with the cycle Classical Music on the Wine Routesfrom March 27 to April 2.
What is the Winery Rally like?
Los car collection They advance slowly on the dirt streets, among vineyards, with the imposing mountain range behind and the industrial warehouses with harvest work.
In Trapiche wineryfrom the municipality of Maipú, (the other Peñaflor winery, Costa & Pampa, is in Chapadmalal) the arrival of the 80 cars, their drivers and co-drivers, is experienced as a true party.
As a rolling motorsport museum, the cars parade one after the other. The Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Porsche, Bugatti, Mercedes Benz, Lancia and Jaguar, between 40 and 90 years old.
It is the last stop of the second day of the circuit. And the competitors are feted in the gardens of the winery from 1883in front of the Espacio Trapiche restaurant, with food and drinks.
At each stop, runners are welcomed with fruits, tapas, pinchos, casseroles, empanadas and barbecue. To drink, natural juices, mineral water and a glass of wine per crew member.
The 21st edition of the Winery Rally will travel 700 kilometers and will put the traditional “Park Hyatt Cup” into play.
The competition, organized by the Mendoza Clásicos y Sport Club, combines the passion for classic cars and the pleasure of traveling the wine routes, with an imposing setting such as the Andes Mountains.
Las host wineries They are Nieto Senetiner, Anaia, Trapiche, Terrazas de los Andes, Bianchi and Luigi Bosca.
The competition is held under the sport regularity modality, where the pilots have to perform different types of tests to complete in a pre-established and exact time, to the hundredth of a second.
Las activities begin at the Park Hyatt Mendoza, on Thursday, March 14. It is when tourists and the local public can see the 80 competing vehicles, side by side, as in an open-air museum, in front of Plaza Independencia, in the city of Mendoza.
The race advances towards the hills of El Challao, in the foothills of Mendoza, until the El Indio posta wine resort, with a restaurant, inside the San Isidro ranch, owned by businessman Daniel Vila.
On Friday the 15th, the second part will be played with a route that includes stops at the bodegas Nieto Senetiner, Anaiaand the closure in Trapichewith the 2024 Concours of Elegance, where the best car of the edition will be chosen.
The competition is limited to 80 cars, more than 35 years old. Have best handicap older cars from between 1920 and 1930which are the ones that, in general, win the competition.
The organizer, Alejandro Boverman, explains that the race was possible since Mendoza began to have good productive routes, and the wineries opened their doors to tourism.
Themed scenes in Mendoza
The other gastronomic trend is pop up restaurants. The phenomenon had its origins in the underground of London’s East End, with the idea of using hidden places on the tube line for meetings.
Pop-up restaurants serve to exchange experiences between chefs. Are common in wineries The attraction of which is having their own gardens and raw materials from each area.
It is a hallmark of Vigil Housein its El Enemigo winery in Chachingo, Maipú, the festivals and fairs with the participation of Latin American chefs.
During the beginning of the harvest, the second edition of the Tomate Festival. A proposal organized by Labrar, a productive and sustainable project led by the food scientist María Sance and her Casa Vigil team.
The idea of the festival was born in the restaurant’s large organic garden, of which the winemaker Alejandro Vigil (Catena Zapata/ El Enemigo) is the main reference and where the seasonal vegetables that are the basis of the product gastronomy are grown.
The gastronomic meeting was a luxury, with a mix of elaborate tomato-based dishes, with the participation of chefs Marsia Taha (Bolivia), Janaína Rueda (Brazil), Manu Buffara (Brazil) and Maribel Aldaco (Mexico). The Argentines joined: Fran Rosat (Lo de Fran Cocina de Mar), Hernán Viva (Mar del Plata), Sebastián Weigant (Azafrán), Juan Ventureyra (Riccitelli Bistró), Constanza Cerezo (Quimera Bistró), Augusto García (Zonda, Cocina of Landscape) and Mariano Gallego (Brindillas) and the host Ivan Azar (Casa Vigil).
What the harvest is like under the light of the Moon
The search for an exclusive experience led to Bodega Dante Robinofrom Luján de Cuyo, to develop a night program for tourists who visit Mendoza, in the middle of the harvest.
“From March 28 to 30, the Moon will be in charge of illuminating the vineyards for the experience of night harvest“, proposes the winery and afterwards, invites you to enjoy dinner.
The experience starts at 6 p.m. It includes a reception in the winery with a glass of wine before moving on to the vineyards. At the end of the harvest, visitors can take a guided tour inside the winery, visit the barrel room and close the activity at the Observatorio restaurant.
Chef Juan Ventureyra, one of the most prominent in wine tourism, designed a four-course dinner, which will be accompanied by live music. And, if the weather is good, you can enjoy it from the terrace with views of the starry sky. The price per person is $80,000.
There is another proposal for those who want a relaxed activity. Since March 13, every Wednesday and Thursday in March, at 10:30, it begins with an explanation of the cycle and cutting of the grapes, a tour of the vineyards, and harvest. At the end, a tapas with wines in Dante Robino’s garden. It costs $22,000 per person.
March is Harvest month in Mendoza and, in addition to these special events, wineries and bars offer discounts on the purchase of products, live music and gastronomic fairs are organized. Without a doubt, including April, autumn is one of the most attractive seasons to visit the wine province.