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We won’t be taking much of a risk by saying that Argentina is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Not only does it possess the natural beauty of Patagonia, including the Lake District around Bariloche, but there is also awe-inspiring Iguazu Falls, the view of the Andes from Mendoza Wine Country, and Salta, the surreally-beautiful northwest province that is punctuated by fantastic mountains and canyons.

Beautiful, too, (and sophisticated!) is Buenos Aires, which offers so very much to the visitor, from great culture and shopping to exceptional dining, diverse neighborhoods and never-ending nightlife. The cuisine and wines of Argentina are equally stunning. Some of our very favorite Argentina culinary and wine travel experiences for clients include the following:

• An Argentine empanadas cooking lesson featuring traditional recipes handed down through the generations
• An oenolgist-led, private wine tasting tour of spectacular and off-the-beaten-path Lujan de Cuyo, the “hot” appellation in Mendoza wine country
• After a visit to the colorful markets of colonial Salta in the northwest, a wine tasting tour in and around the wine town of Cafayate, home to high-altitude viticulture and Torrontes, Argentina’s floral white varietal
• An authentic “asado” at a working Estancia in Las Pampas. Enjoy various cuts of grilled beef marinated in a chimichurri sauce comprised of 22 spices
• A guided tour of locals-only Feria de Marmol in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, providing a window into Argentine culture and exposure to the wide variety of different fruits, vegetables, meats and spices used in everyday cooking
  
• An haute-cuisine culinary lesson and demonstration with one of the nation’s foremost celebrity chefs
  
• A butcher-led tutorial that will give you new insight and expertise into beef and a newfound appreciation and understanding of beef quality (this is not for everyone, but altogether fascinating!)
  

Argentina is a leading world food producer. Beef, of course, reigns supreme and European influences, particularly from Italy, have played an important role in the epicurean make-up of the country. In the Northwest, you will find indigenous cuisine influenced by Native American traditions as manifested in Pastel del Choco, a corn and meat dish. Empanadas filled with beef and vegetables also are quite common nationwide. Opportunities exist to learn traditional techniques and recipes as well as more contemporary adaptations of these longstanding traditional favorites.

Great beef deserves great wines and Argentina’s exceptional red wines deliver. The vast Mendoza province, comprised of more than 1,200 wineries, is the largest of the seven major wine regions that straddle the foothills and valleys of the eastern slopes of the Andes range. Key terroir influences include the arid landscape, fertile soil and the high altitudes at which viticulture here takes place. While the Bordeaux blending grape Malbec reaches its full potential in Argentina and justifiably earns the praise of wine critics worldwide, one also will find fine Cab, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, Bonarda, Sangiovese and Pinot Noir as well as Torrontes, Chardonnay and other whites.

CORK & FORK stands ready to enable you to experience all corners of dynamic Argentina, from the sophistication of Buenos Aires and the beauty of the countryside and provinces to its exceptional cuisine and fine wines.

Please view our Sample Epicurean Itineraries and contact us so that we may begin the process of handcrafting an exceptional travel experience for you and your group of two or more.