Road tripping in Córdoba
Córdoba often plays third fiddle to Argentina’s glamorous capital Buenos Aires and the country’s key wine city Mendoza, but this picturesque province is a surprisingly diverse destination.
A rich 16th-century history, tracts of rolling countryside and hospitable Fernandito*-sipping cordobeses have long ensured its reputation as a favourite with domestic travellers (*the local favourite mixed drink of Fernet-Branca amaro with cola). And now Córdoba is making its mark as a wine destination. While the 1573-founded eponymous provincial capital, with its UNESCOheritage Jesuit Block and buoyant nightlife, is a fascinating cultural introduction, Córdoba’s winemaking regions make for an exciting road trip. Sierras and mountains paint a dramatic landscape, replete with rivers, cattle ranches, and opportunities for outdoor adventures such as parasailing, horse riding and hiking… Like Mendoza [750m and up], Córdoba province is elevated [about 350m-550m] but, at about 470km to the northeast of Mendoza, is under a less intense Andean gaze.
Jesuit and Spanish colonial history weave a colourful architectural tapestry, the perfect backdrop to the region’s 400-year-old story of winemaking that began with sacramental wine.
