The Private Traveller

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Hotel Review: The Vines Resort & Spa, Mendoza, Argentina.

The Private Traveller

Overview

Located in the heart of Argentina’s premier wine growing region, just south of Mendoza, The Vines Resort & Spa is surrounded by 1,500 acres of private vineyard estates. I was first attracted to it through its membership of Leading Hotels of the World, and it did not disappoint. It’s in a great location, fairly easily accessible and has just the best views towards the Andes mountains. The resort can arrange transfers, but we had opted to hire a car thinking there would be more places roundabout to drive to, but really once we got to the resort we didn’t really want to drive anywhere else.


Hotel website: https://vinesresortandspa.com

Would I stay here again?   Yes, definitely, but I would be more specific about reserving one of the one bedroom deluxe villas, with better (less obstructed) views. The mountains were visible from the room (just) but only on a very clear day.

Location

Just an hour and a half’s drive from Mendoza airport, we leave the city behind and start driving into expansive countryside, before the vineyards start appearing. The Vines has quite an unassuming entrance (we were religiously following Sat Nav), we then drove through a gate and were directed to travel a few kilometres through vineyards until we came to the main hotel entrance. We left Buenos Aires in the rain (though the weather most of the time had been perfect) and arrive at the Vines in perfect sunshine and the most stunning mountain views. The hotel is surrounded by vineyards, an absolute dream if you’re a real wine buff, or just enjoy the scenery if you’re not!

Accommodation

The resort features only private villas – all with outdoor decks and breathtaking views of the Andes Mountains dependent on where you are located. Villas are the special part of the experience at The Vines Resort & Spa. There are 21 (modernist) villas in total, including 6 one bedroom units, 8 one bedroom deluxe villas, and 7 two bedroom deluxe villas. These spacious living spaces are luxurious spots to watch the sun rise and set, and take in the majesty of the Uco Valley.

We had booked a one bedroom villa, I hadn’t appreciated that there are basically two rows of villas - at the front of the hotel are villas 1 through 11 and these have the most spectacular views, across the lake, vineyards and the Andes beyond. In a row behind, and lower down are villas 14 through 30 with limited view, though some of the deluxe villas have a roof terrace which are high enough up to be able to get the full Andes view. Even although our view was disappointing, not really seeing the majesty of the mountains, the deck looked out onto a stream, once you moved around the resort (and particularly from the pool deck and restaurant area) the views were absolutely stunning. Couldn’t stop taking pictures.

Our villa was spacious, had a full kitchen area and complimentary mini-bar (mineral water, various soft drinks etc.), lounge area, outside seating deck and loungers, large king size bed, bathroom with walk-in shower, double sinks and separate WC. There was Apple TV, WiFi throughout the villa and all very well appointed.

Food & Drink

There was only one main restaurant, Siete Fuegos (“seven fires”) with internationally acclaimed chef Francis Mallman, serving a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. The choice was varied and great for vegetarians too. There was a buffet at breakfast (fruit, juices, breads, hams, pastries and several choices of the Argentine “jam” Dulche de Leche - incredible!) as well as cooked to order options too (various omelettes and I enjoyed delicious avocado on rye toast with added chilli flakes). The lunch menu was varied, lots of starters, main courses and desserts - on the first day we overindulged in a very late lunch, with lots of delicious homemade breads, such that we couldn’t actually eat anything at dinner. Well not quite true, in the villa there was a jar of freshly baked mini cheese scones - incredible! Service was very friendly, maybe not the most attentive though and it was obvious at breakfasts that nothing really got cleared away.

There was also an indoor bar and Cava (wine cellar) - we’re not really wine drinkers (I know, sacrilegious in a venue like this) but we did enjoy a lovely Chardonnay on arrival and the bar is beautifully designed with lots of interesting books around in a library area. There was also the option to dine at the Chef’s table (for two), have a romantic vineyard dinner or take the Siete Fuegos experience (dining at the outside kitchen).

Facilities & Service

The main focus here is on food and wine, but there were mountain bikes for complimentary hire to cycle through the vineyards, a very well appointed gym (raised on stilts) so you got the most incredible view across the vineyards and up to the mountains, yoga classes on request, a villa converted into a spa where they offered several different types of massage, facials and hair treatments. Not to mention the various options for wine tasting or tours, as well as horse riding tours ranging from one to four hours, sunrise advised October to May, and sunset April to October.

We booked to do the 4 hour horseback ride at sunrise, initially didn’t get confirmation but we asked before dinner the night before and we were told it had been confirmed and we should be in reception at 6am to meet the Gaucho. We were so looking forward to this, as the activity book explained we would “set off under the stars on a horseback ride that ends with a breathtaking mountain top sunrise in Mendoza’s Manzano Historico”. We got up at 5am to get organised, as we were about to leave the villa just before 6am the phone rang - it was reception to say that the ride was cancelled because the horses that had been planned to use for the ride “had run away”. Not very apologetic and the only offer was that we could maybe try and do it again the following morning. Not to be as we had to leave to go to Iguassu Falls in Brazil - so annoying! Service overall was low-key, I would have expected that one of the managers would have followed up with us afterwards regarding the cancelled trip - no one did.

For the spa, I opted for a 70 minute deep tissue massage - couldn’t decide whether to have this before or after our planned four hour sunrise horseback ride (which didn’t happen anyway), but in the end decided to have it afterwards. The massage could not be faulted - although a converted villa (an extremely spacious one) it was very well appointed (with amazing views).

ThePrivateTraveller’s top tips (any areas for improvement?):

  • As above, we were so disappointed not only about the cancelled horse riding experience, but the whole way in which this was handled

  • Would choose a villa with a view, ours just looked out to a stream and the mountain views were fairly restricted

ThePrivateTraveller’s absolute highlights:

  • Great location - incredibly relaxing with great Argentine hospitality

  • Fantastic villas - superbly appointed, but some with much better views

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