This CORK & FORK sample itinerary has been developed based on a group of 10 individuals and is provided merely as a glimpse of the sort of customized travel experience CORK & FORK would delight in developing for independent travelers and groups.  
 
Highlights:
  8 Days/7 Nights in Argentina, including five days in Buenos Aires and two days in Mendoza wine country in the foothills of the Andes
  Deluxe accommodations for five nights at the five-star Sofitel Buenos Aires, a classic, art deco-styled property located amidst art galleries and antique shops on Arroyo Street, one of the most elegant streets in the capital, and Cavas Wine Lodge, an exceptional luxury property in Mendoza wine country
  Private guided arts and architecture tours, including private educational tours of the top two museums in Buenos Aires, a tour of the city's architecture and its Spanish, French and contemporary influences and, finally, an atelier tour that will allow you to interact with some of the emerging stars in this arts capital, and experience the most authentic tango performance in the city
  City highlights tour on the day of arrival
  Private epicurean experiences consisting of an Empanadas cooking lesson with a Latin American culinary specialist in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and a wine country culinary lesson in the Mendoza countryside, in addition to a full-day, private guided wine tour in Mendoza (Valle de Uco) with winemaker meetings and private tastings
  Private transfers as specified for the duration of the itinerary
 
 
Contact Jim Dondero at CORK & FORK to discuss this itinerary.
919.536.3200 • jim@corkandfork.net

 
Day One : Meet-and-Greet at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires and private transfer to hotel. Leisurely,
3-hour city overview tour (including bus and walking tour components). This tour, which includes lunch, will expose you to the key areas in this city of many unique districts, including the historic Plaza de Mayo Square, home to municipal and national government buildings and monuments; the colorful port neighborhood of La Boca; the old neighborhood of San Telmo, home to the aristocracy in the late 19th century; modern Puerto Madero; the elegant Retiro residential neighborhood; and upscale Recoleta, where some of the best restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and boutique shops are located. A guided walking tour of the celebrated and ornate Recoleta Cemetery, the final resting place of Eva Peron and other dignitaries, will be integrated into the tour. Then, following hotel check-in and rest time, you will enjoy a welcome dinner at a restaurant serving traditional Argentine specialties. Accommodations: Sofitel Buenos Aires, an elegant, well-situated property that is part of Sofitel's elite Luxury Collection
Day Two : Morning, private guided tour (with a knowledgeable arts guide) to Argentina's leading fine arts museums:
Bellas Artes/MNBA (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes) and Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA). Bellas Artes, established in 1896 and home to one of the most important art collections in Latin America, features 32 exhibit halls comprised of a permanent collection of international artists including Goya, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and Rodin, as well as a relatively large collection of drawings by Picasso. The collection includes works (paintings and sculpture) by Argentine masters of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Benito Quinquela Martín, Antonio Berni and Xul Solar. MALBA houses a collection of more than 270 works from the early 20th century to the present. The focus is on Argentine and Latin American artists. Afternoon at leisure. This might be a good night for an opera or ballet performance (ticket price not included). Accommodations: Sofitel Buenos Aires 
Day Three : Morning architecture tour (with coach and walking tour components) that will expose you to Spanish,
French and modern architectural influences, which together have left an imprint on this city that is both eclectic and
unique. The tour will include landmark buildings with discussion of the historical and architectural significance. You will
visit the National Parliament Palace, Banco Hipotecario, Teatro Colon (exterior only), Kavanagh Building, Barolo Palace, Retiro central train station and some of the more contemporary buildings of the Puerto Madero district. Mid-afternoon at leisure. A late afternoon/early evening private Atelier Tour will provide exposure to some of the country's most cuttingedge artists. You will visit the working studios of three artists where you will view works completed and in progress and engage in dialogue with the artists. The event will conclude with an informal dinner at the host gallery.
Accommodations: Sofitel Buenos Aires     
Day Four : Today, you will spend the morning in the suburbs for a traditional cooking lesson and lunch. Your host for
the day will be Teresita, an expert in traditional Latin American cooking who has traveled extensively to remote villages
in the North of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Chile. The lesson will take place in her home in the suburb of Adrogue. Teresita will reveal to you the secrets of recipes that have been passed down through the generations. The end product of your culinary class will be crisp and juicy traditional empanadas prepared from scratch. Instruction will focus on the following: 1) Preparing traditional beef hash (picadillo de carne) - the filling; 2) Exploring the different spices: aji molido, locoto (a hot aji) and comino; 3) Creating, filling and folding the Empanada dough, plus learning what flour to use and how to handle dough to keep it from cracking; 4) Understanding methods for baking and frying; 5) Learning the secret of a flaky and crispy crust; and 6) Learning what other recipes can be prepared using similar ingredients. After the lesson is completed, you will feast on your creations in the garden and choose from a range of exquisite Argentine wines including Torrontés, a fresh, fruity and elegant white wine, and Malbec, which pairs so well with beef and chocolate dishes. For dessert, you will be served tradition flan with dulce de leche. If time permits, you will be escorted through a typical food market as a part of the program. Please note that the maximum number of participants in this program is 12 with six actively participating in the cooking at any one time. After lunch you will return to Buenos Aires and enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure. In the evening, you will enjoy a tango experience at Rojo Tango, located at the chic Faena Hotel. There are numerous tango experiences to be had in Buenos Aires, but few are authentic. Rojo Tango is the ultimate tango performance in the world. It is sleek, well-produced and well-rehearsed in an intimate, stylish setting. You will enjoy dinner along with this memorable performance. Accommodations: Sofitel Buenos Aires
Day Five : Day at leisure. We will provide recommendations for the day including ideas about a self-guided shopping tour. Accommodations: Sofitel Buenos Aires
Day Six : Following breakfast, private airport transfer and 1 hour 45-minute jet service to Mendoza, a world wine
capital located in view of the spectacular Andes mountain range. Soon after arrival, a group lunch will be held at
Bodega Ruca Malen, a boutique winery in the Lujan de Cuyo region that produces mostly Malbecs and Cabernets. Just 10 years old, this French-owned boutique winery has gained a large following thanks to its superb handcrafted wines. The Ruca Malen winery restaurant provides an exceptional food and wine pairing experience that features five courses paired with five wines. This truly is one of the finest epicurean experiences available in Mendoza wine country. The balance of the afternoon will be at leisure. Accommodations: Cavas Wine Lodge, a unique wine-oriented, boutique property where your rooms are cabanas featuring rooftop decks with views of the Andes
Day Seven : Private, full-day wine-tasting tour in Mendoza wine country. Your wine guide will educate you about the
vast Mendoza region as you enjoy private visits to three wineries in the exceptional Valle de Uco (Uco Valley). Located
60 minutes south of Mendoza City, the Uco Valley is a relatively new region close to the Andes that encompasses the
highest altitude vineyards in Argentina (up to 4,600 feet above sea level), where reds such as Malbec and Pinot Noir and whites such as Semillon and the indigenous Torrontes flourish. Significant investment is pouring into this region as
reflected by the stunning bodegas (wineries) that are sprouting throughout the valley. The valley's dry weather and wide
daily temperature variations result in wines that are rich in color and ideal for aging. Additionally, these high altitude
vineyards benefit from irrigation provided by Andes melt waters. Your tour will begin with a private visit to Pulenta Estate, an exceptional boutique bodega founded in 2002 by brothers Hugo and Eduardo Pulenta. While wine production is new to the family, the Pulenta name has been associated with the cultivation of wine grapes in Mendoza for three generations. At Pulenta, a wide range of varietals are produced ranging from Malbec and Bordeaux red varietals to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris. Next you will visit Bodegas Salentein. We selected Salentein not only for the sleek, contemporary design of the bodega, the great views of the Andes and the caliber of the finished product (fine Malbecs, Merlots and Cabernets), but also because there is a fine modern art museum on the premises. The Kilka Art Museum houses a fine collection of international art comprised of paintings and sculpture by Argentine and Dutch contemporary artists (the estate owner is Dutch). Then you will proceed to Altus winery for lunch at the winery's fine restaurant, Bistro La Tupina, where herbs and vegetables are grown onsite. Enjoy lunch paired with the full line of fine wines from Altus. Evening private cooking class and dinner at El Tapiz, known as one of the finest restaurants in the region. The focus of this class will be Mendocino regional cuisine. Accommodations: Cavas Wine Lodge

Day Eight :
 Morning at leisure in Mendoza City. Afternoon air departure from Mendoza City with connections
through Santiago, Chile.

What’s Included:
  Airport meet-and-greets in Buenos Aires and Mendoza City
  7 nights deluxe accommodations as specified
  Private guided tours as specified: arts tour, architecture tour, atelier tour and city overview tour
  Two culinary experiences as specified (in Buenos Aires and in Mendoza)
  Admission to Rojo Tango performance
  Full-day, private guided wine tour in Mendoza wine country including winemaker meetings and private tastings
Admission to Rojo Tango performance
  Private transfers in conjunction with activities specified in this program
  7 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners with wine. Otherwise, opinionated dining recommendations for meals on your own
  Suggestions for time at leisure including shopping venues and coordinating attendance at a fine arts performance such as opera or ballet (tickets not included)
  All CORK & FORK fees, taxes and gratuities for service included in this program
  Detailed CORK & FORK travel guide and comprehensive instructions for trip leader
  24/7 phone availability of a CORK & FORK representative
Price Per Person (based on a group of 10/double occupancy): $3,980
We would be happy to develop a personalized itinerary to accommodate your budget.
Pricing and arrangements are subject to availability and price fluctuation.
Pricing will be guaranteed prior to final booking.

DOMESTIC AIR: Please note that domestic air from Buenos Aires to Mendoza City is not included in this
program pricing due to the long lead time prior to the program and pricing variability.
For More Information:  
Contact Jim Dondero at CORK & FORK to discuss this itinerary: 919.536.3200, jim@corkandfork.net