We had high hopes for our wine tour by bike through Maipú, in the heart of Argentina’s wine region. What could be better than a leisurely bike ride through a cute old town with wineries on one side and the Andes on the other? But our experience didn’t quite match up with our expectations.
We hopped off the bus in Maipú and rented two rickety bikes. Winery map in hand, we started pedaling toward the first winery. Based on the map, it should have only been a few blocks away. Then again, the map didn’t have a scale.
Eight kilometers later we pulled into the old-fashioned bodega, happy to be alive. The bike shop didn’t have any helmets and the bike lane ended after a few blocks. The wine route turned out to be a run-down major road, with cement trucks whizzing by at 70 mph, barely swerving to avoid us and kicking up dust and spewing exhaust in our faces.
Not quite the majestic, peaceful experience we’d hoped for, but we tried to look on the bright side.
Not the scenery we’d imagined
Two large dogs greeted us at the first winery, which consisted of five unlabeled buildings. We ventured into one and found a winery tour in progress. We tagged along for 15 minutes during which I learned 1) you should always store wine on the first floor of your house and the bottle should be kept horizontal and 2) when you buy wine at the store, take a bottle from the back of the shelf because it’s been exposed to less light. At least I think that’s what the guide said. It was all in Spanish and I struggled to keep up. Then the tour group went to do a tasting, which was a bit too expensive for us, and we took off.
The next winery looked close, but I feared the map might be deceiving us again. Fortunately, it only took 10 minutes to get there and this bodega was much more scenic, less busy, more reasonably priced, and served food. That’s more like it. We did the tour, ordered a delicious meal, and proceeded to split a bottle of wine.
Wine and food — that’s more like it
Feeling content (and more than a bit tipsy), we stopped at one last winery. We walked through its museum and saw an entire cow skin that had once been used to filter wine. Bizarre. We sampled one of their wines, then decided it was time to call it quits for the day.
We headed back to the bike shop, stopping only to sample exotic liqueurs at a store along the way (a delicious but bad idea after aforementioned bottled of wine). The exhaust and dust that coated our faces and lungs was less bothersome in our inebriated state.
Content after a five hour day of bodega tours, we returned our bikes and got on a bus headed for Mendoza. The day wasn’t what we expected, but we still had fun. With good weather and good wine, you can’t go wrong.
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Did you find out how that cow skin actually worked to filter wine? I’m very curious.
Sounds like a brilliant day out all told, in my experience South America always throws up surprises like that map.
that food and wine looks good!
What a great attitude and teachable spirit to find the good in every experience! Glad you made it back ok.mom
After reading your blog, I feel you had a great day out.Although I drink wine on weekends, I didn’t know that the wine bottle should be kept horizontal. Can you tell me the reason behind it?
http://www.morvacations.com
@Megalead11 The bottle is stored horizontal to keep the cork moist so it doesn’t shrink up and thereby allowing air into the bottle.
~lk
Maipú in a place where there are combined
art and nature to awaken your
senses and make them a memory
memorable of our land.
Do not miss this opportunity and come to
visit. Maipú you in La Quinta
simply hope to offer
the best.
La Quinta Maipú awaits you after your
visit to the cellars to enjoy a
barbecue and the best wines of Mendoza.
After more share customs
our people and the music mate
regional.
With the Andes as a framework
and olive trees on our farm, you’ll recognize
ideal perfume field, plus
fun in the pool and playing paddle.
If you enjoy arts and crafts of our
people invite you to visit our room
Art, where you can see and buy what
IMVs.
Here you can find works is q
exhibited at the art gallery of The
Fifth Maipú and inform the
arts organizations that
oars each month in which you can
participate.
Great Post I love this site… Thanks
first time reader just thought this had some pithy and good points to it! been doing mostly restaurant reviews in southern cal feel free to have a look if you’d like. http://ncfinedining.wordpress.com/
Thanks for sharing this nice info….
I lived in Buenos Aires for 6 months and did a tour with my mother in Maipu.
We had a great time. The chocolate factory was DELICIOUS. Some of the tours were in Spanish, so I translated for my mom. I believe most of them have English tours too.
This was my first wine touring experience so I did not have any previous expectations. In my personal opinion, Maipu is the cheapest and most adventurous way to go.
We had a blast and met a lot of great bikers along the way.
DALE ARGENTINA!!!