- To Mendoza for the Masters of Food & Wine: Introduction
- To Mendoza for the Masters of Food & Wine: American Airlines First Class from Orlando (MCO) to Miami (MIA) and American Airlines Business Class from Miami (MIA) to Buenos Aires (EZE)
- To Mendoza for the Masters of Food & Wine: Aerolineas Argentinas from Buenos Aires (AEP) to Mendoza (MDZ)
- To Mendoza for the Masters of Food & Wine: Park Hyatt Mendoza
- To Mendoza for the Masters of Food & Wine: American Airlines Cocktail Reception
- To Mendoza for the Masters of Food & Wine: Day 2: La Alboroza, Zuccardi Winery, Trapiche Winery
- To Mendoza for the Masters of Food & Wine: Day 3: Catena Zapata, Rutini Wines, Terrazas de los Andes
- To Mendoza for the Masters of Food & Wine: Aerolineas Argentinas from Mendoza (MDZ) to Buenos Aires (AEP)
- To Mendoza for the Masters of Food & Wine: Admirals Club Buenos Aires, American Airlines Business Class from Buenos Aires (EZE) to Miami (MIA) and American Airlines First Class from Miami (MIA) to Orlando (MCO)
- To Mendoza for the Masters of Food & Wine: Conclusion
(Full disclosure: Park Hyatt and American Airlines, sponsors of the Masters of Food & Wine Event, comped my airfare, hotel, and admission to the events)
Day three started bright and early at 8AM with a drive to Catena Zapata. It was a beautiful day and I was excited that our hour-long bus ride was bringing us closer to the mountains, which made for a very picturesque ride (though the bus seats were especially comfortable, so I had a hard time staying awake).
Catena Zapata was absolutely stunning, given the Mayan-inspired building with the mountains and vineyards in the backdrop.
Vineyards
Catena Zapata
We were greeted by their winemakers and marketing folks with a champagne reception, as they explained a bit about the history of the winery.
Cheese and crackers
Champagne
Interior of the building
Winemaking facilities
One of the nice things about the Mayan temple design is that there’s an observation deck at the very top. When we finally made it up there I had one of those moments where you forget about everything else in the world, forget about all the bad stuff going on, forget about any stress, and just take in the world for how beautiful it is. Ah, life is good.
View from the top
Our tour continued downstairs, where we also had some wine tasting.
Barrels
After about two hours at Catena Zapata it was time to go to Rutini Wines for lunch and a tour, which was about 45 minutes away. The view from Rutini Wines was equally beautiful, though the building itself was a bit more “industrial.”
View from Rutini Wines
Rutini Wines
Two things I’ll forever associate with one another
Interview with the chef
We were lucky enough to actually be the first ones to ever get a tour of the winery, since it was the first time they opened to the public.
Massive facility
Grapes
Grapes
More to drink
After a tour it was time for lunch. This lunch was different (in a cool way), in that we were having lunch in the actual “facilities,” giving it a more industrial feel.
Lunch setup
The chef today was Brazilian and the pasty chef was Argentinian.
Menu
Chefs making final preparations
Fish salad preparations
Rutini Gewuerztraminer, 2009
Amazonian fish salad with butter beans, “torresmos Pacoca” and Brazil nuts
Rutini Encabezado de Malbec, 2007
Variety…
Guinea fowl with Xerem corn and farmer vegetables
Sun dried beef with milk Pirao, pumpkin and marrow butter
Chocolate cake soakes in Rutini Dulce Encabezado de Malbec
Light pistaccio cream, poached apricot
Spiced cocoa syrup
After a fancy three hour meal it was time to head back to the hotel, though only for about 30 minutes before it was time to hit the next winery. Dinner would be at Terrazas de los Andes, which was about an hour drive from the hotel.
Terrazas de los Andes
They set up a tent just for the dinner. I couldn’t help but feel like I was at a wedding.
Tent
Our table
Menu
Dinner in progress
Tonight’s chef was Argentinian and pastry chef was American. I spent quite a bit of time googling this meal to figure out just what it was!
Pacu cooked in earth oven with lemon, potato stew over mozzarella and roasted Andean potatoes
After the first course the owner of the winery and chef were on stage to introduce themselves.
Chef Martin Molteni
Mollejas glazed with sugarcane honey, dehydrated mushrooms, figs in lemon, and potato confit
Pork bondiola in honey with “ruta del norte” species, tomatoes, spring onion whites and roasted peppers
There was even entertainment with the main course, in the form of tango.
Tango
Tango
Pre-dessert
Dome of chocolate, creme brulee center, caramel mousse, hazelnut biscuit
To finish off the evening everyone working in the kitchen was brought out for a round of applause.
Our excellent chefs/kitchen staff
After a most enjoyable two days, as exhausting and calorie-filled as they were, I was looking forward to a half decent night of sleep before flying back to the US.
@ Nicole -- Thanks! I'm actually just using the preset mode. I turn on the camera, I point, and I shoot. I need to learn to use the camera properly one of these days.
@ chitownflyer -- Well, I don't usually eat *that* much. It was two days of over-indulgence, though I will say I didn't eat/drink everything displayed.
How do you survive so many calories? The preparation and presentation of the dining experience is excellent.
What settings are you using when using your camera. Manual mode or the presettings. They look awesome
Great post Lucky, but no photos of the resident models this time :-)
Looks great!