March 18 - 25, 2007
Mendoza, Argentina
This years Argentina incentive trip was by far the most exciting one yet, and I am certain our guests would tell you the same. We put our clients up at the very chic Park Hyatt Mendoza and spent the week traveling around the Mendoza wine country in a 24-passenger minibus... and really got to know one another. It is a fact that we were well fed on this trip and never once were our wine glasses (copa's) even close to becoming empty. Below is a brief description of our week in Argentina:
Sunday, March 18
Our clients arrived at the Mendoza International Airport very tired from a long 10-hour red-eye flight from various States in the U.S.. Harrison and I (Danielle Jones), along with our 3-month old daughter, Reese, were at the airport to greet them. We quickly transported our groggy clients to the Park Hyatt Mendoza and got them checked in to their hotel rooms for a little rest and relaxation. Some took the opportunity to spend their first day in Argentina poolside to take in some sun and wine (a lot of wine!). Others simply took in the wine. Sometime around 9:30pm (early by Argentineans standards) we made our way by foot to a local restaurant for our first, but certainly not our last, meal together. Dinner at Mi Tierra Restaurante Tempatico was spectacular. Some ordered duck, some chicken, but most dove right in and ordered the beef...when in Rome! It was a great opportunity to meet everyone in the group and talk about the week ahead.
Monday, March 19
After a wonderful breakfast at the Park Hyatt, we all loaded up in our minibus for a short 20 minute ride to the Antis vineyards in the Maipu region. We pulled up to find our hosts, Tomas Machado, Paola Machado, Alicia (Paola's mother), and several others from Antis Winery waiting for us with all the gear and equipment necessary for harvesting Merlot from their vines. Each of our clients had the wonderful opportunity to harvest grapes, enough grapes I might add, to make one bottle of wine which will be available for them to drink this Fall. After harvesting, we headed to the winery where we tasted at least 20 wines. The 
Antis wines got great reviews from our clients, most of which had never tasted them before coming on this trip. And as usual, Antis put out an incredible spread for lunch in the tank room. Lunch consisted of an assortment of fresh vegetables, salads, empanadas, breads, and a lot of meat; baby goat (cabrita), beef, lamb and pork. We left the winery well fed and satisfied. Later that evening, we joined forces once more with our wonderful hosts from Antis Winery at Club Tapiz Restaurant, where we drank more wine, ate more beef, and enjoyed the company.
Tuesday, March 20
We departed the hotel after another great meal (breakfast at the Park Hyatt) for the Luigi Bosca vineyards located in the Lujan de Cuyo region of Mendoza. The backdrop of their vineyards is breathtaking...with the still snowcapped Andes mountains in the distance with vines as far as the eye could see. After our photo opportunity at the vineyards we headed to the Luigi Bosca winery for a tour and tasting. And talk about a wine tasting. I believe we tasted at least 40 wines that afternoon. It was quite amazing. And yet again, we were treated to an amazing lunch spread...where food just kept coming our way. And besides the wine being phenomenal, I have to say that the sun-dried tomatoes they served were the best I've ever tasted...Dinner was served at a local favorite, La Sal Restaurant and was hosted by our hosts from Luigi Bosca.
Wednesday, March 21
"...it's starting to feel like Groundhog Day in the Park Hyatt breakfast room...", I overheard someone in our group saying that. And I also heard that this was the day not to be missed - unfortunately I decided to stay behind with the kids. Vina Alicia was the winery on our itinerary today and Harrison tells me everyone had a wonderful time. The wines as usual, were spectacular. They tasted the 2005 and 2006 vintages from Vina Alicia and had the opportunity to taste their new white wine which should be released this Fall 2007. After the tasting, Alicia Arizu (owner of Vina Alicia, and her son Rodrigo Arizu (manager of Vina Alicia) treated everyone in the group to a 
fabulous luncheon at Las Cavas Resort in the middle of nowhere. I hear the food was great and that the resort itself is one of those 'have to spend the night there once in my lifetime" kind of places. I hope I'll have the opportunity to in the near future - Harrison are you reading this:-)
Thursday, March 22
This was our last day of visiting wineries. We spent the entire day at Bodega Tittarelli; touring the vineyards and winery, eating, tasting, eating, enjoying a live tango show, watching the children (and a few of our adults) playing in the inflatable jumpy-slide- thing, drinking more wine, and relaxing during the 30-minute body massages given with olive oil products from Tittarelli. What a day! And we completed this day with a great dinner at Bodega 900 where we were the very first customers to 
taste the Bodega 900 white wine which got rave reviews from our crowd.
Friday, March 23
Extracurricular activity day. Harrison and the guys all played golf, teaming up with representatives from each of the wineries we represent in the U.S. I hear it was a great time - and that Big Mike whooped Harrison on the course. But you did not hear that from me. I took a few of the ladies downtown to shop. We found some great goodies and treats to bring back home from Argentina. Our farewell dinner that evening was at the restaurant La Bourgogne located inside of the Carlos Pulenta winery in Lujan de Cuyo. Antis provided the wine for our dinner. It was a 
great place for all of us to recap on the week passed and thank each of our hosts and clients for making this trip possible. We had a great time!
Saturday, March 24
Adios amigos! We bid farewell to our clients as they departed via minibus...whoops - via taxi (it's a long story...), for the Mendoza airport where they would take off for their final destinations of Atlanta, Memphis, Washington, DC, Colorado, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Birmingham.
Overall it was one spectacular trip! I know that Harrison 
and I are really looking forward to next years trip and you all returning with us.
