A rising star in Elqui
“They thought we were loco,” says Giorgio Flessati, winemaker at Vina Mayu. A common story for pioneers and winemakers who push the boundaries. And fifteen years ago anyone would have thought Giorgio and his cousin Aldo Olivier and co-partner at Vina Falernia were crazy for planting vines in Elqui. A land of extremes, Elqui Valley […]
San Juan: A sanctuary in the desert
Written for Wine Republic, October 2013 San Juan is a city in a wild landscape of bare mountains and flat plains two hours north of Mendoza City. You’ll see a few tumbleweeds roll past on a Sunday afternoon in San Juan and that’s not just because of its dusty surroundings and sleepy lifestyle but also […]
Cherry picking Mendoza’s hotels
As a bonafide (if unofficial) resident of Mendoza for four years, I get a lot of emails asking about where to stay. Here are my top picks of accommodation in and out of the centre of Mendoza: In the city: Being in the city centre is the best place if you are relying on public […]
36 hours in Santiago: Gourmet Tour
Chile is a foodie’s paradise. With almost all the climates you can ask for, the long stretch of this thin country has mountains, valleys, forests and a massive coastline. But fortunately for those with only a short time on their hands, you don’t need to travel the entire length of the country in search for […]
36 hours in Buenos Aires: Literary Tour
Buenos Aires is the city that inspired Argentina’s great writers and, like Paris, was the hub of many a literary movement. In fact, almost the entire surreal, literary world of Jorge Luis Borges is based in Buenos Aires. Enjoy the chaos of the city tucked deep inside a cafe and amongst shelves of books, visit […]
36 hours in Buenos Aires: Luxury
This wasn’t called the Paris of South America for no reason! Buenos Aires has all the luxuries a European capital can afford: five star hotels, gourmet cuisine, exclusive tours and all the makings for a great weekend schmoozing, boozing and relaxing. Written for 36hrs.in Photo credit: Faena Hotel Friday, 6:00pm The hottest luxury hotel in […]
36 hours in Mendoza: Wine Lover
When you come to the land of sunshine and wine, there’s no excuse not to emerge yourself in the juice of the gods for the entire length of your stay. Whether you are a novice or a complete oenophile there are plenty of indulgent wine related activities to keep you merry for your entire trip. […]
36 hours in Mendoza: Living the high life
Mendoza is characterized by cowboys, vineyards and mountains; but aside from its great rustic charm, it also offers some of life’s ultimate luxuries. As a province that has boomed with international tourism over the last 10 years, there are no limits to the new heights of luxury travel available. Take your time to indulge in […]
36 hours in Mendoza: Life as a gaucho
Part of the real charm of Mendoza is its authentic rural vibe. You just need to get out of the city a bit to enjoy the real beauty of gaucho(cowboy) life: the air, the mountains and feel the wind on your spurs! Written for 36hrs.in Friday, 6:00pm Before you get ready for a gaucho weekend, you need […]
36 hours in Mendoza: Minding your pesos
Written for 36hrs.in It’s certainly true that Argentina is not the bargain it used to be. Money smart travellers rushed here in their droves following the big economic crash of 2001 when it was cheaper to buy a litre of beer here than a pack of chewing gum back at home. However after 10 years […]
