Holiday Cheer! Our (Informal and Subjective) Wine Guide for Toasting this Season

Ah, the holiday season is upon us - time to deck the halls and bring out the holiday cheer. Wine is the primary choice of 'cheer' here in Argentina, so we thought we'd add our two pesos on brands to try and buy while visiting this part of the New World. (Note: this is a fully subjective list!)

Inspira was quite happy to see a recent November Wine Spectator article that recognized Malbec as an emerging grape in the wine industry, but also noted Argentina's other rising stars, such as the reds Bonarda (considered by many wine experts to follow Malbec as Argentina's next big boom) and Pinot Noir as well as the white, fruity Torrontes (a Salta specialty, and perfect for the area's arid clime). We suggest branching out beyond Malbec (if only to say you did), though if taking bottles home, you may want to stick with this forerunner.

But back to our brands. For "Best Buys at Argentine Supermarkets" - great for purchase and taste in your apartment or hotel room with some cheese - we like Colome's Amalaya (around US $10), Norton (around US $7) and Quara (around US $5!). Under "Restaurant Values," to accompany some great tenderloins at an Argentine parrilla, try the classic brands Salentein, Rutini, or Luigi Bosca or even slightly lower-priced wines from Escorihuela Gascon or Trapiche. To "Impress the Folks Back Home," experts count the Renacer Punto Final Malbec 2006 among the highest scorers (see Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiastic). We also happen to like wines from powerhouse producers Catena and Achaval Ferrer; the "restaurant value" brands are also good bets.

Salud! and much holiday cheer from the team here at Inspira Travel.....

Buenos Aires Jazz Festival, December 3-8

The Buenos Aires Jazz Festival opens tomorrow, December 3rd, showcasing more than 150 local and international artists. From big names to new talents, the music fest offers jazz in all its variations - instrumental, vanguardist, Latin American, European, tango jazz, and much more. Clinics, midnight jam sessions, Classic venues such as the Sarmiento Theater are complemented by open-air shows at the Centro Cultural Recoleta and the Buenos Aires Zoo, and speakeasy basement venues like the renowned La Trastienda.

We love the fact that ticket prices remain so accessible, costing between 10 to 40 pesos depending on the show. That's roughly US $3 to $12 to see top musicians perform!

For more information, contact the City of Buenos Aires or give us a ring here at Inspira.

Family Travel Tip, Buenos Aires

We've had the pleasure of arranging travel for various families recently, many with kids between the ages of 2 and 10. One of the parents' first questions is, what to do in a big city like Buenos Aires? Since the question must be foremost on travelling parents' minds, we thought we'd share some of our insider tips. Look for an upcoming "Top 10" list...but in the meantime, check out this video we recently posted on YouTube highlighting one of our fave places...the Museo de los Niños, or Children's Museum, in Buenos Aires. Hands down one of the best children's museums we've seen....

Argentina Among Best in the World

Conde Nast Traveler's "Best in the World" Readers' Choice Awards is out...and Argentina is among the favored.  The Four Seasons Buenos Aires made this year's Top 100 List, coming in at #97.  And, of course, Buenos Aires beat out nearly every city in the Americas, ranking second only to pristine Vancouver.  (Our capital was also voted Latin America's top city for Restaurants.)

When it comes to hotels, Argentina won by a wide berth.  Apparently, the hotel infrastructure is far-and-away tops across South America.  Of the region's Top 15, seven are in Argentina.  Six of the seven are actually in Buenos Aires - the Four Seasons, Alvear Palace, Bobo, Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, Sofitel, and Home hotels.  The seventh is Mendoza's crown jewel, the centrally located Park Hyatt.

No slouching here!  Argentina continues to add new hotels of all sizes to its accommodation offerings...check out a selection on our home page or feel free to contact us at info@inspiratravel.com for even more info!

Argentina: Top Ten for Fine Dining, Nightlife, and Ease of Travel

The folks over at FutureBrand have released their 5th annual Country Brand Index...and Argentina tops the list in major travel and leisure categories.

In the Fine Dining category, Argentina wows at #4, outdone only by global heavyweights France, Italy, and Japan. It's the only South American destination to make the top ten. With the country's famed meat and wine; rich European heritage that results in authentic French, Spanish and Italian cuisine; introduction of fusion foods from Asia and Peru; and great value at restaurants, we're not surprised!

The country is no snoozer when it comes to Nightlife, either. At #10, Argentina is already known for its plethora of bars and discos that stay open 'til dawn. We love that here, it isn't just about the drinking - milongas, tango shows, theater, and much, much more make for all kinds of evening entertainment. Heck, even our neighborhood ice cream shop stays open until 2 a.m. on weekends!

And, finally, Argentina slides into 7th place for the Ease of Travel category, which ranks the ease with which travelers can enter, leave, and get around the country. We're sure it helps that, unlike certain South American neighbors, Argentina has fewer visa restrictions - making it not only easier but cheaper to get into the country.

Here at Inspira, we know that gastronomy and nightlife rank high on our travelers' priority list...which is why we not only help guests get around, but also get to the tops in restaurants and night fun with our complimentary concierge service. If you're traveling with us, let us know what we can help you with!

For more information on the study (though in Spanish), click here.

Mendoza, Place of a Lifetime!

Named one of the 50 Places of a Lifetime in National Geographic Traveler's October issue, Mendoza has been on our minds for a while now. The increasing awareness of Argentine wines, especially malbec, has led to the destination's increasing popularity. But fine vines are not the only attraction. Nestled in the base of the imposing Andes, Mendoza is also a great base for Andean exploration, particularly via horseback. mountain biking and trekking. There is also some great white water rafting during warmer months.

For those specifically interested in winemaking, the first week of March is usually Vendimia, or the grape harvest celebration. Local festivals, concerts, and food-and-wine tastings abound, as do the crowds. Late March through early May is a good time to catch the end of the grape harvest, with many wineries beginning their winemaking activities.

Travelers have their choice of accommodations as well, ranging from deluxe hotels such as the Park Hyatt to charming boutique hotels and inns, like the Posada de Rosas.

A great new destination to add to your Argentina itinerary...and one of 50 places of a lifetime this year!

The Healing Therapy of Tango

Great article from Reuters on the healing properties of tango!  (Thanks to Dana Depp for bringing to our attention!)  We knew tango was a marvel, and that the intricate dance has the ability to get people re-connecting with themselves and with others (see our tango guide Camille Cusumano's book Tango: An Argentine Love Story for more on that topic).  But that it can have an impact on treatments ranging from couples' counseling to phobias, from Parkinson's to physical therapy is novel to us...perhaps not surprising, but new news indeed.  The World Tango Championships may have just ended, but now we have a full year in which to practice putting our best foot forward.