On Friday we went exploring the vineyards and wineries (bodegas) southeast of Mendoza in an area called Maipu. We decided to explore this area by bicycle. There were multiple vendors from whom you could rent bikes and explore the area. We chose Mr. Hugo based on one of Mariah's friend's recommendation. We arrived around 10:00 and got fitted for our bikes and headed out to the museum and olive oil farm first. The area was relatively flat and even had a protected bike lane for about half the route. The other portion of the route was on two lane roads, but without a lot of traffic.
The wine museum had a lot of old equipment and tools used in wine making over the ages. Although the process has become much more modernized, the basics of wine making have stayed the same over long periods of time. One of the more interesting items in the museum was an old complete cow skin in which the grapes were stomped. The skin proved a vessel to collect the wine while it was strong enough to take the beating. It was stretched between four posts attached at each leg.
Next door to the museum was an olive oil farm. They had two testing tables set up with various olive oils, pastes, spreads and jams. We tried about everything on bread and ended up buying a few items. After the olive oil tasting, we got to try some flavored liquors. Most were highly flavored with flavors like mint, chocolate, cinnamon, etc.
From here we headed south about 5 miles to the small Familia del Tomasa Bodega. Since it was lunchtime, we had lunch here before going on a tour and wine tasting. we had some homemade lemonade that was chock full of herbs. We then started the tour and headed down into the cellar where large fermentation barrels and smaller storage barrels lined the walls. We went in the tasting room where they had stored sample bottles of all the various wines they had made over time. These were stacked on the floor and all dust covered. There were probably more than 100 different bottles of wine. They also had a rack of premium wine that was made one year when they had a banner crop. Over 4000 bottles were made and there were still about 600 left. We tasted 4 different wines at this bodega. The taste tests here were more than just small tastes, they were more like a regular serving, so we were getting plenty of wine.
From the old winery, we then went to a very new winery, Mevi. The winery was built in 2000 and was two stories tall, giving a great view of the vineyards and the Andes in the background. Unfortunately, it was a little hazy that day, so the mountain view was not all it could have been. All the equipment was bright and shiny stainless steel with material automatically conveyed between the various storage and holding tanks. This was one of the few bodegas that we tasted multiple varieties, both white and red wines.
We made one more quick stop at another new winery on the way back to Mr. Hugo's. This was another two story building and offered a self guided tour. We stepped out on the patio and started talking to a couple we had seen earlier, and found out they were on the last leg of a month long tour of South America. They were from North Dakota and had really enjoyed their time in Argentina.
When we got back to Mr. Hugo's, we had to wait for our ride back to the hotel, and he was offering up wine. He gave us some plastic glasses and then brought out a pitcher to fill our glasses with. Although it was just basic wine, it hit the spot and gave us a good end to our bike trip. While there, we talked with a bunch people we had seen along the way, including a couple of Europeans who were trying to get coins for the bus fare back to town as the buses don't take bills and most of the local vendors don't like to make change. Everybody we met was having a good time.
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