Glossary

A
Aconcagua (Mount): At 6,962 meters, it is the highest mountain in the Americas. It is located within the Provincial Park of the same name and is a great icon of world mountaineering.

Alcayota: A typical fruit of the region (similar to a squash) used to make a traditional jam or preserve that is highly valued in local gastronomy.

Alejandro Vigil: A world-renowned Mendoza winemaker, recognized for bringing the region´s wines to the highest scores in international reviews.

Andes Mountains: An imposing mountain range that serves as a natural border with Chile and defines the climate, landscape, and cultural identity of Mendoza.

Arístides Villanueva Avenue: The most vibrant nightlife, commercial, and gastronomic hub in Mendoza City, famous for its bars, shops, and social life.

B
Biking among Wineries: A recreational activity that involves touring vineyards and visiting wineries using bicycles, allowing for direct contact with nature and the landscape.

Bonarda: A very important red grape variety in Mendoza; after Malbec, it is one of the strains with the largest cultivated area and great quality potential.

Boutique Hotels: Small-scale accommodations with personalized design and very attentive, exclusive service, located in both the city and rural areas.

C
Cacheuta (Thermal Baths): A mountain town famous for its historic hotel and thermal center, where guests can enjoy natural hot springs with views of the Mendoza River.

Carousel of the Queens: A traditional parade held on Saturday morning during Harvest week, where queens and gaucho groups parade through the city streets.

Central Market: A historic space in the city center where visitors can buy regional products (spices, meats, cold cuts) and eat typical dishes at popular prices.

Cerro de la Gloria: An iconic viewpoint in Mendoza City that houses the Monument to the Army of the Andes; it offers a spectacular panoramic view of the city.

Chacras de Coria: A picturesque district in Luján de Cuyo, known for its tree-lined streets, old mansions, top-tier gastronomic offerings, and boutique hotels.

Chivito: Young goat meat, usually roasted over an open flame. It is a traditional dish deeply rooted in the gastronomic culture of southern Mendoza.

Corkage: A service offered by some restaurants where the customer can bring their own wine and pay a fixed fee for the glass service and opening of the bottle.

E
El Plumerillo Airport: The province´s main international air terminal, connecting Mendoza with important national destinations and neighboring countries such as Chile and Brazil.

Empanada Mendocina: A typical regional dish. Unlike those from other provinces, the Mendocino version usually contains plenty of onion and green olives and is baked, resulting in a juicy and flavorful pastry.

F
Facturas (Pastries): Traditional sweet baked goods (such as croissants) that are customarily consumed in Mendoza for breakfast or afternoon snacks.

Finca: A rural property or agricultural land dedicated mainly to the cultivation of vines, olive trees, or fruit trees.

Frank Romero Day Greek Theater: A majestic outdoor Greek-style stage located on the slopes of Cerro de la Gloria, where the National Harvest Festival is held every year.

G
Gastronomy: The set of local flavors that combines Creole tradition (asado, empanadas) with the modern haute cuisine offered by winery restaurants.

General San Martín Park: The city´s largest green lung. It covers 400 hectares and features an artificial lake, a Rose Garden, and the Malvinas Argentinas World Cup stadium.

Glamping: An accommodation style that combines the experience of camping outdoors with the luxury and amenities of a high-end hotel.

Gualtallary: A high-altitude wine-growing area in the Uco Valley, world-renowned for the exceptional quality of its soils and wines with mineral character.

H
Harvest: The process of harvesting grapes when they are ripe. It takes place mostly between February and April.

Helicopter Tours: A private flight service that allows for flying over the vineyards and mountain peaks to obtain a unique and exclusive perspective of the landscape.

Horseback Riding: Guided excursions on horseback, either through the trails of the Andes Mountains or between the rows of the vineyards.

I
Independence Square: The main square of Mendoza City, a meeting point for artisans and street performers, and the heart of the city center.

L
Las Leñas: The most famous ski and snowboard center in Mendoza, located in the south, recognized for the quality of its snow and slopes for experts.

Luján de Cuyo: Known as the "Land of Malbec," it is a historical region located south of the city where some of the most prestigious wineries are found.

M
Maipú: One of the most traditional wine and olive-growing areas of Mendoza, ideal for touring old wineries and olive oil factories.

Main Act of the Harvest Festival: The most important artistic and choreographic show of the Harvest Festival. It is held at the Frank Romero Day Amphitheater with more than a thousand artists on stage and fireworks.

Malbec: The flagship red grape of Argentina. Mendoza is the place where this strain found its best expression, making it the wine most sought after by tourists.

Mendoza City: Capital of the province and main urban center. It stands out for its "forest city" design with irrigation ditches and lush squares.

MICE Tourism: An acronym for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions tourism, a sector in which Mendoza is a national leader.

N
National Harvest Festival: The province´s largest celebration, held in March to celebrate the end of the grape harvest and the transformation of the fruit into wine.

National Harvest Queen: A young woman elected annually to represent Mendoza to the world as an ambassador for the culture and the wine industry.

O
Olive Oil: A gourmet product of international renown. Mendoza is one of the main producers of high-quality oils, derived from the region´s extensive olive groves.

P
Plane of the Uruguayans: Refers to the historic site in the mountains where the "Miracle of the Andes" occurred in 1972. Today it is a trekking destination to pay tribute to the survival.

Potrerillos: A mountain town known for its large dam (artificial lake). It is the preferred place for water sports and enjoying the view of the Andes.

Puente del Inca: A curious natural geological formation over the Cuevas River that resembles a golden stone bridge, formerly associated with a thermal water hotel.

R
Rafting (Mendoza River): An adventure activity that involves descending the mountain river rapids in rubber boats guided by experts.

S
Santiago de Chile: The capital of the neighboring country, connected to Mendoza by a high-mountain land crossing that offers incredible landscapes along the way.

Sarmiento Pedestrian Street: A three-block downtown promenade where cafes with outdoor tables, flowers, and historic buildings are concentrated, ideal for walking and relaxing.

Siesta: A local custom where many shops close between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM to rest and avoid the midday heat.

Sommelier: A wine expert who advises diners on the best drinking options and explains the characteristics of each label.

T
Terroir: A technical term describing the unique combination of soil, climate, and human intervention that gives a specific area´s wine an unrepeatable flavor.

Trekking: Guided walks along natural trails, which in Mendoza can range from gentle strolls to multi-day high-mountain expeditions.

U
Uco Valley: A modern, high-end wine-growing region located at the foot of the Andes. It is famous for its stunning landscapes and avant-garde architecture wineries.

Uspallata: An important valley and mountain town located on the route to Chile; it was a key point in General San Martín´s campaign.

V
Vía Blanca: A night parade of allegorical floats held on the Friday before the Main Act, where the public greets the candidates for the national throne.

Villavicencio: A protected natural reserve known for its historic gardens, the old mountain hotel, and for being the source of a famous mineral water.

Virgin of La Carrodilla: Considered the "Patroness of the Vineyards," her image is venerated by producers to ask for protection against hail and frost.

W
Wine Cellar: An underground or cool space within a winery, specifically designed for the storage and aging of wine in barrels or bottles.

Winemaker: The technical professional responsible for making the wine, from the care of the grapes on the farm to the final bottling.

Wine Pairing: The art of combining a meal with the appropriate wine to enhance the flavors of both.

Wine Routes: Signposted tourist routes that group wineries by geographical areas, facilitating tours through different wine-growing regions.

Wine Tasting: A guided sensory experience in which different wines are sampled to learn to identify their aromas, flavors, and characteristics.

Wine Tourism: A type of tourism centered on the world of wine, which includes visits to wineries, museums, tastings, and accommodation among the vineyards.

Winery: An establishment dedicated to the production and aging of wine. In Mendoza, hundreds of them are open to tourism, offering guided tours and gastronomy.

Winery Restaurant: A gastronomic experience where dishes are designed to accompany the house wines, generally with stunning views of the vineyards.

Z
Zonda: A strong, warm, and very dry wind that comes down from the mountains. It is a typical meteorological phenomenon of the region that usually occurs between the months of May and November.