It’s a sunny afternoon in Mendoza, and a funky track by the Argentine rock band Spaghetti Western sounds while I swirl a glass of a crisp pét-nat; notes of strawberry and peach perfume the air. The wine is named Kung Fu for the citrusy kick it delivers, and while taking a photo of the label—like a pop art poster my teenage self would drool to hang in my bedroom—a few drops splash on my bag. It’s not the first time I’ll laugh with delight throughout the eight-course tasting menu that follows, masterminded by chef Juan Ventureyra at Riccitelli Bistró, a winery and restaurant by the winemaker Matías Riccitelli. Located on the outskirts of Mendoza in Luján de Cuyo, Riccitelli is gaining notoriety as the region’s leading natural winery—and for good reason.
It’s an otherworldly place where natural cultivation not only takes precedence in the wine, but also in the food: I’m surrounded by fields of organic tomatoes, artichokes, greens, and herbs, many of which are on display in the dishes I enjoy. By the time I arrive at the sixth course, a skirt steak paired with a fruity malbec, my buzz is downright blissful, as is the view: silvery shadows shift over the towering snowcapped peaks of the Andes Mountain.
But I’m not visiting Mendoza just for the food and wine, even though my tasting menu at Riccitelli is the freshest, most delicious I’ve had during my two-week galivant through Argentina—a country I used to call home almost a decade ago. I’m here to explore the area’s rise as a wellness haven for two reasons: organic or natural production at wineries, and restaurants and hotels with robust spa offerings to match.
Photo: Courtesy of SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites