Baby Siena Wines

View through Stemware at Ruca Malen

Like confused birds, each of the past two years we have migrated from temperate Argentina to cooler, coastal Chile. Last year, before heading across the Andes from Mendoza to Vina del Mar, we had a hit list of wineries to visit before the flight, as we were unsure whether we would return to tranquil, Malbec-soaked Mendoza.   At the top of our list was the wine pairing lunch at Ruca Malen Winery, which was to become one of our favorite meals in Mendoza.

We decided to attend this lunch after I had become well-acquainted with the Ruca Malen’s 2006 Malbec through dinner at a lovely molecular gastronomy restaurant in Mendoza called Molokai.  A few months later, its big sister, the 2007 Kinien, impressed me with its nuanced balance when I tried it in the Wine Republic Wine Tasting. What I most enjoy about this winery, is their old-world approach applied even within wines made within the New World deserts of Mendoza, Argentina.

The food at the winery was both delicious and precisely paired to each of the wines.  To top it off, the view of the Andes was exquisite, and the servers were very professional, making the lunch a great value for the price.  However, the best part of the experience was the family time we had together. There was enough meat to make J. happy on this Father’s Day outing, and a server he befriended poured him an extra tasting of the 2007 Kinien Cabernet Sauvignon (worth trying if you come across it!) Since it was Latin America, children are always invited, even in formal restaurants and wineries. We therefore felt very welcome bringing along our 1-year-old, Siena, who made friends with other diners in the restaurant as she nibbled from our plates and enjoyed drinking from our large glasses of water.