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An Argentinian Wine Escape

Karen Catchpole, Writer

2 years ago

There’s a new hotel in the Argentinian countryside that’s your next holiday retreat. And if you’re a wine lover, there’s nothing better than staying at a winemaker’s house. Set in Mendoza wine country, SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites is where it’s summer in South America, and the Malbec is hitting just right.

The South American summer is a great time to experience SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites. At this new hideaway, pioneer winemaker Susana Balbo and her daughter Ana have upped the hotel game in the wine country around Mendoza. Their suites are some of the largest and most luxurious in the country.

Suites

Top suites are nothing new to you. However, the steel-and-glass wonders here will likely impress. There are seven rooms total at SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites, which are a mix of regular spa suites and master spa suites. All of them have a private garden, a standalone concrete soaking tub, a shower that’s also a sauna, a wine refrigerator, a separate living area, distinct décor, artwork, and a Toto Washlet toilet. In-room tech includes a tablet to control lights and curtains, USB-charging ports, a sound system, and radiant-heat flooring. Did we mention these suites are roomy? The spa suite is nearly 700 square feet. For the master spa suites, add a dry sauna and another 90 square feet of space.

Food & Drink

The hotel’s restaurant offers an à la carte menu as well as a seven-course tasting feast. In the latter, each course is inspired by the seven different chakras and served in a private room adjacent to the semi-open kitchen. You can try tender octopus with crunchy amaranth and creamy garlic-turnip sauce paired with Susana Balbo’s Signature Naranja orange wine made with her beloved Torrontés grapes. Even the hotel breakfast is elevated. Yes, all the usual suspects are present but so are delicious surprises like quinoa salad with an egg and an acai bowl. The hotel’s petite bar serves crafted cocktails in elegant stemware. And it’s an intimate nook, pre- or post dinner. Don’t miss the small “painting” in the bar that’s crafted entirely out of hummingbird feathers.

Wellness

There is no designated spa space at SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites. Instead, your suite serves as a private spa for in-room treatments. Guided by gifted therapists, you’ll maximize your suite’s shower/sauna, soaking tub, and dry sauna during the three-hour Fruits of Life Ritual. This program includes a tub soak, a body wrap, exfoliation, and a 50-minute massage and uses products made with grape extracts. Cap it off with a relaxing nap on a heated lounge chair in your private garden.

Art

Susana and Ana tapped into their own well-curated art collection and a long list of art-world contacts to decorate the hotel. Argentinian work is a highlight. But international artists are represented too, including a stunning black-and-white portrait by famed photographer Sebastião Salgado, which hangs in the living room and was a gift to Ana. The most pivotal piece greets you as you arrive. The massive mixed media Tree of Life in the hotel entryway was commissioned for the space from Argentinian artist Sergio Roggerone. The vibrant work, which depicts the seven chakras, is a representation of Susan’s life journey and captures the inspiration and vision of the hotel. (You’re probably realizing right about now that it’s no coincidence there are seven suites at the hotel — and a seven-course tasting menu.)

Hotel Exclusive

Wine-making facilities are not located on the grounds of the hotel. However, Susana’s vineyards, winery, tasting room, and Osadía de Crear winery restaurant are nearby. And if you book more than one night, expect some special perks. A winery tour, a six-course lunch at the winery’s restaurant, and a premium wine tasting at the hotel are all included in a multi-night stay. The hotel has also partnered with a local tour company that can arrange flight tours over the Uco Valley. You can see vineyards, architecturally significant wineries, and more of the Andean landscape by air. For those who want another layer of exclusivity, it’s also possible to book the entire property.