Mendoza? More than wine....

Guest: Sonia (Lima, Peru)
Date of Stay: 12/27/11 Review Submitted: 01/19/12

Riyad, my family and I are in love with this place. Since we came to south America more than a year ago, our lives have been more than hectic. Staying at Quinta Anabtawi was a welcome respite; we have never felt more relaxed or able to let our hair down than we do in this setting. My daughter quickly befriended Homero, although he was reluctant to accept her ferocious hugs at first. The wines are to die for.. My recommendations are: 1. Dolium – small, friendly and their wines are luscious. 2. Lagarde – super cute, close and beautiful fruity viogners. We hope to see you again in the future Besos, Rob, Sonia & Zoe.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Quinta Anabtawi

Guest: Mario (Rhode Island)
Date of Stay: 12/06/11 Review Submitted: 12/06/11

December 6, 2011 Riyad, We had an amazing time at your Quinta, and wish we could stay (much) longer. The Bbq with Raul was delicious, and got pretty wild! Maybe next time you’ll have better luck at foosball. Lunch at Melipal vineyards was an experience of a lifetime; Food & Wine were unbeatable. We tried putting Homero in our carry-on, but he was too busy enjoying the sun. Eggs for breakfast from the chickens, fresh plums and cherries. What a treat! We can’t thank you enough and hope our paths cross again, soon!! All our best, Mario & Diedre. Rhode Island Manny & Jackie, Miami, Fl Matt & Glen, New Jersey

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, families with young children.

Quinta Anabtawi

Guest: Chicas Bravas (Canada)
Date of Stay: 11/13/11 Review Submitted: 11/18/11

November 2011 Riyad, Thanks you for sharing your own piece of paradise with us. The wine, the food and most importantly the conversation was a cultural treat we will always remember. I think we were very close to arriving at viable solutions to the world’s problems. Late nights with bellies full of carne and red wine, we crawled into bed and dreamed dreams of peaceful villas and sun soaked vistas. Its cold and snowing at home in Canada and after our time here the prospect of “home” instills mixed feelings of anticipation and regret. It would very easy to fall into this lifestyle. The language, the customs are very compelling and had we come here in our 20’s rather than our 50’s, we may as well have never left! All the best to you! Come visit us! Bernie, Lynn, Katie Cox, David, Jacki, Claire Boileau. Pickle Lake and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Quinta Anabtawi

Guest: Liana (Santiago De Chile)
Date of Stay: 11/04/11 Review Submitted: 11/07/11

November 2011 Riyad, We tried to make it out here 5-6 months ago but were turned away at the border for not having permission to take our vehicle out of the country (Chile). Finally, here we are and we are so very happy we made the time to come – this time on a plane ?. We are probably the only “home bodies” you’ve had so we cannot make any recommendations on wineries, restaurants, etc. We came with our 16 months old son who was teething and a bit cranky so we decided to lie low. What we can say without any doubts is that you can stay on this property without leaving and still experience Mendoza!!. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. It is a very special, tranquil place. The chickens/roosters provided great entertainment for our little boy who wanted to go visit them several times a day. The pool was fabulous and refreshing. It was great to swim surrounded by such beautiful trees and lush foliage. The “casitas” were comfortable and had everything we needed. Plus we loved the smell of wood and stone inside. The BBQ was phenomenal. You are lucky to have Raul as a friend /family member. He is a very talented chef, even though he’s humble about it. By far the most delicious meats we’ve ever had. Homero, We always travel with our chocolate labs. Since they couldn’t come with us, it goes without saying that you were a joy to have around. Riyad told us not to feed you, but how could we not share with that sweet face? I hope you’ve enjoyed the bath we gave you. You are a sweet heart! Love Rob – Liana - William

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Quinta Anabtawi

Guest: Penny (Denver, Colorado)
Date of Stay: 10/25/11 Review Submitted: 11/01/11

29 Oct 11 Dear Riyad, great place you have here. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here at Quinta A. It is a slice of paradise! Today, our last day, we spent the morning in Agrelo, and then drove to Mendoza for lunch. We made it back in time to enjoy a final hour of sunshine around the pool. It’s like the call - of – the – wild with all the birds. Our favorite hour of the day was always walking with Homero to all the corners of the property before sunset. He knows his land! Best of luck with the next phase of Quinta Anabtawi! John and Penny Denver, Colorado.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Amazing Getaway in Mendoza

Guest: krista (Washington D.C.)
Date of Stay: 09/23/11 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

We just spent a lovely weekend at Quinta Anabtawi and had the most wonderful time! The villa is located on a gorgeous piece of property with all of the amenities - gorgeous pool, gardens, lovely terraces, firepit and more. Both the villa and the studio apartment are very nicely appointed with complete kitchens and comfortable living quarters. This is a great place to go with a group - there are so many different areas to hang out. Also, we arranged to have the BBQ extravaganza on our first night - what an amazing experience! Raoul cooked the most delicious meats, all of the sides were local organic produce, and the wine and conversation were perfect with it all. The location was good - a great starting out point for the wine tasting trips we did all weekend. Finally, Riyad was super helpful in organizing our trip - a great resource - and he made us feel very welcome. We highly recommend staying at Quinta Anabtawi!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Mendoza Villa

Guest: Roberto (St Paul, MN)
Date of Stay: 04/21/11 Review Submitted: 05/01/11

Riyad Again Thanks for our great stay at your villa! Your gracious "welcome" at midnight after a delayed flight; "emergency" supplies; wonderful recommendations and numerous emails regarding our stay were truly appreciated. Villa was wonderful! Huge outdoor area with our "fotball" (soccer) family tournament; the outdoor firepit by the studio was great at night with a glass of Malbec on a cool evening was delightful and fabulous asado with Raul and you was a highlight of our Mendoza visit. We need to return either as a group or individually in the near future. The guest book was filled with "our visit was too short..." whether your guests were staying 2 days a week or several weeks! It was a unique "escape" and a beautiful place to stay. Many Thanks for allowing us to share your home for a few days! Will highly recommend your Villa to any of our friends traveling to Mendoza! Riyad was wonderful setting up our wine tours; our spectacular lunch at Melipal (unbelievable!) and with all our inquiries. If visiting Mendoza would rate 5 Star the Villa, Riyad, Rual, Homero without reservation for groups of 2 to 8 in the villa and studio. Many Thanks to our gracious host!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Words escape me- "Thank you" doesn't suffice

Guest: Sarah (Denver, CO)
Date of Stay: 12/07/10 Review Submitted: 12/17/10

Riyad, The Quinta exceeds all expectations. My stay here with Holli and Tony will remain a highlight of any of my vacations, and I will absolutely be back. Pictures truly don't do the Quinta justice. You can easily lose your fellow travelers during some quiet hours of reading in one or another relaxing place on the property. The fire and outdoor kitchen area are ideal for enjoying evenings of wine with friends. The pool area is wonderful. The work and care you have put into the Quinta can be seen in every element. Please thank Raul again for our night of asado. This vegetarian certainly broke a lot of rules that night :) I had tried Holli and Tony's meals at Don Mario and Francis Mallman and while both were great only Raul had me going back for seconds!!! Your recommendations for restaurants, and Marcelo as a driver, never disappointed. When I make it back I hope to do 2 days of wine with Marcelo. The empanadas from across the street are amazing. (future travelers I advise walking over during your first day and getting your order in right away, she may need 48 hours). The proprietor also has reasonably priced produce, juices, soda, beer, etc. Riyad expect me sometime during harvest 2012! And give Homero a big hug for me.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

The Quinta

Guest: Holli (Denver, Colorado, USA)
Date of Stay: 12/11/10 Review Submitted: 12/12/10

December 11, 2010 When writing the date above, I had to think hard about exactly what day it is today. This place is exactly that kind of place – where you lose all track of time. It’s the perfect vacation destination. Sarah, Tony and I spent only four nights here, and it pains us to leave. I so enjoyed the Eden-like gardens and the fauna is fabulous too. I ate cherries and plums every morning, and visited Thelma and Louise hoping to find eggs (only one, alas). Homero always trotted behind, checking the perimeter. We spent one whole day visiting wineries with Marcelo, our knowledgeable driver. We trusted him to come up with an itinerary, and he did not steer us wrong. We toured four very different “bodegas”, though all were stunningly beautiful: Catena Zapata, Achaval-Ferrer, Melipal and Carinae. We had a five- course, five-star lunch at Melipal overlooking the pond. I highly recommend it! We spent another day in Mendoza city, doing a little shopping and a lot of waiting in line at the ATM. We lunched leisurely near Plaza Independencia, came back here to nap and swim, then a late dinner at Francis Mallman’s 1884. The restaurant is gorgeous and the asado almost as god as Raul’s. And Raul! Everybody wants to pack Homer into their suitcases, but I’d take you. You are a master at the parrilla. Riyad, I don’t have enough words or enough space to thank you for making this experience so easy and so pleasant. Gracias. We’ll be back!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/21/10 Review Submitted: 05/21/10

May 14, 2010RiyadThank you for such a wonderful stay at Quinta Anabtawi! Although our stay was short (too short) we have enjoyed every minute of it! Your home is so beautiful, the pool, the guest houses, the landscape - it truly is a labor of love and you can see it in every detail of the house. We especially enjoyed our evening firing up pizzas with you by the fire pit, with great wine & conversation. The guys had a lot of fun playing ping pong with you & look forward to a rematch :)I really appreciate all you have done to make our stay care free & memorable. I know I asked a lot of questions via email & you helped me with all of them. This was truly what we needed to relax after flying end to end of Argentina in just a few days. On top of your gracious hospitality, we had Homero, who helped us not miss our own puppies so much. What a sweet, friendly lovable boy he is. I wish I could take him home with us. I hope we didn't spoil him too much!Thank you so much for welcoming us to your home, we hope to return again, and would love to welcome you to our home in Dallas if you ever travel to Texas!Thank you for everything!Sabrina, Beau, Jenny & Neal.

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