Mendoza

Bodega Familia Cecchin, wine bike tour.

Bodega Familia Cecchin.

Bodega Familia Cecchin.

Concrete fermentation pools, Bodega Familia Cecchin.

Our tour guide, Matthew, starting our tasting at Familia Cecchin.

Ready for wine.

The first two wines we tried.

The entrance to the second winery, Bodega Vistandes.

The stainless steel fermentation tanks at Vistandes.  Big difference from Familia Cecchin.

Oak barrels at Vistandes.

The two wines we tried.

Biking to the third winery.

Hi, mountain.

"Bienbebidos" is a clever play on words: "bienvenidos" means "welcome", and "bebidos" means "drinks".  So we're welcome and well-drunk.

The third winery, Viña el Cerno.

All the wines they make at Viña el Cerno.

Our wine bike tour group at Viña el Cerno.

Empty bottles and a big old barrel at Cavas de Don Arturo, on another wine tour.

Cavas de Don Arturo.

Tasting wine at Don Arturo.

We tried three of these four, and the festive spirit was nice.

Had to take a happy holiday picture with my new malbec!

These mark the way on the Ruta del Vino.

The olive oil factory we visited, Pasrai.

Pasrai.

Tasting different olive oils.

Mural at Pasrai.

Mural at Pasrai.

Mural at Pasrai.

Olive tree at Pasrai.

Malbec vines on my second visit to Vistandes.

Young malbec grapes.

Vines at Vistandes.

Full bottles at Vistandes.

Oak barrels at Vistandes.

Oak barrel at Vistandes.

A Vistandes malbec waiting to be fully developed.

All photography copyright Kendall DeLyser.