BODEGAS SALENTEIN

Built by Dutch capital near Tunuyán, in the Andean foothills southwest of Mendoza, Bodegas Salentein (RP 89 and Videla, Los Arboles, Tunuyán, tel. 02622/423550, info@bodegasalentein.com, www.bodegasalentein.com) is a futuristic—one might even say New Age—winery built with a contemporary aesthetic sensibility. At ground level, stainless-steel tanks hold the wine in four separate wings, each of which operates autonomously; eight meters below ground level, forming the shape of a cross, the four wings meet in a subterranean central amphitheater where the subdued light on circular rows of oak barrels creates a cathedral atmosphere. It is, in fact, a temple of wine.

At 33° S latitude, Salentein vineyards enjoy sunny days and cool nights (the annual average temperature is 14°C), on rocky alluvial soils at a mean elevation of 1,250 meters. Ranging from 1,050 to 1,500 meters above sea level, the vineyards are up to 30 years old, but new plantings are also underway.

While open to tours, Salentein is a work-in-progress; its wines have barely begun to appear on the market and tasting facilities are improvised. In the long run, they will offer picadas of cheese and other snacks along with wine-tasting.

Bodegas Salentein can be most easily reached by private car or by remise from the town of Tunuyán, 82 kilometers south of Mendoza by RN 40. Hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily except Sunday. Tunuyán is 17 kilometers east of Salentein.

There are four double rooms available at Posada Salentein (Humboldt 2355, 1° Piso, Buenos Aires, tel. 011/4776-6262, fax 4778-0294, www.salenteintourism.com), in an isolated part of the vineyard with a trout-stocked reservoir. Rates are US$80/140 s/d with half board, US$120/200 s/d with full board; this includes wine as well as activities like hiking and horseback riding, along with tours of the bodega.