Unforgettable Christmas: Asado and Wine in Mendoza

For years when I talked about my desire to go to Argentina it was immediately followed by “and eat steak and drink wine”. It was also one of the reasons I held off traveling solo because this isn’t an activity to be enjoyed solo (general statement + some of the culture on how to enjoy food here).

I had a quick 3 day stop in Mendoza, and I was determined to get a little bit of everything – despite the fact I was there for Christmas!

I found an AirBnB Experience for wine and cooking class – held on Christmas Day, and I was the only one to sign up. As with most of my adventures, either this was going to be absolutely amazing, or I was going to disappear. Since you’re reading this today, you know which it is 😉

While technically we ‘did’ cook together – the beauty of Asado is that you put a bunch of meat on a coal fire, low heat, for many hours to cook to perfection. And then – you drink wine and wait. And THAT we did!

Dinner was at the home of a wine expert who had a cellar built into the basement of his home. It was just him and his girlfriend hosting me. But – in true fashion – “food and wine must be enjoyed with friends – and you are our friend!” They invited friends and family to join us. A table full of new friends, eating all types of slow cooked meats, drinking over 10 bottles of wine, and between broken English, Spanish, and French we shared stories. THIS – is what ‘ASADO’ is all about!

To memory, one of the best ways I’ve ever spent Christmas. Just another reminder that if you haven’t treated yourself to AirBnB Experiences, you MUST. They have almost always turned out extraordinary.