It’s a sunny afternoon in Mendoza, and a funky track by the Argentine rock band Spaghetti Western sounds while I swirl a glass of a crisp pét-nat; notes of strawberry and peach perfume the air. The wine is named Kung Fu for the citrusy kick it delivers, and while taking a photo of the label—like a pop art poster my teenage self would drool to hang in my bedroom—a few drops splash on my bag. It’s not the first time I’ll laugh with delight throughout the eight-course tasting menu that follows, masterminded by chef Juan Ventureyra at Riccitelli Bistró, a winery and restaurant by the winemaker Matías Riccitelli. Located on the outskirts of Mendoza in Luján de Cuyo, Riccitelli is gaining notoriety as the region’s leading natural winery—and for good reason.
It’s an otherworldly place where natural cultivation not only takes precedence in the wine, but also in the food: I’m surrounded by fields of organic tomatoes, artichokes, greens, and herbs, many of which are on display in the dishes I enjoy. By the time I arrive at the sixth course, a skirt steak paired with a fruity malbec, my buzz is downright blissful, as is the view: silvery shadows shift over the towering snowcapped peaks of the Andes Mountain.
But I’m not visiting Mendoza just for the food and wine, even though my tasting menu at Riccitelli is the freshest, most delicious I’ve had during my two-week galivant through Argentina—a country I used to call home almost a decade ago. I’m here to explore the area’s rise as a wellness haven for two reasons: organic or natural production at wineries, and restaurants and hotels with robust spa offerings to match.
That’s certainly the case at my home base for the week, SB Winemaker’s House Spa Suites, by the winemaker Susana Balbo. When I return to the hotel, the concierge greets me with a glass of Balbo’s line of organic malbec. I already know how I want to carry on my evening—with rotations in my suite’s sauna and steam room followed by a soak in an oval tub shaped like a concrete eggshell. The hotel’s wellness butler prepped my bath with aromatic salts, lavender, and rosemary for purification. I slip into the steamy water, the perfect way to top off a wine getaway—one that leaves me rested and refreshed (and not tired and frail) from all the fun I’ve had.
While Riccitelli and Susana Balbo are not-to-miss stops on a wellness-focused itinerary to Mendoza, there are even more luxury stays and winery visits to mark on your itinerary. And with wellness travel and wine tourism experiencing record growth worldwide, there’s never been a better time to take a trip to Mendoza.
Where to Stay
Most luxury hotels in and around Mendoza offer the jaw-dropping basics: cozy outdoor spaces hugged by acres of rolling vineyards and stunning views of the snowcapped Andes Mountains. But for the wellness-attuned, the following hotels are a step above the rest, especially with their offering of meditative spaces, detox treatments, and in-room amenities that deem a visit to the spa altogether unnecessary. In addition to Susana Balbo Winemaker’s House Spa Suites—where each suite comes replete with its own dry sauna, steam room, and bathtub—there’s Entre Cielos, located on the outskirts of downtown Mendoza in Luján de Cuyo. During a stay, guests are privy to Latin America’s first and only hammam spa, which offers a proper six-stage circuit with two saunas, dedicated exfoliation rooms, a heated pool, and a relaxation room with heated stone floors. For travelers venturing to the Uco Valley, there’s Casa de Uco, with its subterranean spa, and The Vines Resort Spa, where some of the 21 modernist villas feature private outdoor spaces with soaking tubs.
Where to Eat and Drink
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At Osadía de Crear, a restaurant located within the Susana Balbo Wines estate in Luján de Cuyo, wines produced by the first female winemaker in Mendoza are on full display in a menu crafted by chef Flavia Amad Di Leo. Dishes are made with regionally sourced and seasonal ingredients and pair perfectly with Balbo’s varietals, especially her Crios Sustentia line of organic wines. Located near Riccitelli Bistro in Bodega Achaval Ferrer is Quimera Bistro, a restaurant helmed by chef Constanza Cerezo Pawlak. In each dish, she showcases the best of Mendoza’s producers, highlighting locally-produced cheese and meat in dishes such as caponata with parmesan and olive oil crackers and lamb gyozas topped with a vinegary criolla sauce. There’s also Casa Vigil, a winery and restaurant run by Alejandro Vigil that’s known for earning a Michelin star and a Michelin Green Star for its commitment to sustainability, and the famed Siete Fuegos at The Vines Resort Spa in the Uco Valley. Helmed by chef Francis Mallman, the restaurant offers dishes produced over an open flame, which pair well with biodynamic wines by SuperUco, a winery founded by the Michelini brothers.
