It's Summer in Mendoza! The trees are vibrant and the vineyards are vast seas of green velvet. The streets of Mendoza are bustling with activity, with sidewalk cafes overflowing with tourists and locals alike, everyone sharing the beautiful sunny weather, which is one of Mendoza's trademarks, along with wine of course. The weather now is ideal for all outdoor activities, including catching rays by your favorite pool. Day time temperatures are in the upper 80s(F), with night time temps in the low 70s(F).

Mendoza enjoyed a fabulous harvest season with excellent weather, lots of sunshine, and ideal conditions for the harvest. All the winery people are very excited about the harvest results, with grape quality above expectations, and those expectations were high. At Postales del Plata, we are particularly pleased because we had a wonderful harvest from our Valle de Uco Malbec vineyards.

All outdoor activities are in full swing with excellent rafting on the Rio Mendoza, and delightful horseback riding at an Estancia. We look forward to seeing you in Mendoza this summer.

Valle de Uco Lodge is currently suffering a remodelation, it will be closed for a few more months but it is proud to be a member of the luxury boutique hotel group, Ten Rivers Ten Lakes. Visit their web site at Ten Rivers Ten Lakes. We invite you to visit our tranquil wine country retreat when we re-open.....for lunch, for dinner, for a weekend or extended stay. Along with visiting the valley's splendid bodegas---Salentein, JF Lurton, Clos de Siete/Monteviejo, O. Fournier, Altus, Andeluna, Mil Piedras, and others---there are a variety of other outdoor activities to pursue...everything from horseback riding in the Andes foothills on neighboring estancias, to fly-fishing small streams, to hiking, biking, cooking classes, tango lessons, walking through our vineyards, and much more.

Summer is a bustling time. The weather is perfect for a drive in the country, a hike in the foothills, a horseback ride into the Andes. The sidewalk cafes in the city and in Chacras are alive with couples, friends, and families gathering to discuss the exciting things happening around the Province. In the city, construction is booming...with 5 major new hotels under way (including a new Sheraton and a new Park Suites), and three large condo projects in development. The new Executive Tower Hotel on Plaza Italia is now open. There is an equal amount of new development in the suburbs and countryside with new restaurants opening, new wineries being built, and many new businesses planning to open this summer. If you are thinking about a trip to Mendoza on summer, from January through March, you need to start planning now as things are already booked for the more prime dates. This year, Vendimia, the annual wine harvest extravaganza (really a week long all-out party with wine, food, parades, and nightly events), was espectacular. If you don't have your reservations now, give us a call. We look forward to assisting you with your travel plans.

Some top restaurant recommendations: Francesco, on Calle Chile, is a casually elegant Italian restaurant with homemade pastas, fresh salads, lamb and steak specialites, and a wonderful wine list. Ask for a table outside in the garden. La Tasca, a small intimate Spanish restaurant on Plaza Espania. Try the seafood specialties including the fabulous machas. La Sal, just off Sarmiento's restaurant row on Belgrano...La Sal serves up delicious pastas, risotto, steaks, seafood, and their live music creates one of the best restaurant atmospheres anywhere.