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All aboard to Argentina for an Amazon Explore Malbec Wine Tasting Tour

By Becky Ellis

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA - MARCH 25: Bodegas CARO's flagship Caro 2016 vintage wine is served during a winetasting in the winery's cellars on March 25, 2019 in Mendoza city, Argentina. CARO was established in 1999 by the two renowned wineries, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolas Catena, to produce a wine that would combine French and Argentine cultures and the two signature grapes of each producer, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec respectively. The winery, which takes its name from the first two letters of each of the Catena and Rothschild family names, has been producing wines since the 2003 vintage in a restored historic winery in the heart of the city. Mendoza Province is Argentina's most important wine region, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the country's entire wine production. With increasing numbers of foreign tourists being drawn to the iconic wine-producing area and its award-winning wineries attracted by a cheaper devalued Peso and acclaimed wines at bargain prices, Mendoza's economy is doing better than the national average in the wake of Argentina's latest economic meltdown. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA - MARCH 25: Bodegas CARO's flagship Caro 2016 vintage wine is served during a winetasting in the winery's cellars on March 25, 2019 in Mendoza city, Argentina. CARO was established in 1999 by the two renowned wineries, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolas Catena, to produce a wine that would combine French and Argentine cultures and the two signature grapes of each producer, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec respectively. The winery, which takes its name from the first two letters of each of the Catena and Rothschild family names, has been producing wines since the 2003 vintage in a restored historic winery in the heart of the city. Mendoza Province is Argentina's most important wine region, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the country's entire wine production. With increasing numbers of foreign tourists being drawn to the iconic wine-producing area and its award-winning wineries attracted by a cheaper devalued Peso and acclaimed wines at bargain prices, Mendoza's economy is doing better than the national average in the wake of Argentina's latest economic meltdown. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images) /
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Gather your wine loving friends for a Malbec wine tasting in Argentina! Sounds fun, but how can we do that in the middle of a pandemic? Amazon Explore has the answer! A personal tour of the CARO Winery in Mendoza, Argentina is waiting for just for you.

What is Amazon Explore? According to their website, they offer virtual tours led by local experts. Our friends at Amazon encourage us to indulge our curiosity – wonderlust welcome! They offer wine tastings around the world, but if you are a red wine lover, you simply must take their “Malbec and Art” tour featuring CARO wines. The tour is offered in English, Spanish or Portuguese. You can take photos during the tour by clicking on the camera icon on the screen and the photos will be available for you to download at the end of the tour. This private 45 minute tour costs only $10.

You can purchase the wines locally or on-line prior to the tour so you can sit back, relax and enjoy some sips while touring.

The CARO wines are “An association between two cultures, two families and two noble grapes.” Baron Eric de Rothschild

According to the Bodegas CARO website, the partnership between Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and the Catena began in 1999.  The idea was to combine a single wine that would celebrate the French and Argentine cultures and the two signature grapes of each producer,  Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery, which takes its name from the first two letters of each of the Catena and Rothschild family names (CARO), has been producing wines since the 2003 vintage in a restored historic winery in the heart of the city.

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA – MARCH 25: Oak barrels filled with aging wine are seen in the cellars at Bodegas CARO on March 25, 2019 in Mendoza city, Argentina. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images)
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA – MARCH 25: Oak barrels filled with aging wine are seen in the cellars at Bodegas CARO on March 25, 2019 in Mendoza city, Argentina. (Photo by David Silverman/Getty Images) /

Let’s begin our wine tasting tour with a glass of ARUMA  100% Malbec. which means “night” in the language of Quechua, the native Indians of the Mendoza region. As we sip our lovely wine we enter the Bodegas CARO tasting room surrounded by 19th century exposed brick walls, decorated with red velvet chairs and  Belle Époque furniture. Just the atmosphere you’d expect with an elegant winery tour. Right around the corner from the tasting room is the art gallery where your tour guide will show you magnificent paintings and sculptures representing Argentinian culture.

The next wine in our tasting is AMANCAYA Reserve Red Blend 2018 tastes like liquid heaven. According to VinPorter Amancaya is a native mountain flower grown in the Andes.   70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Elegant and well balanced with smooth tannins. Exceptional wine in the $20 range. At this price you may want to have several bottles on had for the wine tour with your friends.

And one of the best for last, CARO, from Catena and Rothschild, 80% Malbec and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Aromas of raspberry, dark chocolate and violets. This Bordeaux style wine is smooth and refined with elegant tannins. James Suckling describes this lovely wine “Full-bodied, yet tight and contracted with a level of shyness to its strength.” He suggests that you may want to tuck this wine into your cellar until 2023. $65 range.

Are you ready to enjoy a wine tasting and discover fabulous Argentinian Malbec wines with Amazon Explore?

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