"In one year, more than 10,000 people visited our tasting room" Marcela Lledo, from The Vines of Mendoza.

After a successful season, from one of the most important Wine Information Center in the country, Marcela Lledo, Community Relations Manager of The Vines of Mendoza tells us what foreigners prefer when it comes to wine and tourism.

-What can you tell us about this tourist season for you?

The Vines of Mendoza had an excellent season, especially considering that our company opened only a year ago. We were amazed by the growth of the foreign tourism, especially American and European, which is the segment the company aims at since we have a wine club thought for those markets. It was observed that most of our clients had some wine knowledge and knew that Mendoza was the right place to get to know this product a lot better and visit wineries. However, it was in The Vines of Mendoza where they were able to get to know the high quality of these wines, the wide grape varieties, main wine regions and find out about our wine culture.

-How many tourists came to The Vines this season?

We had approximately 10,000 people from May 2006 up to date, mainly Americans and, to a lesser extent, Europeans.

-What new proposals did you offer tourists?

Our tasting room is one of a kind in the country, and the first one to open. It gives you the possibility to discover and learn what is most relevant about wine and its environment in a 40-minute tasting guided by professional bilingual experts. We offer Boutique flights: Las Muestras (2 white wines and 3 red ones), Los Tintos (5 traditional Argentine red wines, without including Malbec), and Los Malbecs (5 different malbecs, each with its own character) and Reserve flights, which include a tasting of 5 Ultra-Premium wines.

For those who have little knowledge about wine tasting, we have developed a special program, a sensory tasting class, where visitors can discover the basic steps (sight, smell, taste, final impression) to taste wines in a fun practical way.

Finally, we host especial events such as Cheese and Wine Event (where you pair 5 wine varietals with different cheese types), Winemaker's Night (where a winemaker from a particular winery presents its wines and tells visitors about their philosophy) and Sparkling Night (3 Sparkling wines from different wineries are presented and there is live music as well).

-Which are the actions to be taken during winter?

We are going to keep working in the tasting room as we have done so far and we will keep bringing new boutique and Ultra-Premium wines to taste by the glass. What is more, we will continue to work with our Acequia Wine Club, hoping to add new markets. And we certainly hope to have new Private Vineyard Owners in Valle de Uco, where towards the end of this year, the plantation of vines for the first investors will begin.

-What new project do you have in mind?

We are evaluating different projects to keep growing, getting stronger and widen our market; but they are still not defined, always trying to offer a unique experience for wine lovers.

Thank you Marcela, for giving the insiders scoop on The Vines of Mendoza!