This CORK & FORK sample itinerary with pricing has been developed based on a group of 4 and is provided merely as a glimpse of the sort of customized travel experience CORK & FORK would delight in developing for independent travelers and groups.               Plus Optional Add-on Program in Chile The Best of Latin America   Highlights: •   8 Days/7 Nights of cultural and epicurean discovery in Argentina including the capital of Buenos Aires and Latin America's top appellation of Lujan de Cuyo in Mendoza Wine Country: Option to add 4 Days/3 Night in Chile's "Big Red" Colchagua Valley Wine Country and the capital of Santiago •   Deluxe accommodations at a classically-styled, Buenos Aires five-star property and an incomparable luxury wine country retreat carved out of the vineyards of Mendoza •   Two intimate Mendoza wine tasting tours in the standout Lujan de Cuyo appellation (additional wine experiences available during Chile Add-on Program) •   In Buenos Aires, a half-day culinary lesson and demonstration followed by lunch with a private chef and expert on traditional Latin American cuisine •   Cultural experiences including a Buenos Aires walking tour featuring Recoleta and the San Telmo antiques market, a city tour of Buenos Aires and a guided tour of Mendoza City •   A customized dining program that will expose you both to authentic regional cuisine and modern interpretations of traditional classics featuring leading chefs of the moment. Exceptional Mendoza dining is included.     Contact Jim Dondero at CORK & FORK to discuss this itinerary. 919.536.3200 • jim@corkandfork.net Day One: Morning arrival to Buenos Aires and private transfer to your hotel. Half-day city tour with coach and walking tour components that will familiarize you with this grand city. Highlights will include the Plaza de Mayo, home to numerous civic and other buildings including the city's cathedral and Casa Rosada (Pink House), the presidential palace where Eva Peron made her famous speeches, the colorful La Boca barrio and other districts old and new. Accommodations: Sofitel Arroyo, a five-star, classic property situated in an unbeatable location on leafy Arroyo Street Day Two: Private, morning walking tour of San Telmo, the oldest neighborhood of Buenos Aires (B.A.), appreciated for its bohemian charm, and Recoleta, a wealthy and fashionable neighborhood of great historical and architectural interest that is home to the celebrated Recoleta Cemetery, the final resting place of notables including Eva Perón. Consider requesting that your guide include the wonderful Sunday antiques market in San Telmo. Afternoon at leisure, during which you may wish to explore the expansive Palermo barrio, where you will find leafy neighborhoods, parks and museums. Accommodations: Sofitel Arroyo Day Three: The bulk of the day will be devoted to a half-day, small group culinary demonstration and lesson plus lunch with a private chef who is highly knowledgeable in the areas of traditional culinary methods as well as regional ingredients and recipes. You'll travel to a private home in the suburbs for a small group lesson focused on how to prepare crisp and juicy beef and Humita (corn) empanadas. You'll also cover the influences of South American indigenous food preparation techniques. Lunch with wine pairings is included. Balance of the day at leisure. Optional evening tango performance at Rojo Tango. Accommodations: Sofitel Arroyo Day Four: Day at leisure. Today, we suggest you get serious about shopping. For custom leather goods, seek out the shops of pedestrian Calle Florida or those on Murillo Street. Recoleta, Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho are home to the top designer boutiques in the city. Afternoon at leisure, during which you may wish to visit some of city's top museums, which are considered to be among the finest in Latin America. Optional Epicurean Walking Tour with a chef to include atmospheric food markets and gourmet shops at which you will learn about and sample regional specialties. Accommodations: Sofitel Arroyo Days 5 - 7:  Private transfer to B.A.'s domestic airport for morning flight to Mendoza. Upon arrival, driver greeting and private transfer 45 min to your accommodations, the intimate Cavas Wine Lodge, a stunning, 14-room luxury wine country lodge located in an impossibly beautiful and tranquil vineyard setting in full view of the majestic Andes range. In Mendoza, your customized program is all-inclusive and will include a private driver, all meals with wine pairings (featuring the majority of the top restaurants in the region such as the renowned wine tasting lunch at Bodega Ruca Malen) and small group (4-8 people) wine touring in the top appellation of Lujan de Cuyo. Private visits with winemakers can be arranged. Options, which also are included, consist of an outdoors adventure (hiking or rafting with a private guide) and a private walking and driving tour of Mendoza City. Bicycles are available at Cavas Wine Lodge. During this time, you will experience between 3 and 6 top-flight wineries such as Achaval Ferrer, Catena Zapata and Lagarde, one of the oldest bodegas in Mendoza. Accommodations: Cavas Wine Lodge Day Eight:  Private airport transfer for departure to the U.S. via Santiago or Buenos Aires OR continue on to Santiago for four-day Add-on Program in Chilean Wine Country. Add-on Program: Day Eight: 1 hr flight to Santiago. Private transfer 2 hrs 45 min to Colchagua Wine Country, home of Chile's "Big Reds." Colchagua Valley recently has emerged as Chile's top wine region and is home to numerous varietals including Cabernet, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and, especially, Carmenère, a Bordeaux varietal that mostly died off in Europe due to disease in the 19th century, but thrives in Chile. En route, stop at a winery in Maipo Valley, the birthplace of the Chilean wine industry. As in Argentina, you will have a private driver in Chile. Accommodations: Casa Silva Hotel, a charming and highly tranquil, seven-room property located at an old winery that produces an excellent Chardonnay. Days Nine and Ten: Private wine country touring in Colchagua Valley to include visits to leading producers such as Casa Lapostelle (their Clos Aplata 2008 was Wine Spectator's "Wine of the Year" in 2008), Viña Bisquertt with it's beautiful tasting room and Viña Montes, an ultra-modern winery featuring Gregorian chant music in the aging room. Each day will include two winery visits in addition to cultural touring to include the charming colonial town of Santa Cruz. Chile's foremost wine town, Santa Cruz is surrounded by vineyards and lakes and is home to an exceptional museum that houses an impressive collection of pre-Incan artifacts. Accommodations: Casa Silva Day Eleven:  Depart Colchagua Valley and proceed 2 hrs 45 min to Santiago, Chile's bustling capital, for a private walking tour to include key sites such as La Moneda Palace, the presidential palace and the historic quarter as well as a walk through the wonderful Central Market (tastings included). After time at leisure, evening airport transfer for departure. What’s Included: •   7 nights' deluxe accommodations (plus 3 nights for Add-on Program in Chile). Double occupancy is assumed. •   Up to 2, full-day, private wine tours in Mendoza including transfers, guide services and tastings and optional private Mendoza City Tour and/or private guided outdoors activity in the Mendoza region. Add-on includes two days of wine/cultural touring in Colchagua Valley, plus Maipo Valley winery visit en route from Santiago and private Santiago walking tour. •   Culinary Demonstration and Lesson with Latin American culinary expert (this is a small group session with no more than 8 participants) •   Private cultural tours in Buenos Aires (half-day walking tour of San Telmo and Recoleta + half-day city tour with coach and walking tour elements to include additional barrios and key sites) •   5 gourmet lunches (1 in conjunction with B.A. culinary program, 3 in Mendoza) and 3 memorable dinners (all in Mendoza) with wine pairings plus breakfast each morning at your hotels •   Airport transfers as specified and private driver at disposal in Mendoza and Chile   What's Not Included: •   International & Domestic Air •   Meals unless otherwise specified •   Gratuities (recommended gratuities per person will be provided based on the final program) •   Personal expenses.   Pricing Per Person (based on a group of 4, double occupancy): Argentina Core Program: 8 Days/7 Nights $3,650 Add-on Program to Chile: 4 Days/3 Nights $1,650   Pricing is subject to availability and will be confirmed at the time of booking. A 25% deposit is required to activate this itinerary.