In the middle of the building is a cave with more than 300 bottles of Argentine wines, ranging from Malbecs to award-winning blends. My favorite, Carlos Pulenta, hailed from a nearby vineyard. Rigal likes to host tastings and will insist that you enjoy a private dinner in the wine cellar. Cavas's regular dining room has indoor and outdoor seating. When we went, dishes included grilled tomato with goat cheese, fresh trout prepared on the grill and Mendocino goat entrecôte with lemon potatoes and Dijon sauce.
A short walk through the vineyards leads to the vignettes; each has two spacious, well-appointed suites. Among the amenities are plunge pools, outdoor showers, working fireplaces and writing nooks that look out on the mountains. A staircase takes you to the rooftop, with a fire-place and a cushioned seating area, where you can sip wine and watch the sunset.
You may never want to leave your room, but there's a lot to explore on the property and in the vicinity. Cavas has a wonderful spa housed in a Moorish-inspired structure where you can be pampered with traditional massages, facials and wine therapies. The Crushed Malbec Scrub, for example, uses both grape seeds and essential oils derived from organic crops. The Cavas staff can organize excursions. We spent a half day riding horseback in the gorgeous landscape. You can also play golf at a nearby course, go white-water rafting or take private tours of the area's many wineries.
Since there are only fourteen suites at Cavas, it's easy to become friendly with the other guests; we met people from all over the world, dined together and shared stories about our travels. Although we visited for only four days, we could have spent a week, taking advantage of the local activities, wineries and restaurants.
Getting to Mendoza is simple. Nonstop flights from nearby Santiago, Chile, take forty-five minutes; those from Buenos Aires get you there in less than two hours. Spending a few days in the city itself is pleasant, particularly if you're staying at the Park Hyatt Mendoza. Also not to be missed is dining at Francis Mallmann's 1884, an excellent restaurant close by.
As the Argentine wine country continues to expand, you can bet that more international visitors will arrive to taste its many offerings. To experience it now is to see it all beginning to happen. I hope that Mendoza and its welcoming people will retain their charm, especially as the regional wines claim an even bigger spot on the world stage.
Suites $310. Costa Flores, Alto Agrelo, Mendoza; 011-54-261-410-6927.
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