lost and found

that's what we decided to call our experience yesterday.  we arrived at the airport and finally got on our flight after a lengthy stand in line at security.  the flight uneventful and the cab into Mendoza was quick and pain free. 

after checking into the hotel we immediately looked for a place to have something to eat for lunch.  sadly it was a LOST meal (according to Phil) because it was the worst pizza he had ever had and he will never get that lunching opportunity back again- it is just LOST lunch.

luckily we found a fabulous ice cream store just three doors away and had ice cream we will remember our entire lives- GA and I had dulce de leche con brownies!  AMAZING and marvelous!  from there we walked to a park

for dinner we had a lovely outdoor meal at Francesco.  I think we have had better meals on the trip but the ambiance here was wonderful.  we walked back home through the same park enjoying the beautiful warm evening.

today we met our guide Marcelo and started out for wine country.  there is a strike and the main highway is closed so we ended up more than an hour late for our first appointment at Catena Zapata.  while we waited for other latecomers to show up (we were their first arrivals of the day due to the strike) we did a few photos of the facility and some potential CBGB holiday card shots.

after a great morning at the winery with some good flights of tastings we headed to Achaval Ferrer for a superb tasting of wines including a barrel sample of the 2010 Finca Altamira.

then we were off to an incredible lunch at Melipal.  we were served by the chef, Lucas personally.  the meal was exquisite. six courses of locally sourced food and matched wines.   we FOUND the lunch we lost yesterday which gave us all a bit of delight. 

tonight a parrilla place for dinner with wine we purchased today at the wineries.  tomorrow we are off to the Uco Valley further south and at higher elevation.