Let's do lunch in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza

Lunch in Mendoza's Luján de Cuyo is seldom possible for this Spaswinefood enthusiast; so when we visited Mendoza we took advantage of the opportunity. Luján de Cuyo wine region is ideal for vine-inspired lunches. Many of the wineries have restaurants, such as Lagarde, Norton and Septima. We have discovered that dining at winery restaurants, such as Lagarde and Ruca Malen, can definitely be described as culinary adventures. I would highly recommend Luján de Cuyo winery lunches with their awesome food and wine pairings however, maybe you just want a casual lunch then there are options, such as Primula Cantina Ferroviaria.

Wine Moments, Bodega Lagarde © Spaswinefood

Primula Cantina Ferroviaria
Primula, La Cantina Ferroviaria is where you can enjoy food and wine while getting a sense of the history of the place. This casual restaurant has been reconstructed from an old train depot.

Welcome, Primula Cantina Ferroviaria © Spaswinefood

Both the outside and inside of the restaurant is decorated with antiques and train memorabilia. Just to the back of the restaurant there is an old train stationed on a section of track. The antique rail road sign (Pare Mire) reminds us of the need to watch out at railway crossings. Yes, there is a great sense of history here.

Watch Out for the Train, Primula Cantina Ferroviaria © Spaswinefood

When I took a peek inside the old train I saw a table with chairs. No, I do no think folks dine there but it is certainly in keeping with the theme.

Table Waiting, Primula Cantina Ferroviaria © Spaswinefood

Memorabilia, Primula Cantina Ferroviaria © Spaswinefood

You can opt for outside or inside seating at the restaurant. We dined inside to escape the heat. We choose a simple lunch because we wished to continue our wine tasting that afternoon.

Dining at Primula Cantina Ferroviaria © Spaswinefood

Relaxing at Primula Cantina Ferroviaria © Spaswinefood

We keep our lunch rather simple by ordering salad and pasta.

Salad, Primula Cantina Ferroviaria © Spaswinefood

Pasta, Primula Cantina Ferroviaria © Spaswinefood

It is hard to go wrong with ordering pasta in Argentina. This is a country that knows how to make fresh and tasty pasta.

La Ventana, Primula Cantina Ferroviaria © Spaswinefood

Our table was near a window so we had a view of the railway car and the vineyard at the back. After a relaxing lunch at Primula Cantina Ferroviaria we were off to taste more Luján de Cuyo wines. The cantina is part of Bodega Estrella de Los Andes, a boutique winery.

That day as we drove from Bodega Caelum to lunch we traveled down tree lined country roads.

Country Road, Luján de Cuyo © Spaswinefood

Wine Country Road © Spaswinefood

Without doubt traveling down the back roads of Luján de Cuyo always led to great Spaswinefood discoveries at winery restaurants.

More Winery Lunches
We did indeed loved Luján de Cuyo winery lunches. Without doubt Luján de Cuyo is a great place for such gastronomic experiences. If that is your preference is for something less casual then checkout Lagarde, Ruca Malen and Septima. Here are a few vignettes of what to expect: 

1. Bodega Lagarde
Bodega Lagarde's Restaurant Fogón offers a six course lunch with wine pairings. The restaurant offered a number of setting options. There is a lovely inside dining for cooler days. Our table was outside near the vineyard. 

  Bodega Lagarde's Restaurant Fogón © Spaswinefood

It was indeed a vineyard lunch to be remembered. I suspect most guests feel the same. 

2. Ruca Malen

During an earlier visit we had lunch at Ruca Malen's Restaurant. This Spaswinefood enthusiast was very happy to be introduced to Ruca Malen's wines over lunch.

Bodega Ruca Malen © Spaswinefood

Ruca Malen celebrates the legend of a young lady. Ruca Malen in Mapuche Indian/Aconcagua language means "young girl's house". A version of the legend is that a young Mapuche woman fell in love with a god. The god brought her to a house in a valley of the Aconcagua Mountain. The god had to leave and so he left her with a special nectar. Whenever she ate the nectar she would feel the joy of falling in love. This analogy probably best describes dining at Ruca Malen. 

Corner Table with a Vineyard View © Spaswinefood

Although considering that time has passed I still remember dining here.

3. María Restaurante, Bodega Septima
During our Bodega Septima visit we toured the María Restaurant with our host.

Entrance María Restaurante, Septima © Spaswinefood

While we did not dine there I was happy to be able to view the restaurant. I later met a tour leader who took his group there to dine. They were very pleased with their lunch experience.

María Restaurante, Bodega Septima © Spaswinefood

Lunch, María Restaurante © Spaswinefood

Tables Ready, María Restaurante © Spaswinefood

Given that the restaurant is located on the top level there are great views of the surrounding vineyard and mountains.

Andes Reflection, María Restaurante © Spaswinefood

There are also stunning views of the vineyard and the Andean foothills from the outside patio. Bodega Septima visitors should not miss these views. While at Bodega Septima we had a most delightful wine tasting but regrettably we did not dine there.

Rooftop Views, Bodega Septima © Spaswinefood

Yes, we had other Luján de Cuyo lunch stops on our list that we did not get to visit. Maybe next time. Overall we were impressed with our culinary adventures in Luján de Cuyo, which always included awesome wines. When most people think of Argentine wines they are most likely to first think of Malbec. In the case of Luján de Cuyo while Malbec is king here Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Torrontés are also quite successful in this wine region. Luján de Cuyo is one of Mendoza's wine regions. Mendoza’s over 1,500 wineries has vineyards that are amongst the highest altitude vineyards in the world, averaging between 600-1,100 meters (2,00-3,600 feet) above sea level. I invite you to join me in my travels in Argentina and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.

Sharon

February 2017

Mendoza, Argentina

© Spaswinefood


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