After a relatively painless overnight flight, breakfast in Buenos Aires was a strong coffee in Luigi Bosca's dockside offices, before setting out to take in the sights. We are five strong, Mark & Tom from Hawksmoor, Alex & Rob from Bancroft and Soledad from Luigi Bosca.
We started at the impressive & pink Presidential Palace on Plaza de Majo (May Square), where the mothers of the disappeared still protest every Thursday at 15.00 with pictures of their children or grandchildren, lost 30 years ago.
We then toured around the central districts of BA, each with its own character and history. The colourful area of Boca, home to the football club Boca Juniors, Maradona being a notable old boy, also home to the most Argentine dance the tango.
Got away without having to strut our stuff so far, but I feel this may change! On to the very elegant & elaborate graveyard, home to the family mausoleum of Eva Peron's family - Evita herself! This inevitably started the singing off and it is a particularly catchy tune...
A big fat meat based lunch, well supplied with Luigi Bosca sparkling, Chardonnay Viognier Semillon '10 Corte Reservado (very good with the delicate sweetbreads) and the classic Single Vineyard DOC Malbec '09. At last, what we had travelled miles for - great meat and red wine. Happy! We were lucky enough to be joined by Alberto Arizu, head of Bodega Luigi Bosca, whom we greeted as the old friend he is- great to see him on his home turf, for a change.
Hop, skip and an internal flight later and we are in Mendoza, in time to see the sun go down over the Andes- very memorable with huge excitement for the vineyard visits tomorrow. We are on the bus now heading to the hotel for a quick turnaround then out for supper before retiring at the end of a packed day one.
More to follow...
Written by Rob Allen, London Trade Sales
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