Argentina is an unthinkable state with truthful overmuch to see. It has a affluent diverseness of quality from its arid landscapes of brackish flats and deserts successful Salta to its stunning Alp-like upland ranges successful the Andes, and of people the gorgeous scenery and wildlife of Patagonia. And 1 indispensable notation their superior metropolis Buenos Aires which has been called Paris of the South, filled with outdoor cafes, steak asado, and the tango. Argentina is besides known arsenic 1 of the apical producers of New World Wines with 1 peculiar vino starring the mode that Argentina produces amended than anyone other successful the world, Malbec. The beatified grail of Argentina’s vino portion is Mendoza. There you’ll find 1 of the apical vino experiences successful the satellite astatine the winery, cellar door, and vineyard lodge of the Bodegas Salentein.
A spot to observe the vino civilization of Argentina
Salentein is 1 of the apical producers of premium wines successful Argentina. The estate’s vineyards dispersed arsenic acold arsenic the eyes tin spot connected a crippled of onshore larger than the Ponderosa. The property lies successful the Uco Valley of Mendoza successful a scenic swath of onshore astatine the ft of the Andres mountains. Bodegas Salentein is simply a gathering place that includes a winery acquisition and cellar doorway similar nary successful the satellite on with epicurean dining, and 1 of the apical creation galleries successful Argentina. To afloat acquisition each that the requires much than conscionable 1 time truthful guests tin besides enactment connected the spot successful their luxurious ranch-style lodge.
Salentein is the Pioneer of Premium Wines from Mendoza
The vino manufacture successful Argentina began connected an concern level implicit 100 years agone but arguably lone roseate to worldwide acclaim wrong the past 30 years. Many of the winemakers are from families who person been successful the vino manufacture for generations and whose families arrived arsenic immigrants from Italy aft World War II.
The communicative of Bodegas Salentein is simply a communicative of a antithetic benignant of immigrant. Mijndert Pon was a visionary from Holland who elevated the presumption of Uco Valley wines to rival the champion wines successful the world. Pon was from a palmy Dutch household and came to Argentina connected vacation and visited the Valley of Uco. While looking astatine the land, and soil, and noting the glacial runoff h2o arsenic a root for irrigation, helium decided to make a workplace there. He produced apples, pears, and cherries with a smaller conception dedicated to grapes which helium produced for different wineries. At the proposal of a friend, helium began bottling his ain wines nether the Salentein sanction which rapidly grew successful popularity.
Frederike Pon
When Pon came to the Uco Valley, determination was fundamentally nothing. Poor roads and small infrastructure, and virtually miles and miles of barren onshore with cactus and scrub brush. However, helium saw the imaginable and is considered to beryllium 1 of the founding fathers of the Uco Valley. Today the Salentein is tally by his daughter, Fredericke Pon, who builds connected her father’s bequest and has grown the institution to beryllium respected arsenic 1 of the premier vino labels successful the world.
Winemaking Royalty
Jose “Pepe” Galante
As shared, Argentinian wines lone began to go renowned connected the satellite signifier little than 30 years ago. One of the winemakers astatine the forefront of creating top-quality wines from Mendoza is Jose “Pepe” Galante. Years ago, Argentina wines were chiefly for home vino consumption. In fact, today, Buenos Aires consumes the astir vino per capita for cities, 2nd lone to Paris. But arsenic the system suffered during the 1980s, Argentina began to earnestly look extracurricular its shores for caller markets. They besides understood the prime of the wines needed to beryllium elevated to a overmuch higher level to beryllium consumed internationally.
That was erstwhile Jose Galante came to prominence. Today helium is an icon of the vino industry, 1 of the astir influential winemakers successful Argentina, and known arsenic the begetter of premium Argentinian Malbec. His doctrine is to make wines that clasp the terroir of the Uco Valley with a absorption connected creating aromatic wines of large concentration, bully tannic texture, brushed and silky, and agelong duration connected the palate.
Galante is the lad and grandson of winemakers from Mendoza and precocious celebrated his 40th harvest. He joined Salentein successful 2010 arsenic main winemaker and continues to elevate the marque to the highest level of award-winning wines. It would not beryllium a acold agelong to notation to Galante arsenic the Lionel Messi of the Argentinian vino industry.
Wine successful Mendoza
Their labels scope from their Gran Vu Blend which is simply a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon made from effect hand-picked from prime plots and past aged for 24 months successful French oak barrels. Primus is their super-premium enactment and 1 of the archetypal high-end wines exported internationally from the Uco Valley and includes their Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. These ultra-premium wines are made for cellaring with the reds recommended for 10 years to scope their afloat potential.
A Gathering Place to Celebrate Argentina’s Wine Culture
Posada Salentein is much than a winery, it is an architectural marvel wherever vino is celebrated on with the arts, lifestyle, and epicurean pleasures. In short, is Disney Land for the vino person rightfully recognized arsenic the 25th champion winery successful the world.
Killka is the archetypal gathering of the analyzable that houses the cellar door, wine-tasting rooms, and good eating restaurant. One of Killka’s astir intriguing areas is its creation gallery which celebrates the masters of Argentina and the works of Dutch artists arsenic good arsenic homage to the homeland of the owners. It is simply a fantastic spot to walk a fewer hours successful betwixt appreciating the artistry of the winemaking of the Salentein label.
As stunning arsenic the Killka cellar doorway installation whitethorn be, what volition genuinely amaze is their winery. Located down a way amongst the vineyards sits this cathedral to vino with the backdrop of the snow-capped Andes mountains. The installation is simply a operation of state-of-the-art functionality, design, and 1 of the finest winery circuit experiences successful South America.
Most of what determination is to spot is beneath ground. Guests instrumentality the elevator 30 feet down to the cavernous subterranean abstraction below. There the stainless-steel tanks, 2000-gallon French wood fermentation casks, processing facilities, bottling machines, and 5000 oak barrels are a buzz with activity. Elsewhere successful the center, determination are backstage tasting rooms for their scope of wines. Experiencing Salentein’s premium wines wherever they are made and led by their highly passionate tasting guides is nirvana for the vino lover.
The facility’s astir awesome abstraction is the atrium, surrounded by stacks of barrels, that rises 4 stories above. At its halfway lies an amphitheater-style enclosure with sitting areas, a immense chromatic mural of a compass roseate astatine the center, and a expansive piano. Yes, that’s right, a expansive piano. The acoustics are unthinkable and the perfect venue for performances from operas, recitals, concertos, and of course, tango.
Argentinian Style Fine Dining
After a time of vino exploration, you’ll decidedly privation to acquisition their wines arsenic intended; paired with good dining. The edifice astatine Killka is exquisite, acceptable successful a modern abstraction with a partition of two-story windows letting successful earthy airy and views of the surrounding vineyards. Guests dine connected a four-course degustation of authentic Argentine fare reimagined with a modern twist and European mentation techniques. Each crockery is conceived to beryllium successful harmony with and to beryllium flawlessly paired with the premium wines from their luxury range.
Vineyard Retreat and Lodge
The Bodegas Salentein offers a lodge amidst aged wood trees and manicured lawns surrounded by vineyards. The ranch-like accommodations are perfect to enactment for a fewer days to afloat immerse oneself successful the Salentein vino culture. The accommodations are caller and modern with a modern design, earthy wood finishes, spacious interiors, and top-notch amenities. 16 accommodations see spacious suites and homes for families oregon groups of friends traveling together. Nearby guests volition bask the swimming excavation fronting the vineyards.
The culinary acquisition astatine the posada features Argentina’s Cuyo portion cuisine with meats roasted asado connected the Argentine grill. Guests tin dine indoors oregon al fresco connected the terrace overlooking the estate’s vineyards arsenic occurrence successful the pits crackle portion the prima dilatory sets connected the horizon.
Doing Good for the Industry and Community
As eco-responsible stewards of the land, the Pon household is committed to conservation and is acold on successful the process of converting its vineyards for integrated certification. Salentein has sought retired caller ways to trim the c footprint of the wine-making process and implements sustainable viticulture techniques including utilizing screen crops to trim h2o consumption.
Beyond that, Salentein is focused connected taking attraction of the adjacent procreation successful the Uco Valley and has built a schoolhouse that educates 53 students from the adjacent country and provides the highest level of backstage acquisition and instruction. The imaginativeness of Salentein articulations its purpose. 'The extremity of Bodegas Salentein is clear: to nutrient first-rate wines, committed to the world wherever they travel from. During its preparation, Salentein respects quality and, astatine the aforesaid time, takes portion successful the beingness of the area’s community, due to the fact that the radical go an indispensable constituent that reflects successful the vino expression.'
The communicative of Salentein wines is simply a fascinating one. An improbable entrepreneur lands astatine the basal of the Andes mountains and astir done accident, creates wines that volition soon beryllium revered astir the world. For the vino lover, the accidental to interaction the soil, locomotion amongst the vines, and respire the aerial wherever these wines are produced is simply a treasure. Beyond that, to acquisition the vino civilization of the Uco Valley arsenic expressed done vino tastings, the cuisine, and yes the creation successful South America's astir stunning winery is an acquisition to beryllium cherished for a lifetime.