"What a joy to find Club Tapiz amidst Mendoza’s bodegas: a charming Italianate 1890s house dwarfed by mighty pines and palms, surrounded by neat vineyards. Just 7 airy rooms come off the long gallery, with its original slender columns and terracotta tiles; another 4 sit in a separate villa nearby. Tall doors, wide windows and classic proportions bring 19th-century elegance, but bold design abounds: a minimalist water feature, chic decking, and vast picture windows in the relaxing lounge. There’s a glazed panel onto tasting rooms below, where specially commissioned contemporary paintings sit well on exposed brick and aubergine walls. Open the French doors in your spacious, ochre-coloured bedroom to find grand views of vines and a lovely pool. You can borrow a bicycle to explore the bodegas of Maipú and Luján de Cuyo, then relax after all that strenuous wine-tasting with a massage in the spa. Later, move on to superb picadas in the lounge, then a sophisticated dinner in the restaurant. Highs A chic but relaxed mood: nothing pretentious, just chilled-out eleganceSuperb restaurant using local produce, with an excellent wine list (naturally)Good little spa, with a sauna, a Jacuzzi and fantastic massages. There are also a couple of outdoor pools to lounge byJust 15km away, the Bodega Tapiz tour (included in your tariff) is the best in the regionA friendly atmosphere: meet other guests at the daily wine tasting and swap travel notes Lows Service, although very pleasant and charming, is a little on the slow sideGuests are generally thoughtful, but sometimes sit out late on the delightful veranda beside the bedrooms - ask for one of the quieter rooms if you'd like more privacyThere's a slight air of faded grandeur, but that's all part of the charm" - Christabelle Dilks