At a Glance
This family-owned boutique hotel set in a vineyard just north of Mendoza is the ideal base for couples, families with older children and groups to explore wineries but still be close to the city’s shopping and dining options.
Indagare Loves
- Pretty landscaping and views of the Andes
- Spa with a hammam
- Fantastic restaurant, Katharina
Review
The Swiss family that purchased the 20-acre plot of land about 15 miles outside the city center built the hotel, hammam and spa amid a vineyard that now produces the house Malbec. Holistic living is a key concept here, though one aligned with a sybaritic lifestyle. The hotel restaurant, Katharina, is noted for its haute cuisine, there is a six-circuit hammam to detoxify from a day (or two or three) of wine drinking, and the manicured gardens and art-filled grounds are among the loveliest you’ll amble through in all of Mendoza.
Each room is unique in its design, with a mix of contemporary, brightly colored furnishings against a backdrop of wood and stone. There are six room categories denoted by wine vintages, starting with Young and going up to Grand Cru. A Limited Edition loft is, appropriately, the only one of its kind –a honeymoon suite set in a white capsule above the vines, and some distance away from the main building. While it has a cool location and an outdoor hot tub with unobstructed mountain views, the loft itself is small and not as luxurious as the lesser room categories. Ask for a pool-facing room, as the alternative view is of a parking lot.
There are some caveats – first, the hotel only takes children over the age of 12, which shouldn’t be a problem if one is even considering Mendoza as a destination, as wine country is not the most family-friendly destination. Second, the room design has a few quirks that, while not a deal-breaker, diminish its luxury quality. The disparity in the two possible views is one example. Another is the duplex categories whose bathroom windows face other duplex bathroom windows – a jarring misstep for anyone who isn’t an exhibitionist. More than anything, it feels like the rooms were designed with form over function.
Still, the hotel is clearly a labor of love and it is the best luxury option close to Mendoza.
Who Should Stay
Couples and spa-loving groups love this boutique hotel, where the main draws are the romantic setting, gourmet restaurant and a large spa with a hammam. The hotel does not accept kids under 12.
Written by Janine Yu