Mendoza

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Mendoza

Mendoza, warm sun, excellent cuisine, and known for its famous olives and wine vineyards. Mendoza people are relaxed, friendly, and creative. They often refer to the city as the “land of sol y vino” (land of sun and wine). Mendoza has one of the most stunning backdrops we have seen so far provided by the highest mountains in the Western Hemisphere.

TRIVIA: What is one thing that I am obsessed with and I get every year in my Christmas stocking? Answer is later in the post.

Yes, my favorite statue in the city. We found this stunning creation in the largest park in Argentina which happens to be in Mendoza.

We stayed with Nico, our couchsurfing host, in Mendoza and had a blast. He by far is the most laid back relaxed guy every. It was fun we made dinner for him one night, as our thank you for hosting us, and he set up a beautiful place to eat out back under his gazebo, candles and everything.

 

Nico has these really awesome huge turtles that just wandered around his back yard munching on grass and swimming in their pool.

Mendoza is mainly known for two things, having the largest park in all of Argentina and for being the wine country.

Since this part of the country is known for its vineyards we decided to go on a bike tour of the famous city of Maipu, literally pronounced “my poo”. We seriously couldn’t stop laughing once we heard the name of this little place, I know were immature right lol but come on, "my-poo". Anyway, in Maipu they manufacture wine, olives, olive oil, fresh homemade jams, jellies, chocolates, and dulces.

At one of the vineyard we got to try:

Fresh Olive Oil & Bread

Black & Green Olives

Chocolates

Homemade jams and dulce de leches (Mike's favorite)

The olive oil was seriously fabulous, we got to dip our bread in oil then a raspberry vinaigrette, delicious!

The next vineyard we stopped at gave us a full tour of the facilities, how the wine is grown, harvested, and made. These are the huge barrels they store the wine in.

The floor is the original floor laid back in the beginning of the 1800's and all of these tools are the originals used on this vineyard.

After the inside tour we got to go see the grapes. God and religion are a major part of Argentinians as you can see there is the Mother of Mary and Jesus protecting the garden. 

We got to do a little picking of the grapes (not quite sure if that was allowed or not)

Yep, still not sure if we are going to get in trouble

They tasted delicious and extremely sweet.

Don't I kinda look like a grape today? The blue and purple sweater I am wearing makes be blend in. Look at Mike, he too is wearing a blueish-purple shirt lol we are grapes :)

Answer: Can of black olives. 

Anyone who knows that I am obsessed with olives and answered that correctly is totally on my BFF list.

Next we headed to an olive vineyard. Do you know what determines an olives color (black or green)? How long they are left in salt. The longer they stew the darker in color they get.

Yes, they also had fresh jams that we had to try :)

And chocolate too :)

Mike at the entrance of the "poshest" vineyard, we couldn't go here because you needed a reservation to enter. Oh blahhh!

Couldn't miss this opportunity. "Maipu (My-Poo) the best place to live". Ah ha ha ha still makes us laugh!!!