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[title]The pleasure of resting and enjoying the natural beauty of the wine landscape has led to the emergence of many winery restaurants. Many realized that, in addition to making great wines, it is important to entertain every guest who makes the effort to visit. Therefore, wineries are focused on ensuring that visitors experience unique moments, aiming for each guest to take home unforgettable memories that they can relive each time they uncork a bottle of their wine.
Since the best way to showcase wine is around a table, more and more wineries are offering high-level culinary experiences. Undoubtedly, the Valle de Uco is one of those destinations that has it all, at least for wine and fine dining enthusiasts.
To the southwest of the Mendoza capital is the Valle de Uco, perhaps the most striking place in Mendoza's wine region, as it concentrates a myriad of eno-gastronomic proposals that did not exist 20 years ago. Upon entering the valley, the first winery you encounter is Atamisque, with its exclusive lodge, golf course, and Rincón de Atamisque. The small countryside restaurant where trout, raised on-site, is the main attraction, paired with the house's wines and sparkling wines.
Further along, after passing through the town of Tupungato and taking the panoramic Route 89, you reach Domaine Bousquet (in Gualtallary), one of the few 100% organic wineries offering an original and attractive experience in contact with nature, always featuring innovative activities and different menus at the Gaia Restaurant, such as “Picnic in the Park,” “Gourmet Tasting - Wines & Chocolates,” or the “Photographic Safari,” a tour of the park, vineyards, and winery, accompanied by a professional photographer who takes pictures during the visit and tasting. However, horseback riding among the vines is undoubtedly one of the most popular choices.
A little further along, towards the mountains, Casa Petrini stands out for also having a lodge and opening for dinner, becoming one of the most frequented places in the area. The restaurant is named Enrico, in honor of the founder's father, and means "owner of the house." Here, you can enjoy authentic and gourmet cuisine with delicious flavors from both past and present, blended into indigenous and Mediterranean gastronomy paired with wines made by winemaker Ariel Angelini. Each area offers an exclusive view of the Andes Mountains and the natural landscape of vineyards and native plants.
In the Valle de Uco, several winery proposals shine, especially at noon, and Andeluna was a pioneer in this regard. At the renowned Gualtallary winery, each dish is a carefully composed symphony designed to evoke sensations that dance in harmony with each glass of wine. Created by chef Juan Pablo Míguez, the cuisine is a blank canvas where ingredients become brushes and flavors become colors. Each menu is an invitation to explore a universe of gastronomic experiences, always accompanied by wines from winemaker Manuel González Bals.
Another pioneer of the Valle de Uco that significantly contributed to the region's development is Bodega Salentein. This icon of Tunuyán boasts an impressive museum, a large restaurant with a wine bar, and one of the most attractive wineries in the world with an amphitheater where concerts are held to take advantage of its unique acoustics.
Undoubtedly, Salentein is one of the most visited wineries in the valley. Additionally, it has relaunched the La Posada Salentein restaurant with chef Matías Gil Falcón, who offers a cuisine based on a traditional clay oven and grill, where, in addition to typical meats, a salmon trout is served, ideal for pairing with the winery's Single Vineyard whites.
Nearby, between Vistaflores, Los Chacayes, and Campo de los Andes, you can visit Clos de los Siete, the estate with several wineries led by Michel Rolland. There is the Monteviejo Space, the restaurant of the eponymous winery, which opened in July 2015, offering one of the most regionally distinctive cuisines. Under the management of Spanish chef Nadia Harón, it provides a majestic tasting experience with a base of prepared dishes, according to the principles of author cuisine integrated into a menu of traditional flavors where local ingredients make the difference.
Also of interest: The top 10 winery restaurants in Maipú
Under the concept of “cleared table,” it serves a four-course menu where the strength lies in the combination of styles, progressing with the arrival of the first courses in the sequence of appetizer, starter, main course, and dessert. This way, the cleared spaces enhance the connection with the place and its proposals. On the same premises, Diamandes has a restaurant and accommodation, with a focus on sustainability.
The Zuccardi winery in the heart of Paraje Altamira is another must-visit. After exploring its panoramic corridors and admiring the universe of concrete vessels, the barrel cellar, and the circular tasting room, you can enjoy a meal at the Piedra Infinita restaurant, which opened in March 2016. In a unique setting of mountains and vineyards, they offer multi-course menus made with regional products and a delicate gourmet expression, paired with the family’s wines and olive oils. This is the restaurant everyone wants to visit in the Valle de Uco, not only for the impressive architecture and Sebastián Zuccardi’s mountain wines but also for the panoramic restaurant and exceptional cuisine, reflecting the family’s dedication to the table and everything that surrounds it, especially wine and olive oil.
On the way to Manzano Histórico on Route 94, you pass by The Vines, a hotel complex with several wineries to visit, including SuperUco. The winery of the Michelini brothers stands out from the road with its circular shape and green roof. Dedicated 100% to biodynamic viticulture, it offers a unique gastronomic proposal.
A few kilometers further up the mountain is Casa de Uco. Here, you can visit the winery with its terraced layout and panoramic tasting room. You can also opt for an exclusive lunch among the vines under a specially set-up gazebo, with the same service as the restaurant. At Casa de Uco, high gastronomy can be enjoyed year-round, accompanied not only by the winery’s wines but also by the best representatives of the Uco region.
