Thankful

This weekend I went on a magical dream vacation! Layne, my little friend from Arkansas with her sweet southern twang, and I went to Mendoza. It’s the wine-growing region here in Argentina, close to Chile at the base of the Andes Mountains. It’s famous for the amazing Malbec wine produced there, and rightly so because it’s delicious! The wine was, of course, what lured me there, but the city is completely captivating as well.

Mendoza’s tranquil tree-lined streets are a welcome contrast to my own busy city. They have a charming park with giant gurgling fountains, and a pedestrian street with a canopy of green and a myriad of outdoor dining options. Layne and I wandered all over the city center, which was feasible since it’s fairly small, peeking into tourist shops, perusing the artesian vendors and grabbing drinks at patio tables. We had a killer hotel, very cute and mod and we discovered our first day there that they had an empty Jacuzzi on the top floor of the building. Due to the heat, we commenced to fill it to the top with freezing cold water, climbed in, and downed a bottle of Rose while gazing at the Andes in the distance and chattering about boys, life, love and the bright promises of the future. It was idyllic.

On day 2 we had a wine tour booked and our adorable guide, Julia, showed up bright and early to whisk us off to wine land. We started at the Finca Decero winery where we had the luxury of touring a brand-new facility. The tour was incredible, and I felt like I learned a lot about the wine-making process and the grapes here in Argentina. It was also very educational to see all of the newest equipment available. Everything they used was pristine, stainless steel, perfect condition. Their philosophy is “amano” which means “by hand” and they worked very hard to integrate this branding into the construction of the winery. The vineyards and the views were incomparable; the mountains in the distance gave it a magical feeling. The day couldn’t have started out better!

We then got to taste their wines, which were phenomenal. I purchased a bottle of their Malbec, but their blend was also amazing even though I couldn’t afford to take it home! In addition, I had the opportunity to try a 100% petit verdot, which might not mean much to many people, but it’s normally a blending grape, so tasting this varietal was a treat for me.

Next we went to Achaval Ferrer, which is a winery that does a lot of exporting to the US. Their wines were pretty expensive, but very good and we were able to taste three different Malbecs. My favorite was the Mirador, a big spicy accosting wine. Yum! Each were 100% Malbec varietals, but tasted completely different based on where they had been grown and the composition of the soil in that region. It was very interesting! I enjoyed the compare and contrast lesson.

For our third winery, we headed to Ruca Malen. We had another wine tour there, and then sat down to a lovely six-course meal with wine pairings. The little outdoor patio where we ate was divine, with a breeze blowing big white curtains and vineyards surrounding us. I couldn’t have asked for better company either; by the third winery Julia, myself and Layne were absolute chatterboxes and thoroughly enjoyed one another’s company.

Finally, we visited a tiny hidden little winery, called Carmelo Patti. Carmelo himself, since he is one of their only two employees, gave us a tour. The reason I enjoyed this tour so much was that everything there is genuinely made by hand. In contrast to the first place we visited, which was brand new, sparkling and clean, Carmelo’s winery was old, with Malbec-stained walls and ancient concrete vats to ferment the wine. It had that charm that antiques possess, and after our tour I wasn’t the least surprised to discover his wine was meticulously crafted. Beautiful, soft flavors with complex subtlety: the man is an artist. It was the only place without a tour in English, so I happily contented myself with his romantic wine explanations in Spanish.

That night Layne and I went to dinner at a place called Winery, a wine-store chain with locations throughout the country. It was one of the best meals I’ve had here: perfectly cooked short ribs with a divine red-wine sauce accompanied by a beautiful Syrah. Such perfection is hard to find and I assure you we savored it on that little patio covered in flowering vines, serenaded by a fountain and mod lounge music. Bliss.

Of course, I eventually had to come home. Which meant an 18-hour bus ride. This sounds horrific, but it wasn’t too bad. The buses here are amazingly comfortable, and you can put your seat back so it’s almost like a bed. Fairly luxurious, all things considered! On Tuesday I started my new job and it’s exactly as expected. Easy but steady and secure. I’m grateful for the work and I think I’ll be happy there for now. My co-workers are all really sweet and young as well, so that’s always a good bonus. This Sunday I make my big move too! Lots of excitement happening in Amber-land.

Well, today is Thanksgiving. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more apathetic about a holiday. It could just be the heat. It’s sweltering here right now. I woke up sweating. The so-called “holiday season” is upon us, and I can’t seem to get excited in any fashion. In fact, it just seems odd to gaze into shop windows and see Christmas trees and snowmen ornaments. Like my iPod accidentally started playing Jingle Bells in July while I was in my swimsuit driving to the beach. Just doesn’t seem quite right, you know? The good part about this is that I don’t feel sad. Confused maybe, nostalgic, yes… but sad? No. It all seems to me more of a curious phenomenon than something I’m actually missing. I might shed a tear or two today when I talk to my mom, but overall I’m really too hot and too busy to care much at all.

So when it’s time to say what you’re grateful for this thanksgiving, I recommend sending some love out to your air conditioner. I’ll content myself with giving thanks for fabulous wine :)