Casa de Uco

You know by now that Malbec is made in Mendoza. But if you’re not familiar with the geographical layout of Argentina’s foremost wine-producing region, take a closer look at the label — you’ll see another name designating exactly where the grapes were grown, either Luján de Cuyo or the Uco Valley. While the former is closer to the city and more developed for tourism, the latter is being called the next Napa Valley. Uco isn’t just producing exciting wines: it’s the home of several first-class wine resorts, including the Casa de Uco.

Don’t let the word “Casa” fool you: this isn’t a shabby-chic B&B or a cozy family-run inn. It may be in the relative middle of nowhere — a far-flung wine region on the eastern side of the Andes — but Casa de Uco is stylish, state-of-the-art, sustainably built, an imposing concrete and glass structure poised amid world-class vineyards on the edge of a reflecting lake. Organic vegetables grow on the rooftop, guests explore the grounds on horseback, or recline in the cedar sauna after a day of wine drinking, before going for a late steak dinner, Argentinian-style, in the resort’s chic restaurant.

For a sixteen-room hotel, there’s a fairly staggering number of room categories and styles. Break it down into three major groups: standard rooms, outfitted in blonde wood, crisp white and charcoal, with Egyptian cotton linens atop king-sized beds, ultra-modern glass-encased showers, large smart TVs, and daybeds set in the deep curve of picture windows facing the mountains. On the next level up, suites have the wow factor, with private terraces that seem to float over the lake below; some also feature large living rooms and extras like deep soaking tubs.

At the top end are Casa de Uco’s freestanding bungalows – still in the works at the time of writing. According to the plans, each bungalow will feature a rooftop terrace with a hot tub, a modern fireplace, and sliding wood screens to separate living and sleeping areas on a whim. A dreamy getaway to wine country, indeed: hole up here with a couple bottles of Bonarda and you might forget you came to actually visit the vineyards.

Please note: Casa de Uco cannot accommodate children under the age of twelve.

How to get there: Casa de Uco is located approximately 72 miles via National Route 40 from Gobernador Francisco Gabrielli International Airport, which receives direct flights from Buenos Aires and Santiago.