A view of the golden morning as it dawns over the Andes foothills, heralds a typical morning in Mendoza, Argentina, the land of Malbec. Here the skies are vast, the peaks eternal, and vineyards stretch at altitudes that sculpt grapes into narratives of terroir, climate as well as history. We invite you to discover Mendoza not simply as a wine region, but as a world-class stage where viticulture, cuisine, and luxury convene. Anetza Concierge curates these experiences: Michelin-Key hotels, starred restaurants, wine estates, and vistas you will carry forward, forever. Today, Thursday Food shifts the focus to enotourism: travel geared towards exploring, tasting, and purchasing wine at its source along with the accompanying gastronomy. The 2025 recipients of the coveted Michelin Keys, now in its second year, have been revealed and the hospitality of the Southern Continent is being celebrated with Argentina rightfully at the forefront.

In this first part of our enotourism series we explore Mendoza proper, through the eyes of a Jamaican living in Argentina, delving into the hotels behind these highly sought after Michelin Keys. We will guide you through its principal wine-zones, Luján de Cuyo, Uco Valley, Maipú, its terroir, its gastronomic stars and its viticultural lifestyle. A veritable wine travel map enabling you to chart a course of where to visit, taste and stay in the land of Malbec. Mendoza lies at the foot of the towering Andes Mountains offering dry, sunny climates (over 250 days of sun in many of the wine regions), rainfall is scarce and temperatures swing between hot days and cold nights. These large diurnal shifts preserve acidity and freshness in the grapes, with varied soil compositions: alluvial gravels, calcareous stone layers, sandy loams as well as rocks. These substrates force vines to reach deep, concentrate the fruit on the vine and build complexity in the resulting wine’s flavour.

Luján de Cuyo, known as the cradle of Malbec, is among the oldest appellations in Mendoza with vineyards ranging in altitude between approximately 900 and 1,100 meters above sea level (masl). Soils are well drained, often alluvial with gravels and clay, leading to Malbecs with rich colour, plush tannins, intense aroma, and a velvety texture. Uco Valley rises higher, having vineyards in Tunuyán, Tupungato as well as Gualtallary well over 1,100 masl, and even above 1,400 masl. Soils are often calcareous and stony, cliffs of limestone along with veins of clay mixed with sand, producing wines that leave a longer finish, are finer, leaner in profile yet still rich in perfume. Maipú, the tradition keeper among the regions, is called “La Cuna del Vino” (the cradle of wine) in Mendoza. It is closest to the province’s capital, Mendoza City, and rich in history with many of the oldest families and bodegas in the country. Its soils are lower in altitude than Uco but still carry the heritage of European viticultural techniques dating back to the 19th century, in a wine culture intimately tied to the people, the olive grove and of course the slow rituals of grape and ferment.

The wine culture in Mendoza intertwines with festival and tradition. Each year the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia (National Grape Harvest Festival) celebrates the grape, the vine and the harvest with parades, music, rituals and the crowning of a queen. The wine experience here is highly sensory, vibrantly cultural, and rooted in its breathtaking landscape. In recent years Michelin Guide has embraced Mendoza’s restaurant scene and in its 2025 edition, six restaurants in Mendoza were awarded 1 Michelin star: Zonda Cocina de Paisaje; Brindillas; Azafrán; Casa Vigil; Angélica Cocina Maestra as well as the Riccitelli Bistró. Some received distinctions for sustainability, which saw Michelin Green Stars going Casa Vigil, Angélica, Zonda, Riccitelli Bistró along with Osadía de Crear. These honours mark not only culinary excellence but also environmental responsibility.

On the accommodation front Michelin Keys (Llaves Michelin) recognize hotels and in 2025, two Mendoza properties received Two Michelin Keys: Cavas Wine Lodge and Susana Balbo Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites. This signifies an “exceptional stay”, meaning the hotel offers unique, memorable experiences that are guaranteed and distinguished by its charm. These hotels go beyond basic accommodation, providing a high-quality, character-filled stay, focusing on quality and consistency in service and personality. Four more received 1 Michelin Key: Chozos Resort, Lares de Chacras, Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort and The Vines Resort & Spa. This award represents “a very special stay” indicating the hotel provides a unique and exceptional experience, meeting high standards in service, personality, and value for price, as determined by the guide’s inspectors. These recipients are designed not just for rest but for complete immersion with some featuring spa suites, wellness butlers, vinotherapeutic treatments in addition to suites with views of vineyards and peaks. Gastronomy within them complements wines and food locally sourced from the region, all culminating in expertly created pairing menus.

With this mind, Anetza Concierge curated a bespoke wine list for Thursday Food showcasing two of Mendoza’s 2025 Michelin Keys standouts that operate their own bodegas:

Susana Balbo Signature Torrontés de Raíz Naranjo, made by Susana Balbo Wines, is a 100 percent varietal that earned a Master award at the 2025 Global Orange Wine Masters event, the second ever staging of a global competition organized by the Global Wine Masters. Master awardees are wines that have been adjudged as exceptional, in addition to being outstanding examples of their category, demonstrating classic qualities like intensity, complexity, and harmony.

Susana Balbo Signature Rosé, a delightful blend of 60 percent Malbec and 40 percent Pinot Noir, earned a bronze medal at the Global Rosé Masters 2025 event, also organized by the Global Wine Masters. These are wines awarded for having great structure and balance that meet the standard for being a medal winner.

El Salvaje Sauvignon Blanc is made from 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc grapes by Bodega Casa de Uco, a boutique winery within the larger Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort in the Los Chacayes region of the Uco Valley, Mendoza.

El Salvaje Blend de Blanc is a white wine blend that comprises 50 percent Sauvignon Blanc, 30 percent Chardonnay, 5 percent Pinot Gris and 15 percent Torrontés. It is also made by Bodega Casa de Uco, a project that includes a luxury hotel, a real estate business, and a winery, all focused on a sustainable approach to wine production that expresses the local terroir.

Collecting exceptional bottles is part of Mendoza’s allure, but even more enchanting are the myriad of experiences that abound amongst the storied vines. Estates in the Uco Valley release single-vineyard bottles that eventually become treasures. Olive oil pairs with wine at lunch in Maipú, a fellowship in historic settings that later yields soothing stories for the soul. Luján de Cuyo’s high altitude mastery is enveloping in a veritable symphony of the vines, orchestrating moments that unfold amidst vineyard rows, set against the majestic Andes backdrop. Make Mendoza part of your journey and allow Anetza Concierge to shape your itinerary so you can discover, indulge and savour the very best of what this Michelin-recommended and awarded region has to offer. Travel when vines are flowering or harvest begins and be sure to pack sensorial openness for Mendoza will change you.

To the wine lover it offers more than Malbec: it offers place, history as well as craftsmanship, while for the luxury traveler it offers comfort, elevated taste and truly unforgettable moments. Let us guide you there. Salud!

Cavas Wine Lodge, a recipient of multiple Reader’s Choice awards from Conde Nast Traveler, is described as a luxurious Spanish Colonial villa in Argentina’s wine country. Cavas Wine Lodge

Cavas Wine Lodge, set amidst the lush Mendoza landscape, won two Michelin Keys and occupies its own private vineyard. Cavas Wine Lodge

Chozos Resort, part of Dragonback Estate’s wine and hospitality project, offers luxe accommodation that includes the glam camp (glamping) experience that overlooks the vines. Chozos Resort

El Salvaje – Sauvignon Blanc Bodega Casa De Uco

El Salvaje Blend de Blanc is a white wine blend that comprises 50 per cent Sauvignon Blanc, 30 per cent Chardonnay, five per cent Pinot Gris and 15 per cent Torrontés. Bodega Casa De Uco

Lares de Chacras is a boutique hotel in Chacras de Coria with a wine bar and an on-site cellar. Lares de Chacras Hotel

Casa de Uco operates its own winery and wine brand while the resort is built around its vineyards selling and serving its wines. Casa de Uco

Nothing says luxury destination wedding more than the exchange of nuptials with a vineyard backdrop. The Vines Resort & Spa

The Vines Resort & Spa is part of a 100-hectare property where visitors can experience winemaking activities, which includes sunset dining among the vines. The Vines Resort & Spa

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Susana Balbo Signature Rosé, a delightful blend of 60 per cent Malbec and 40 per cent Pinot Noir, earned a bronze medal at the Global Rosé Masters 2025 event. Susana Balbo Wines

Susana Balbo Signature Torrontes de Raiz Naranjo Susana Balbo Wines