Renowned for its spectacular vineyards and uninterrupted vistas, the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina, provides the perfect set-up for this luxury boutique resort.
Designed by renowned Argentine architect, Bormida &”Yanzon, the resort embraces the rustic natural beauty of its surroundings with a genuine sense of warmth and passion.
Its 22 spacious one and two bedroom villas range from 1000 to 2700ft², with ample indoor and outdoor space boasting unparalleled views of the Andes Mountains and surrounding vineyards.
Bormida & Yanzon has opted for a warm, organic palette within the villas, while seamlessly incorporating state-of-the-art facilities to create an inviting blend of rustic charm and contemporary conveniences.
Bathed in natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows, the villas’ open-plan living and dining layout certainly makes the most of the striking views. A well-equipped kitchen gives way to an elegant dining space and a cosy seating area – complete with a homely gas fire and plush lounge chairs from Eugenio Aguirre.
Natural materials are abundant, from locally-sourced hand-cut stone to the reclaimed wooden coffee tables – supplied by Mendoza-based Pablo Comadra. The same organic design inspiration is mirrored in the team’s artful choice of accessories, including soft furnishings in earthy tone from Indias Argentinas, El Guayruro and Comercial Nevada.
Spa-inspired bathrooms – featuring luxury bath amenities and powerful soaking showers – are standard, while, on the more luxurious end of the scale, select units boast spacious private decks complete with an outdoor soaking tub, shower or plunge pool, which doubles as a hot tub in the colder months.
With its ample indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, bar, fire pits and gourmet dining options, The Lodge acts as the social heart of the resort.
By day, guests can enjoy the resort’s striking infinity pool, or perhaps relax in an authentic private poolside cabana – complete with 180° views of the towering Andes.
Made using an ancient technique from the Huarpes – native Indians of Mendoza – the cabanas are formed using goat skin or ‘tiento’ from Lavalle, Argentina, which binds the canes together to create a strong, resilient shield from the desert sun.
For a vibrant dining experience, the resort’s signature restaurant, Francis Mallmann’s Siete Fuegos, or Seven Fires, showcases Argentina’s prized beef with a plethora of regional dishes from Mallmann’s honed collection of open-flame cooking techniques.
Encouraging variety, guests can dine indoors or out, enjoy a front-row seat in the open kitchen, or gather at the gargantuan chef’s table where they can watch their food being prepared.
The resort’s cosy cocktail Bar and Cava (wine cellar) offers an alternative gathering space, with larger seating areas for socialising, as well as more secluded corners for two. Oenophiles will be more than content with the extensive wine menu – the impressive wine cellar displaying some of the best Argentine labels, local names and a collection of wines by the resort’s vineyard owners.
In addition to this variety of luxury amenities, the hotel is set to see plenty of developments as the year progresses, with the opening of an elevated state-of-the-art fitness centre in March, and a 15,000ft² spa in mid-2014, which will offer customised multi-sensory experiences and custom fragrances created by Argentine perfume lab, Fueguia 1833.
