Lovers of the rich, ripe wines of Argentina are penciling in a new destination on their ''must-visit'' wine maps. Sixty-five miles south of the wine capital of Mendoza, 5,000 feet up on the eastern slopes of the Andes, a new wine region is rising around an estate called Bodegas Salentein.
The estate comprises nearly 5,000 acres, including 1,124 acres of vines on three big ranches -- El Portillo, La Pampa and San Pablo.
The Valle de Uco's specialty is red wines -- cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir and Argentina's flagship wine, malbec -- although sauvignon blanc and chardonnay are also made.
The Salentein winery itself, built in the late 1990s, is made of natural stone, in the shape of a cross. Designed by the Mendoza architectural firm of Bormida & Yanzon, it won the Prism International Award of merit when it opened.
A few miles away, two other wineries -- El Portillo and Fournier -- also are opening, designed by the same architects.
Mendoza tourist agencies are adding the area to their wine-trip itineraries -- and not just for the wines. The Salentein estate also includes the Kilka Gallery, with artworks and sculptures by contemporary Argentine artists and a restaurant specializing in the native cuisine of the country's Cuyo and Patagonia regions; a conference center with hotel rooms; the Chapel of Gratitude with a facade artwork depicting the miracle in which Jesus turned water into wine; and the 125-acre Salentein Nature Preserve.
Salentein wines, at $20 a bottle, come from all three ranches, while the El Portillo winery makes wines at $11 solely from that ranch. The wines are uniformly rich and ripe, without harsh tannins or acids.
The Valle de Uco, because of its location, its hot days and cool nights and ample irrigation from Andes snowmelt, has seen wine production off and on since the time of the Jesuits, who called it la tierra del sol yi del buen vino -- ``the land of sun and good wine.''
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
• 2005 Salentein Reserve Malbec, Valle de Uco, Mendoza: deep violet color, flavors of mulberries and mocha, big and rich, ripe tannins; $20.
RECOMMENDED
• 2004 Salentein Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle de Uco, Mendoza: rich, soft and fruity, with red plum flavors and ripe tannins; $20.
• 2003 Salentein Reserve Merlot, Valle de Uco, Mendoza: black cherries and black pepper, soft and fruity, long finish; $20.
• 2003 Salentein Reserve Pinot Noir, Valle de Uco, Mendoza: ripe maraschino cherry and chocolate flavors, ripe tannins, smooth, long finish; $20.
• 2007 El Portillo Sauvignon Blanc, Valle de Uco, Mendoza: light, crisp and lively, with lemon-lime flavors; $11.
• 2007 El Portillo Chardonnay, Valle de Uco, Mendoza: crisp, lush Golden Delicious apples, dry, long finish; $11.
• 2006 El Portillo Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle de Uco, Mendoza: aromas and flavors of cassis and milk chocolate, rich, ripe tannins; $11.
• 2006 El Portillo Malbec, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, dark purple color, black cherry flavors, rich, ripe tannins; $11.
• 2006 El Portillo Merlot, Valle de Uco, Mendoza: soft and ripe, red plum and chocolate flavors, soft tannins; $11.
• 2006 El Portillo Pinot Noir, Valle de Uco, Mendoza: tart cherry flavors, soft, rich, ripe tannins; $11.
