Argentina with Lorena Garcia

Day 1: Buenos Aires

Bienvenidos a Argentina! Our trip begins in the evening when we’ll convene at our hotel for a night on the town. Following Lorena’s lead, we’ll make our way to Puerto Madero, the brick-lined dockside neighborhood home to some of the best steakhouses in the world. Our destination is no exception—thanks to their hyperlocal grass-fed selection of meats, Cabaña Las Lilas has been a fixture in Buenos Aires food scene for decades now.

As far as the menu for this evening? Let’s just say Lorena has connections, and our dinner will be an exquisite preview of the culinary adventure to come.

Day 2: Buenos Aires

We’ll start our exploration of Buenos Aires in the barrio Recoleta. This is Eva Perón’s old stomping grounds, where mansions line stately boulevards linked by blooming jacarandas and locals sip frothy cortados at sidewalk cafes. After an immersive tour including its iconic cemetery, we’ll be whisked off to a test kitchen for a cooking class led by Lorena’s friend, Teresa Rucci. Here we’ll learn the art of Argentine empanada from a true master of the craft.

After a busy day, we’ll have dinner on own and meet up later to experience the electric cocktail scene and top off the night with a festive tango event with incredible dancers.

Day 3: Buenos Aires

The barrios of Buenos Aires are essentially separate villages. Today we’ll embark on tasting tours of a few historic neighborhoods bursting in local color and lore. First it’s off to the iconic Plaza de Mayo where we’ll stand in awe inside Catedral de Buenos Aires and Casa de Gobierno.

Then, in unforgettable La Boca, we’ll savor some warm empanadas and sip on some wine, as we listen to street musicians on Caminito street, lined with its iconic bold and brightly painted buildings. We’ll then head over to visit San Telmo, the city’s oldest barrio, whose cobbled alleyways make up the heart of tango. We’ll explore their vast local market with a quick stop to nibble on choripan (grilled chorizo sandwiches with chimichurri) and to sip on a local beer. We’ll watch locals dance, play soccer, and hang out at leafy plazas, enjoying our last day in Buenos Aires together.

On the way back to the hotel, we’ll head to the 1908 Colon Theater, South America’s finest, with an insider’s look at the ornate building’s frescos, backstage area and studios. After an afternoon siesta, we’re off to our intimate Buenos Aires farewell dinner for a multi-course celebration of Argentine cuisine paired with some of the finest local wines.

Day 4: Mendoza

Bienvenidos to the heart of Argentina’s wine country! If you’ve ever enjoyed a glass of Malbec, you’ll love its homeland. We’ll start with a look into Mendoza, the nearly 500-year-old bohemian town with an Art Deco center, and after a city tour, we’ll begin with the two things that make Mendoza famous: food and wine.

Lunch is at the fiercely local winery, Lagarde The dishes here embody their “landscape cuisine” and honor the strong Incan heritage in the region. The wines, harvested since 1897, are full-bodied, smoky odes to gaucho culture and the rugged terroir. 

After some downtime at our stunning boutique hotel, we’ll gather again for dinner at the foot of the snow-capped mountains at family-owned Bodega Vinorum. Here, we’ll toast our arrival to Mendoza and marvel at the storybook views in every direction.

Day 5: Mendoza

We’ll start the day with morning at the hotel, maybe relaxing at the hammam—South America’s only Turkish-style bathhouse—or just take time to rest. Next, we’ll make our way to Finca Decero Vineyard for a picturesque (the Andes Mountains are literally hovering behind the estate) three-course lunch with wine pairings, of course.

Still have room more? Good! Because now it’s onto another of the region’s most heralded wineries for a tasting tour through their flagship vintages.

In the late afternoon, we’ll return to the hotel for a moment of siesta before a special dinner at Casa Bermellon. Don’t be surprised if you see Lorena with her sleeves rolled-up and collaborating with the chef as we indulge on the charred delicacies of an authentic asado.

Day 6: Uco Valley

Today we’ll vine-hop deeper into wine country towards our next home, the Uco Valley. First stop is at small, boutique Bodega Cruzat for a refreshing toast of its sparkling wines. Then we visit Viña Cobos Winery, where modernity reigns supreme—it’s two sides of the Argentinian wine scene, both captivating and delicious. 

For lunch, we’re pairing local delicacies and rare vintages at Finca Bandini. Our bellies full, we’ll check into our beautiful Uco Valley home—the Vines Resort and take some time to decompress and relax.

Dinner tonight is yours to embellish.

Day 7: Mendoza

Today we tap into our inner gaucho today with a full-on Andean adventure! After a jaunt down up the mountain by car, we’ll continue climbing on horseback until we reach the top of the mesa. Up there, we’ll celebrate with a glass a wine and snacks to tide us over on the way down where lunch awaits us at a local hacienda: freshly harvested seasonal ingredients cooked with traditional gaucho methods.

And you won’t forget tonight’s dinner at Francis Mallmann’s Siete Fuegos (“Seven Fires”), one of Argentina’s most notable restaurants. Wrapped in alpaca blankets, we’ll watch in awe as the chef and Lorena prepare a gaucho-worthy feast of slow-grilled rib eye roasted on seven types of open flame.

Day 8: Mendoza

Alas, it’s time for our journey to end. We’ll celebrate our adventure over breakfast, with a last cortado or glass of Malbec, before offering fond farewells.