Finca Adalgisa

A winery and boutique B&B, set among tranquil gardens within easy distance of Mendoza's top vineyards - a friendly base for the Ruta del Vino

All who stay here profess to love it and it’s easy to see why. It’s full of rustic charm and homely warmth - a microcosm of rural Argentina. Set just outside the pretty bistro- and boutique-filled town of Chacras de Coria, 15km from Mendoza, this 2-hectare vineyard has been owned by the same Italian-Argentine family for a century. Third-generation Gabriela decided to open up the family home to guests in 2001 and it's flourished ever since: the stone buildings house 11 cosy rooms, the garden has a beautiful array of fruit trees, there's a sparkling pool and the bodega, added in 2004, produces a delicious Malbec that's only available to guests.

But the best thing about Finca Adalgisa is its ambiance: relaxing, peaceful and welcoming. You can explore Mendoza’s vineyards at a leisurely pace, and in between you'll eat and sleep well. Gabriela and her staff are a delight; you’re greeted on your first night with a cheese platter and a bottle of the bodega's own and asked to treat the place as a home. Curl up on a sofa with a book, take a stroll with the family dogs or cycle through the countryside soaking up the view of the Andes beyond. From 6pm it’s wine tasting time, when guests gather in the salon for fruity Malbec and local tapas - a perfect end to the day.

Highs

• There are lots of lovely touches: fruit and lemonade brought to you at the pool and a bottle of wine as a welcome on your first evening
• Roaring fires in winter and cooling air conditioning in summer make this a very comfortable place to stay
• The friendly staff can arrange winery tours, hiking, biking, rafting, riding and even tango shows
• The wonderful bodega, with huge white sofas and a log fire, is open for tastings every evening
• There's greenery everywhere: step outside to admire the vineyards and palms, while inside you'll find potted plants dotted around the house and old walnut trees growing through rooms
• The breakfast is excellent and you're and within easy walking distance of good restaurants, shops and bars

Lows

• It's not cheap and the rooms are simple, though attractive
• There's no restaurant, but Chacras de Coria (a 10-minute walk) has several good options and the bodega serves light snacks and tapas, which suffice if you’ve had a big lunch
• The 3pm check-in feels a little stingy
• Local dogs bark in symphony at night; bring your earplugs
• Some rooms are a little dark; others may hear traffic
• There are no TVs, DVD players or music systems - but then you've come here to enjoy the countryside
• Some of the furniture has been passed down through the generations and is slightly tatty as a result