Mendoza, Argentina – February 10, 2012
By Stephen Vletas 

EXCLUSIVE NEW BISTRO IN VALLE DE UCO - NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES – NEW PROPERTY LISTINGS – HARVEST SEASON IS ALMOST HERE

Opening February 19 - Finca Blousson Vins & Bistro, set in the midst of a Malbec vineyard with the glacier-draped Andes as a backdrop, will offer a fusion of traditional Argentine cuisine along with flavors from the South of France. The charming bistro offers indoor dining, or dining on a gorgeous outdoor patio with parrilla, mud oven, herb gardens and fabulous views of the valley, vineyards, and the mountains. The bistro is on Route 94, the historic route to Manzano Historico, in Tierra Mansa North.

Owners Patrick Blousson and Vicky Jones de Blousson, will offer personalized service to all guests, and they can accommodate small groups for private parties as well. All ingredients for homemade dishes are either grown in gardens on their finca or in Valle de Uco, and the wine list is a representation of the best Mendoza has to offer. The idea is to spend a few hours at the finca, enjoy picadas, wine, regional specialties from the parrilla or mud oven, and specialty dishes with a Mediterranean flare. And of course, spend time with family and friends in a unique country bistro in harmony with nature. Reservations are necessary: 0261 4839250 or cell 0261 6553382.

MALBEC VINEYARD WITH SMALL WINERY AND HOME IN CRUZ DE PIEDA, MAIPU – Just 15 minutes from downtown Mendoza City and the international airport, this special property features a comfortable home, guest home and small winery that is producing between 6,000 and 8,000 bottle of premium wines per year from the property’s 2 hectares/5 acres of high quality Malbec vineyards. This organic property also has 140 olive trees. Ideal use: relax and enjoy your own private estate, or ideal to begin a tourism project with restaurant, wine tastings and a B&B. Email Stephen for detailed information.

EL CORTIJO- EL SALTO- POTRERILLOS: Turnkey Resort Complex – Fully functioning small resort/B&B complex on 7.7 hectares. Includes owners home, guest cabins, restaurant, parrilla, spa, heated swimming pool, all beautifully landscaped, all infrastructure to operate the resort in self-contained fashion. Perfect location in prime tourism area of Potrerillos, at the foot of the Andes and near Rio Mendoza. Just 77 kilometers (45 minute drive) from Mendoza City and the international airport. Email Stephen for detailed information.

TIERRA MANSA – A PRIVATE VINEYARD COMMUNITY AT THE FOOT OF THE ANDES MOUNTAINS

New Development Opportunities in Tierra Mansa - Winery Site, Restaurant Site, Boutique Hotel/Villa Site. We have three lots now available for sale or co-development with Southern Cross Land. The Winery site and Restaurant site are each approximately 1.25 hectares / 3.125 acres. The Boutique Hotel/Villa site is approximately 2 hectares / 5 acres. All three lots have access on paved Route 94, the historic route to Manzano Historico. All lots have electricity, irrigation water, and potable water available, and are part of the Tierra Mansa South project. These properties are in the heart of Valle de Uco, with over two million visitors annually, and part of the world-recognized Camino del Vino. The lots can be purchased outright, or investors and developers can discuss co-development options with Southern Cross Land. We have a complete team of architects and contractors to build out these lots to meet your needs, and if you choose we offer turnkey management and business administrative services. Email Stephen for pricing and details.

CLICK HERE to see TM photos.

In TM South vineyard lots, planted with Malbec, run from 6,000 m2 (1.5 acres) to 13,000 m2 (3.25 acres) – all lots include irrigation water and potable water from our Artesian well, and Malbec vineyards with drip irrigation. Electricity is at the site, available whenever you want to begin construction of your home or guest house. Each lot has a designated building site surrounded by vineyards. The project features security, concierge services, Wi-Fi, DirecTV and other amenities. In addition, we offer turnkey vineyard and home management services, home rental services, and private label winemaking options.

Updated pricing on the lots in TM South is $12 USD per m2 / 50 AR pesos per m2. No vineyard project in Valle de Uco can touch this pricing, and really, no price can be put on the way of life or the location in the heart of Valle de Uco, Mendoza’s premiere wine country.

And in TM North we have 2 final lots for sale; one at 5 hectares/12.5 acres, the other at 3.4 hectares/8.5 acres. Unbeatable value pricing with irrigation and potable water installed at each lot. Email Stephen for pricing.

We invite you to share it with us. Email Stephen for detailed information.

Exclusive Fly Fishing Lodge and Executive Retreat on the Rio Chimehuin in San Martin de Los Andes – Premier fly fishing lodge in full operation with all equipment. This is a world-class luxurious lodge and 200 hectare estancia in one of the best fly fishing and tourism areas of the world, and yet it’s private with unique access on the Rio Chimehuin. A great business opportunity or would also be ideal as a private estate or executive business retreat. Email Stephen for details.

And of course, there’s more! Tell us your interests and we can find the right property for you.

Harvest Season starts next week, and Vendimia begins February 27. Don’t miss out!

Travel planning services, and VIP special event services for businesses and conventions. If you need any assistance with travel arrangements or are interested in our Real Estate and Wine tours, just let us know and we are at your service. For special corporate and group events, we offer translation services, private tri-lingual guides and hosts, private transportation, and custom arrangements to suit your needs. Email Stephen for details.

We hope you can visit us soon in the land of Sun and Wine.

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Mendoza, Argentina – January 30, 2012
By Stephen Vletas 

NEW DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES- SUMMER VACATION – VENDIMIA IS COMING SOON – ECONOMIC FACTS YOU PROBABLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT ARGENTINA

Our team at Southern Cross Land is back at work, but summer vacation is still in full swing for another week or so. Argentina is well-known for a VERY long summer vacation for just about everyone, and a two week vacation is considered a SHORT vacation. Those who can afford it take 4 to 6 weeks, and that includes pretty much all the professionals; escribanos, lawyers, accountants, doctors, agrimensors, many business owners, and for sure anyone in the government above the rank of clerk (but really, them too). Argentines flock to the beaches all around Mar del Plata, and other favorite spots include the Chilean beaches around Vina del Mar, Renaca and Maitencillo, or for the elite, the beaches of Punta del Este in Uruguay, where it is not uncommon to pay over $15,000 USD per month to rent a nice apartment overlooking the water, or a small house near the beach.

Also, February is the time for a number of music festivals. The famous Cosquin Rock is February 10-12 in San Maria de Punilla, Corodba. Think Latin Woodstock. The International Vina del Mar Festival February 22-27 is upscale and will include Diego Torres, Luis Miguel, Camila, Marc Anthony, Luis Fonsi, and Prince Royce. And in Mendoza, in Tunuyan, Valle de Uco we have our National Tonada Festival February 1-5 to celebrate Argentina’s folklore music.

And of course the world famous Harvest Festival, Vendimia is February 27 – March 5. Tickets for the crowning of the Vendimia Queen and for the parades are still available, but you need to be in touch with us soon.

Make your reservations to visit us soon with our travel planning services. This is high tourism season so you need to plan your trip in advance, especially for travel in February and March. Also, we still have space for our Real Estate and Wine Tours in March and April. We hope to see you here soon in the Land of Sun and Wine.

TIERRA MANSA – A PRIVATE VINEYARD COMMUNITY AT THE FOOT OF THE ANDES MOUNTAINS

New Development Opportunities in Tierra Mansa – Winery Site, Restaurant Site, Boutique Hotel/Villa Site. We have three lots now available for sale or co-development with Southern Cross Land. The Winery site and Restaurant site are each approximately 1.25 hectares / 3.125 acres. The Boutique Hotel/Villa site is approximately 2 hectares / 5 acres. All three lots have access on paved Route 94, the historic route to Manzano Historico. All lots have electricity, irrigation water, and potable water available, and are part of the Tierra Mansa South project. These properties are in the heart of Valle de Uco, with over two million visitors annually, and part of the world-recognized Camino del Vino. The lots can be purchased outright, or investors and developers can discuss co-development options with Southern Cross Land. We have a complete team of architects and contractors to build out these lots to meet your needs, and if you choose we offer turnkey management and business administrative services. Email Stephen for pricing and details.

CLICK HERE to see TM photos.

In TM South vineyard lots, planted with Malbec, run from 6,000 m2 (1.5 acres) to 13,000 m2 (3.25 acres) – all lots include irrigation water and potable water from our Artesian well, and Malbec vineyards with drip irrigation. Electricity is at the site, available whenever you want to begin construction of your home or guest house. Each lot has a designated building site surrounded by vineyards. The project features security, concierge services, Wi-Fi, DirecTV and other amenities. In addition, we offer turnkey vineyard and home management services, home rental services, and private label winemaking options.

Updated pricing on the lots in TM South is $12 USD per m2 / 50 AR pesos per m2. No vineyard project in Valle de Uco can touch this pricing, and really, no price can be put on the way of life or the location in the heart of Valle de Uco, Mendoza’s premiere wine country.

And in TM North we have 2 final lots for sale; one at 5 hectares/12.5 acres, the other at 3.4 hectares/8.5 acres. Unbeatable value pricing with irrigation and potable water installed at each lot. Email Stephen for pricing.

We invite you to share it with us. Email Stephen for detailed information.

What Most People Don't Know About Argentina – I have often talked about the fact that a unique thing about Argentina, and especially about real estate values, is that Argentines have little or no debt. Virtually all property transactions are in cash. Rarely are terms given, and when they are, terms are for no more than one or two years. That means people own their properties free and clear. When times are tough, they don’t need to sell to cover an underwater mortgage. This also means that when there is an economic crisis (we have one about every ten years, so people are used to this), there is a quick recovery, and the price of real estate when charted, is continuously upward.

All this said, I’ve still seen a number of foreign investors who have a hard time accepting this concept. Therefore, it’s nice to see world-class investors like Doug Casey and Rick Rule not only understand the concept, but take it to the next level in deciding to invest in Argentina. Their development, La Estancia de Cafayate, in Salta, Cafayate, is one of the premier hideaway wine country developments in the world. (FYI – I get nothing for promoting them, and their development is not for everyone, but I promote it because it shows why savvy investors put their money in Argentina. Also, if you are looking for a truly upscale retreat with all amenities, you’ll have a hard time finding a better place in the world than La Estancia de Cafayate.)

Moving on then, this is an excerpt from the Casey Report: “I bet you didn't know that, in dollar terms, the Argentine economy has been growing at a compounded year-over-year growth rate of around 15% for the last decade. That level of growth is on par even with China. Of course, like China years ago, Argentina was starting from a low point following its last crisis - but it has certainly not stagnated since.

Thanks to the Argentine government's controversial default in 2002, the country has almost no public-sector debt, very much not the case with most of the world's large economies. Specifically, its current debt-to-GDP ratio, net of debt held within the public sector, is less than 14%. The private sector is also virtually debt-free. That is because credit in Argentina is viewed entirely differently than it is in the West, in part because of the country's regular bouts of inflation, but also because it's just not part of the culture. For example, almost no one has a mortgage on a house - they just aren't available. That means prices for property aren't inflated by a bubble of debt.

On a macro-level, Argentina is currently running a minimal overall public-sector deficit and, thanks to the commodity boom, steadily runs a current account surplus. As I don't need to tell you, the US government's deficits are now running close to $1.5 trillion a year, and the country has been running a current account deficit on the order of 5% of GDP for decades - trading the nation's wealth for other countries' products. In Argentina, it is the other way around.”

OK, I think you get the idea. While Argentina is not perfect, and there are many challenges, there are also many opportunities in real estate and other businesses, and without doubt the Mendoza area is one of the nicest places in the world to live and enjoy a healthy tranquil lifestyle.

With that said….for those of you looking for a turnkey home and vineyard, look no further:

VALLE DE UCO LUXURY HOME – PRICE JUST REDUCED! Highly motivated sellers. Check out this New Luxury Home surrounded by 3.5 hectares of Malbec vineyards located in Tierra Mansa North. This is a turnkey home, fully-furnished, ready to move in with all utilities and DirecTV. The Andes views are unparalleled. Imagine sitting on the expansive covered terrace overlooking your vineyards and sipping a fine wine from Valle de Uco. Click here for photos. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

Prefer City Life?

BEST APARTMENT FOR SALE IN MENDOZA CITY - This modern, luxuriously decorated apartment occupies the entire second floor of a recently constructed building in the famed Quinta Sección of Mendoza City, a trendy, upper class neighborhood just blocks away from the main downtown district, and from Parque San Martin. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

How about a larger vineyard with immediate winemaking opportunities?

NEW LISTING - PREMIER MALBEC/BONARDA VINEYARDS – 52 HECTARES IN LUJAN DE CUYO – 18 hectares of Malbec and 5.5 hectares of Bonarda vineyards in full production with drip irrigation system. Additional hectares are ready to plant. The vineyard is impeccably maintained, owned by a U.S. winery, and managed by a well-known winemaker and agronomist from Mendoza. Award winning wines have been made from these grapes by the same winemaker for the past six years. There is an excellent local Mendocino management team (agronomist and winemaker and workers) in place and they are willing to continue working for new owners. Also, the U.S. winery is willing to commit to continued purchases of the wines being made now. Email Stephen for price and more details.

PRIME VINEYARDS IN FULL PRODUCTION, 23 HECTARES IN LA CONSULTA - Gorgeous vineyard of Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon in full production. Spectacular views of the Andes Mountains. Cash flow from selling grapes, or excellent opportunity for private label winemaking. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

PLUS NEW PROPERTIES NOT YET LISTED: 100 hectares of pure Malbec near Tierra Mansa, on Route 94. 49 hectares planted with 10 year old Malbec in full production and 49 hectares planted with 3 year old Malbec that will have a first harvest this year. Caretaker’s house, galpon, 12” commercial well, hail protection and drip irrigation system. Excellent cash flow from selling grapes, and perfect opportunity for adding a winery or a tourism project. 

Winery Opportunities: Fabulous Boutique Winery in Maipu. 120,000 liter capacity with room to expand. 10 hectares of planted vineyards with hail protection and definitive irrigation rights, wines in production, state of the art equipment including French and American oak barrels, and a wonderful reception area with small restaurant for tasting and events. Ideal location for tourism.

State of the Art winery with 200,000 liter winery in Lujan de Cuyo with 23 hectares of planted vineyards. Wines in production, including exports to the United States. Great location for tourism near Bodega Finca Flichman.

Email Stephen for details.

And of course, there’s more! Tell us your interests and we can find the right property for you.

Travel planning services, and VIP special event services for businesses and conventions. If you need any assistance with travel arrangements or are interested in our Real Estate and Wine tours, just let us know and we are at your service. For special corporate and group events, we offer translation services, private tri-lingual guides and hosts, private transportation, and custom arrangements to suit your needs. Email Stephen for details.

We hope you can visit us soon in the land of Sun and Wine.

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Mendoza, Argentina – December 26, 2011
By Stephen Vletas 

HAPPY HOLIDAY – FELICIES FIESTAS

Southern Cross Land is taking the week off! It’s the perfect time to kick back and enjoy the holidays. The SCL team is relaxing this week in sunny Mendoza, spending time with family and friends, while Stephen is back in the U.S., in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for some skiing and vacation time. We wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year! The office will reopen on January 2, 2012.

Thanks to all our clients and friends who made the Tierra Mansa presale event a success. While the special presale pricing is now over, the updated pricing still remains an unbeatable value in Valle de Uco, one of the 8 Great Wine Capitals of the World.  More below.

Make your reservations to visit us soon with our travel planning services. Tourism is booming so you need to plan your trip in advance, especially for travel in February and March. Don’t forget that Vendimia week runs February 27 through March 5, 2012.

TIERRA MANSA – A PRIVATE VINEYARD COMMUNITY AT THE FOOT OF THE ANDES MOUNTAINS –With the presale event now over and ten new vineyard lots planted, we’ll start 2012 with a number of new developments, new home construction, and more. March and April will also be our first harvest of the highest quality Malbec grapes. In TM North we have 2 final lots for sale; one at 5.4 hectares/13.5 acres, the other at 3.4 hectares/8.5 acres. Unbeatable value pricing with irrigation and potable water installed at each lot. Email Stephen for pricing.

CLICK HERE to see TM photos.

In TM South home site vineyard lots, planted with Malbec, run from 6,000 m2 (1.5 acres) to 13,000 m2 (3.25 acres) – all lots include irrigation water and potable water from our Artesian well, and Malbec vineyard with drip irrigation. Electricity is at the site, available whenever you want to begin construction of your home or guest house. As does TM North, the project features a Club House, concierge services, security, Wi-Fi, DirecTV and other amenities. In addition, we offer turnkey vineyard and home management services, home rental services, and private label winemaking options.

Update pricing on the lots in TM South is $12 USD per m2 / 50 AR pesos per m2. No vineyard project in Valle de Uco can touch this pricing, and really, no price can be put on the way of life or the location in the heart of Valle de Uco, Mendoza’s premiere wine country.

We invite you to share it with us. Email Stephen for more information.

And for those of you looking for a turnkey home and vineyard, look no further:

VALLE DE UCO LUXURY HOME – PRICE JUST REDUCED! Check out this New Luxury Home surrounded by 3.5 hectares of Malbec vineyards located in Tierra Mansa North. This is a turnkey home, fully-furnished, ready to move in with all utilities and DirecTV. The Andes views are unparalleled. Imagine sitting on the expansive covered terrace overlooking your vineyards and sipping a fine wine from Valle de Uco. Click here for photos. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

Prefer City Life?

BEST APARTMENT FOR SALE IN MENDOZA CITY - This modern, luxuriously decorated apartment occupies the entire second floor of a recently constructed building in the famed Quinta Sección of Mendoza City, a trendy, upper class neighborhood just blocks away from the main downtown district, and from Parque San Martin. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

How about a larger vineyard with immediate winemaking opportunities?

NEW LISTING - PREMIER MALBEC/BONARDA VINEYARDS – 52 HECTARES IN LUJAN DE CUYO – 18 hectares of Malbec and 5.5 hectares of Bonarda vineyards in full production with drip irrigation system. Additional hectares are ready to plant. The vineyard is impeccably maintained, owned by a U.S. winery, and managed by a well-known winemaker and agronomist from Mendoza. Award winning wines have been made from these grapes by the same winemaker for the past six years. There is an excellent local Mendocino management team (agronomist and winemaker and workers) in place and they are willing to continue working for new owners. Also, the U.S. winery is willing to commit to continued purchases of the wines being made now. Email Stephen for price and more details.

PRIME VINEYARDS IN FULL PRODUCTION, 23 HECTARES IN LA CONSULTA - Gorgeous vineyard of Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon in full production. Spectacular views of the Andes Mountains. Cash flow from selling grapes, or excellent opportunity for private label winemaking. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

PLUS NEW PROPERTIES NOT YET LISTED: 100 hectares of pure Malbec near Tierra Mansa, on Route 94. 49 hectares planted with 10 year old Malbec in full production and 49 hectares planted with 3 year old Malbec that will have a first harvest this year. Caretaker’s house, galpon, 12” commercial well, hail protection and drip irrigation system. Excellent cash flow from selling grapes, and perfect opportunity for adding a winery or a tourism project. Email Stephen for details.

90 hectare Malbec and Chardonnay vineyard in Tupungato; 200,000 liter winery in Lujan de Cuyo, and more. Tell us your interests and we can find the right property for you.

Travel planning services, and VIP special event services for businesses and conventions. If you need any assistance with travel arrangements or are interested in our Real Estate and Wine tours, just let us know and we are at your service. For special corporate and group events, we offer translation services, private tri-lingual guides and hosts, private transportation, and custom arrangements to suit your needs. Email Stephen for details.

We hope you can visit us soon in the land of Sun and Wine.

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Mendoza, Argentina – December 7, 2011
By Stephen Vletas 

SUCCESS! THANKS TO ALL OUR CLIENTS AND FRIENDS WHO MADE THE TIERRA MANSA SOUTH PRESALE EVENT A BIG HIT – Due to demand, we are extending the event pricing until December 16, but only a very limited number of lots remain available. Don’t miss this unbeatable investment and lifestyle option in Valle de Uco.

NEW AIRPORT IN TUPUNTAGO, VALLE DE UCO - WAL-MART OPENS A THIRD STORE – ECONOMY ROLLS ON – MENDOZA NOTES

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TO VISIT US SOON WITH OUR TRAVEL PLANNING SERVICES. Tourism is booming so you need to plan your trip in advance, especially for travel in February and March.

TIERRA MANSA – A PRIVATE VINEYARD COMMUNITY AT THE FOOT OF THE ANDES MOUNTAINS –LAST CHANCE FOR THE PRESALES PRICING, due to demand extended until December 16. – All lots in TM South include irrigation water and potable water from our Artesian well, and Malbec vineyard with drip irrigation. Electricity is at the site, available whenever you want to begin construction of your home or guest house. The project also features a Club House, concierge services, security, Wi-Fi, DirecTV and other amenities. In addition, we offer turnkey vineyard and home management services, home rental services, and private label winemaking options.

For those who can’t be with during these final days of the preventa/presale, we can work with you via email, phone, or Skype. We have set pricing to create a value investment no other development can match ($9 USD per m2), but really, no price can be put on the way of life or the location in the heart of Valle de Uco, Mendoza’s premiere wine country.

We invite you to share it with us. Email Stephen for more information.

New Airport in Tupungato, Valle de Uco – Business leaders from the area, mostly in the vineyard and wine tourism sector, have banded together to buy a property for the new airport and to guarantee the investment to build the facility. They have chosen a property in Gualtallary, about 5 kilometers from Tupungato. The local Tupungato government also contributed capital, so funding is now complete. This will be an airport for small aircraft, mostly private, those charters will also be available. The airport is just one more addition to the growing infrastructure achievements connecting Valle de Uco to the world. As we’ve written for several years now, Valle de Uco is on the way to becoming its own distinct international destination. And that is a major factor in the 20% plus annual appreciation we are seeing in land values.

Wal-Mart just opened a third store in the province ($18 million USD investment, 150 new jobs created), next to the Palmayres Mall, which is also expanding dramatically. This a commercial and residential area of Godoy Cruz, between downtown and Chacras de Coria. Palmayres offers high end shopping with many international branded stores, including an Apple Store, plus a selection of top restaurants, boutique coffee shops, movie theatres, and other amenities.

Mendoza Shopping Mall, called locally “Shopping”, is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and part of the celebration is the first Starbucks in Mendoza. Other international brands are opening as well, joining more than 100 other high-end shops. Projections for Christmas shopping indicate and increase in more than 15% over last year, which was a record.

So the economy continues to rock on, with growth at over 6%. And with that comes the problem of inflation, which continues at a 30% clip, although the government would have you believe that inflation is only 8%. Cristina K will have to face this reality in the next six months or so, and even though she won’t admit it, the AR peso will for sure be devalued. Those of us with USD or Brazilian Reales will do well when this happens. The best hedge, however, is in real “stuff”, meaning real estate and bricks and mortar. Argentine’s realize this and are now buying more real estate in Valle de Uco than foreigners. First time that’s happened in many, many years. That’s one of the reasons the TM South preventa has gone so well, we are selling to Argentine’s who know the way to protect the value of their currency is to make an investment in Valle de Uco.

NEW LISTING - PREMIER MALBEC/BONARDA VINEYARDS – 52 HECTARES IN LUJAN DE CUYO – 18 hectares of Malbec and 5.5 hectares of Bonarda vineyards in full production with drip irrigation system. Additional hectares are ready to plant. The vineyard is impeccably maintained, owned by a U.S. winery, and managed by a well-known winemaker and agronomist from Mendoza. Award winning wines have been made from these grapes by the same winemaker for the past six years. There is an excellent local Mendocino management team (agronomist and winemaker and workers) in place and they are willing to continue working for new owners. Also, the U.S. winery is willing to commit to continued purchases of the wines being made now. Email Stephen for price and more details.

VALLE DE UCO LUXURY HOME – PRICE JUST REDUCED! Check out this New Luxury Home surrounded by 3.5 hectares of Malbec vineyards located in Tierra Mansa North. This is a turnkey home, fully-furnished, ready to move in with all utilities and DirecTV. The Andes views are unparalleled. Imagine sitting on the expansive covered terrace overlooking your vineyards and sipping a fine wine from Valle de Uco. Click here for photos. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

BEST APARTMENT FOR SALE IN MENDOZA CITY - This modern, luxuriously decorated apartment occupies the entire second floor of a recently constructed building in the famed Quinta Sección of Mendoza City, a trendy, upper class neighborhood just blocks away from the main downtown district, and from Parque San Martin. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

PRIME VINEYARDS IN FULL PRODUCTION, 23 HECTARES IN LA CONSULTA - Gorgeous vineyard of Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon in full production. Spectacular views of the Andes Mountains. Cash flow from selling grapes, or excellent opportunity for private label winemaking. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

Travel planning services, and VIP special event services for businesses. If you need any assistance with travel arrangements or are interested in our Real Estate and Wine tours, just let us know and we are at your service. For special corporate and group events, we offer translation services, private tri-lingual guides and hosts, private transportation, and custom arrangements to suit your needs. Email Stephen for details.

We hope you can visit us soon in the land of Sun and Wine.

Follow us on Facebook.

Mendoza, Argentina – November 29, 2011
By Stephen Vletas 

LAST CHANCE FOR THE TIERRA MANSA SOUTH PRESALE PRICING – DON’T MISS THIS UNBEATABLE INVESTMENT AND LIFESTYLE OPTION IN VALLE DE UCO

MALBEC BOOM CONTINUES – PRIVATE LABEL WINEMAKING – MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TO VISIT US SOON WITH OUR TRAVEL PLANNING SERVICES.

TIERRA MANSA – A PRIVATE VINEYARD COMMUNITY AT THE FOOT OF THE ANDES MOUNTAINS – LAST CHANCE FOR THE PRESALES PRICING – The new phase of Tierra Mansa (Tierra Mansa South) is now in full swing with new vineyards recently planted. Due to demand we have extended the last day of the presale pricing to this Friday, December 2, 2012. All lots in TM South include irrigation water and potable water from our Artesian well, and Malbec vineyard with drip irrigation. Electricity is at the site, available whenever you want to begin construction of your home. The project also features a Club House, security, Wi-Fi, DirecTV and other amenities. In addition, we offer turnkey vineyard and home management services, and private label winemaking options.

Publicity for the event has been tremendous. We have been featured in Mendoza Online, Punto a Punto business magazine, Diario de Los Andes, Mendoza’s largest daily newspaper (Click here to read the article), and in Ecocuyo, Ambito Financiero, and Inmuebles Hoy, among others.

For those who can’t be with during these final days of the preventa/presale, we can work with you via email, phone, or Skype. We have set pricing to create a value investment no other development can match, but really, no price can be put on the way of life or the location in the heart of Valle de Uco, Mendoza’s premiere wine country.

We invite you to share it with us. Email Stephen for more information.

MALBEC BOOM CHARGES AHEAD IN SPITE OF WORLD FINANCIAL PROBLEMS -- In the last issue of the year, Wine Spectator magazine has published a series of articles about the Argentina’s success attained in the international markets. Among its articles, there is a list including 700 recommended wines, among them, 375 are 100% Malbec, whereas the rest are blends. In an article entitled “Malbec’s Moment”, Nathan Wesley, in charge of tasting Argentine wines for the magazine, mentioned How a forgotten red grape has revived Argentina and taken America by storm. Click here to read the full article.

For those of us here in Mendoza, this is no surprise. We have seen this boom grow stronger each year since 2003, and along with the boom in new vineyards, the real estate values of the vineyards has risen as well. We are now reaching the point where planting many hectares of new vineyards is becoming more difficult with the demand for water. There is now a moratorium on drilling new water wells in Valle de Uco.

What does this mean? It means the demand for Malbec will be more difficult to meet, and prices will probably rise. For sure it means the value of current Malbec vineyards will rise and continue to rise. Anyone interested in purchasing a Malbec vineyard should contact us as soon as possible. The prime season is now here, and runs through April 2012. We also offer full private label winemaking services, and we have wines made now that are available for tasting and for purchase with your private label.

NEW LISTING - PREMIER MALBEC/BONARDA VINEYARDS – 52 HECTARES IN LUJAN DE CUYO – 18 hectares of Malbec and 5.5 hectares of Bonarda vineyards in full production with drip irrigation system. Additional hectares are ready to plant. The vineyard is impeccably maintained, owned by a U.S. winery, and managed by a well-known winemaker and agronomist from Mendoza. Award winning wines have been made from these grapes by the same winemaker for the past six years. There is an excellent local Mendocino management team (agronomist and winemaker and workers) in place and they are willing to continue working for new owners. Email Stephen for price and more details.

VALLE DE UCO LUXURY HOME – PRICE JUST REDUCED! Check out this New Luxury Home surrounded by 3.5 hectares of Malbec vineyards located in Tierra Mansa North. This is a turnkey home, fully-furnished, ready to move in with all utilities and DirecTV. The Andes views are unparalleled. Imagine sitting on the expansive covered terrace overlooking your vineyards and sipping a fine wine from Valle de Uco. Click here for photos. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

NEW LISTING - 56 HECTARES IN LAS PINTADAS, VALLE DE UCO – Prime finca in Las Pintadas. This area is exploding with new vineyards and wineries, with the bulk of the buyers coming from Chile. This farm has a well for irrigating the entire property. The majority is being rented to garlic farmers for cash flow, but there are 3.5 hectares planted in Malbec vineyards. Excellent development opportunity with below market asking price.

NEW LISTING BUY OR RENT- Villa Viamonte is a classic Argentine adobe house detailed with artisanal works representative of the regional culture of Mendoza. It is located in the heart Chacras de Coria, Mendoza’s nicest neighborhood, near top restaurants, shopping, and Route 40. This is a unique rental opportunity; like the villas of southern France, the entire property is offered. Villa Viamonte is not a hotel and it is not rented by individual room nights. Small groups of 4 to 12 people take the entire villa - friends or family- to enjoy the luxury of a private estate property. The property is also for sale. Please email Stephen for details and pricing

Travel planning services, and VIP special event services for businesses. If you need any assistance with travel arrangements or are interested in our Real Estate and Wine tours, just let us know and we are at your service. For special corporate and group events, we offer translation services, private tri-lingual guides and hosts, private transportation, and custom arrangements to suit your needs. Email Stephen for details.

We hope you can visit us soon in the land of Sun and Wine.

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Mendoza, Argentina – October 31, 2011
By Stephen Vletas 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN – NEW $65 MILLION USD INVESTMENT FROM BUENOS AIRES GROUP/ ARENA MAIPU – THE STARS OF ARGENTINA ARE INVESTING - THE NEXT PRE-SALE PHASE IN TIERRA MANSA – NEW INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES - MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TO VISIT US SOON WITH OUR TRAVEL PLANNING SERVICES.

We will be celebrating Halloween tonight at San Juan Bar, Calle San Juan, with a Salsa and Bachata Hot party. And the Bachata competition is “re caliente”. This is always a great event. Come join us if you’re in town for music, merriment and dancing until you drop.

Last Friday night, October 28, we had the “Event of the Year”, with the opening of Arena Maipu; a $65 million USD investment by an financial group from Buenos Aires (Puerto Madero and Victoria Casinos). The complex features a 118 room hotel, spa, casino, convention center, four restaurants, and a 5,000 seat indoor arena for concerts and theatrical extravaganzas. The developers are calling this “ground zero for Wine Tourism”, as Maipu is home of the original wine country, with wineries like Lopez, Trapiche, Triventa, and La Rural all nearby.

odels from Buenos Aires, thanks to producer Marcelo Tinelli. If you are from the U.S. think “Dancing with the Stars”, but more risqué. Many wineries were on hand to feature this year’s finest wines and champagnes; food was catered by Francis Mallman;, and an open bar was enjoyed by all courtesy of the developers. Press was swarming from all over the country, and that meant that many important politicians attended as well, including those newly elected last week. Add in comics, producers, actors, and the who’s who of business, and that rounded out the guest list. I was invited, thanks to Nestor Nardella and Laura Ramos of Nardella Productions. All the press whoopla aside, it was a fabulous party and we wish the developers success. The indoor arena will open Friday November 4 with Diego Torres. Click here to see photos and read about the event (it’s in Castellano).

Marcelo Tinelli is investing in Mendoza – Sticking with the stars, Marcelo Tinelli, producer of Bailando por un Sueno (Dancing for a dream), has purchased 160 hectares of prime vineyard property and will be planting vineyards next season. With an investment of over $5 million USD, Tinelli and fellow stars plan to produce their own private label wines in their own winery. Tinelli’s “Showmatch”, and Bailando por un Sueno are top rated Live TV programs in Argentina.

TIERRA MANSA – A PRIVATE VINEYARD COMMUNITY AT THE FOOT OF THE ANDES MOUNTAINS – The next phase of Tierra Mansa (Tierra Mansa South) will launch in November, with special pre-sale pricing available for only one day, on November 28.  For our current subscribers and clients, we can give you a preview if you contact us soon. All lots in TM South include irrigation water and potable water from our Artesian well, and Malbec vineyard with drip irrigation. Electricity is at the site, available whenever you want to begin construction of your home. The project also features a Club House, security, Wi-Fi, DirecTV and other amenities. In addition, we offer turnkey vineyard and home management services, and private label winemaking options.

Publicity for the event builds momentum! We were just featured in Mendoza Online, and at the Arena Maipu opening. This week Punto a Punto will run a feature and we are having another event for real estate agents from around the country. Two weeks ago we landed a front page spot from Diario de Los Andes, Mendoza’s largest daily newspaper, for an article written by their top financial writer, Gabriela Balls. Click here to read the article. We have also been featured recently in Ecocuyo, Ambito Financiero, and Inmuebles Hoy, among others.

For those who can’t be with on this day, we can work with you via email, phone, or Skype. We have set pricing to create a value investment no other development can match, but really, no price can be put on the way of life or the location in the heart of Valle de Uco, Mendoza’s premiere wine country.

We invite you to share it with us. Email Stephen for more information.

NEW LISTING - PREMIER MALBEC/BONARDA VINEYARDS – 52 HECTARES IN LUJAN DE CUYO – 18 hectares of Malbec and 5.5 hectares of Bonarda vineyards in full production with drip irrigation system. Additional hectares are ready to plant. The vineyard is impeccably maintained, owned by a U.S. winery, and managed by a well-known winemaker and agronomist from Mendoza. Award winning wines have been made from these grapes by the same winemaker for the past six years. There is an excellent local Mendocino management team (agronomist and winemaker and workers) in place and they are willing to continue working for new owners. Email Stephen for price and more details.

VALLE DE UCO LUXURY HOME – PRICE JUST REDUCED! Check out this New Luxury Home surrounded by 3.5 hectares of Malbec vineyards located in Tierra Mansa North. This is a turnkey home, fully-furnished, ready to move in with all utilities and DirecTV. The Andes views are unparalleled. Imagine sitting on the expansive covered terrace overlooking your vineyards and sipping a fine wine from Valle de Uco. Click here for photos. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

NEW LISTING - 56 HECTARES IN LAS PINTADAS, VALLE DE UCO – Prime finca in Las Pintadas. This area is exploding with new vineyards and wineries, with the bulk of the buyers coming from Chile. This farm has a well for irrigating the entire property. The majority is being rented to garlic farmers for cash flow, but there are 3.5 hectares planted in Malbec vineyards. Excellent development opportunity with below market asking price.

NEW LISTING BUY OR RENT- Villa Viamonte is a classic Argentine adobe house detailed with artisanal works representative of the regional culture of Mendoza. It is located in the heart Chacras de Coria, Mendoza’s nicest neighborhood, near top restaurants, shopping, and Route 40. This is a unique rental opportunity; like the villas of southern France, the entire property is offered. Villa Viamonte is not a hotel and it is not rented by individual room nights. Small groups of 4 to 12 people take the entire villa - friends or family- to enjoy the luxury of a private estate property. The property is also for sale. Please email Stephen for details and pricing

Opening of The Beef Club, an Argentine Steak House: Part of the Entre Cielos project, The Beef Club will open with a special party Friday November 4. The project features a 5-star boutique hotel, Spa + Hamam, a gourmet restaurant, Katerina, commercial shops and a premium Malbec vineyard. This is the most luxurious boutique hotel in the province and one of the top small hotels in South America. They can also arrange custom wine tours and other activities during your stay. Please contact their reservations department through their web site to book your trip soon!

TM Jan photos PyD House originals

Travel planning services, and VIP special event services for businesses. If you need any assistance with travel arrangements or are interested in our Real Estate and Wine tours, just let us know and we are at your service. For special corporate and group events, we offer translation services, private tri-lingual guides and hosts, private transportation, and custom arrangements to suit your needs. Email Stephen for details.

We hope you can visit us soon in the land of Sun and Wine.

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Mendoza, Argentina – June 23, 2011
By Stephen Vletas 

ENTRE CIELOS BOUTIQUE HOTEL AND SPA NOW OPEN! – COPA AMERICA - TOP WINERIES FOR SALE  – DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY IN SAN RAFAEL – VIP SPECIAL EVENT SERVICES/WINE AND SKI TOURS

Congratulations to our friends at Entre Cielos. Their new 5-star boutique hotel is now open and compliments the Spa + Hamam that opened last November. Ideally located on Guardia Vieja, in the beautiful area of Vistalba, the property is surrounded by vineyards and renowned wineries and only 15 minutes from downtown Mendoza. This is the most luxurious boutique hotel in the province and one of the top small hotels in South America. They can also arrange custom wine tours and other activities during your stay. Please contact their reservations department through their web site to book your trip soon!

Copa America Argentina 2011 - And Entre Cielos is opening with perfect timing for their guest arriving for the Copa America, July 1 – 24, which is the most important futbol event in Latin America. Mendoza, and all of Argentina is buzzing in anticipation of this world class futbol event. The Argentina National Team started two a day practices on June 17 in preparation. Argentina is in Group A along with Bolivia, Colombia and Costa Rica. Defending champions from 2007, Brazil, is in group B with Paraguay, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Group C is made up of Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. Argentina’s first match is July 1 against Bolivia, and will be played in La Plata. The first matches played in Mendoza will be July 8, Chile versus Uruguay, then Mexico versus Peru. Then Mendoza will host one of the semifinal matches July 20, with the finales played in Buenos Aires on July 24.

TOP WINERIES FOR SALE:

Bodega Altus, renowned Valle de Uco winery is now for sale, along with its award winning restaurant, La Tupina. It is rare that a name-brand winery comes up for sale, so we urge anyone with a serious interest to contact us as soon as possible for information about this unique opportunity. Click here to see photos of the winery and the restaurant. Email Stephen for information.

New commercial winery in Lujan de Cuyo: 200,000 liter state of the art winery, with 28 hectares of vineyards, modern drip irrigation system, represa, and caretaker’s home. Ideally situated for tourism, and well-positioned for expansion. Email Stephen for information.

DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY IN SAN RAFAEL:

San Rafael, our southern neighbor in Mendoza Province, has recently been voted one of the top places in the world for retirement. Excellent weather, a friendly community, quality vineyards, fruit and olive orchards, proximity to Las Lenas and area trout streams, plus a low cost of living are all components of this retirement recommendation. In that regard, SCL is happy to offer a 109 hectare property (271 acres), with 546 meters of frontage on Route 144, as a wonderful development opportunity; for various tourism or agricultural projects, or for a theme style barrio privados. The property benefits from being adjacent the world class Algodon Wine Estates resort. An informational property PDF is available on request. Email Stephen.

Ski Season opening has been delayed due to lack of snow. June 27 is now the scheduled opening date at Las Lenas. Pray for snow!!

To help with all the increased tourism traffic to Mendoza, Aerolineas has added direct flights between Santiago and Mendoza to compete with LAN. Our recommendation is to go with LAN, but if they are booked, Aerolineas is another option.

Travel planning services, and VIP special event services for businesses. If you need any assistance with travel arrangements or are interested in our Real Estate and Wine tours, just let us know and we are at your service. For special corporate and group events, we offer translation services, private tri-lingual guides and hosts, private transportation, and custom arrangements to suit your needs. Email Stephenfor details.

We hope to see you here soon in the Land of Sun and Wine.

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Mendoza, Argentina – May 20, 2011
By Stephen Vletas 

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON A ROLL – WORLD VINEYARD PRICING - EXPORTS GROWING – NEW LISTINGS IN VALLE DE UCO – GET READY FOR SKI SEASON.

With so many problems in the world it’s probably hard to believe that the quantity of square meters under construction in 2011 is triple the amount from 2010. But it’s true. The biggest increases have occurred with medium-priced apartments for Mendocinos, in smaller buildings of no more than six apartments. Also big increases in homes in private and semi-private neighborhoods, in expanding commercial property infrastructure, and in winery and vineyard project construction. The area expanding fastest in the province is Lujan de Cuyo, which is home to upscale neighborhoods like Chacras de Coria and Vistalba. And Vistalba is the home our Entre Cielos Hotel and Spa + Hamam project. Owned by a Swiss family, we have been involved with managing and advising on the project from the beginning. The Spa + Haman is now open, and the hotel will open in June. This will be the most luxurious boutique hotel in the province and one of the top small hotels in South America.

And in spite of phenomenal growth property values remain well below the prices in other similar world-class areas around the world. In Bordeaux, France, the average price per planted hectare of vineyards is $642,000 USD. In Napa Valley it’s $296,000 USD. In Sonoma Valley it’s $259,000 USD. The two least expensive vineyard locations in the world are Costa Brava in Spain, and here in Mendoza, with an average value of $27,000 USD per hectare calculated by this recent study done by the Financial Times. And the study says that only Mendoza, and Valle Colchagua in Chile, of all the world’s top wine zones, have seen property values continue to increase. OK, so now I’ll throw in the numbers we actually see on the ground today in Mendoza. A top quality Malbec vineyard costs of minimum of $45,000 USD per hectare, and many are selling in the $60,000 USD per hectare range. For sure, our prices in Mendoza, based on demand, are rising faster than most people think. And for those of you who might think a bubble is coming, remember, we have no debt. All these properties are paid for in cash.

Overall, the Argentine economy remains very strong, and now it has surpassed the pre-crisis levels of late 2008. The Central Bank reserves, thanks to strong export taxes, are at record levels, again exceeding $50 billion USD. The U.S. and Western Europe should be so lucky as to have the debt to reserve ratio of Argentina. And on the downside, the roaring economy is creating significant inflation, that most people believe will inevitably lead to another devaluation in the AR peso. I would have to agree. Sometime in the next year or so, the AR peso is in for a more significant adjustment than we’ve seen this past year when it climbed from 3.5 or so to over 4 to 1 against the USD.

Mendoza exports are also booming, being led by the wine industry. Exports are up over 55% from 2010, and that is mostly explained by exports to China. Since opening a wine promotion office in the trade zone in Shanghai, sales to the Chinese have exploded, and this is only the beginning.

A few new property offerings in Valle de Uco (we have many more, just ask):

 

Mendoza, Argentina – April 18, 2011
By Stephen Vletas 

ECONOMY CONTINUES ON A ROLL WITH NEW CAR SALES – VALLE DE UCO, IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER  – BRAZIL INVESTING HEAVILY IN MENDOZA. 

The first three months of 2011 provided another record for new car sales in Mendoza, up 27% from last year’s record pace. With everyone worried about inflation, people are buying new cars (and real estate), to protect their assets. Sound crazy? Well, here’s the reason…in the U.S., for example, when you buy a new car, it instantly depreciates in value. In Argentina, when you buy a new car in APPRECIATES. No kidding. I recently sold a five year old Hyundai Terracan with 130,000 kilometers, for $1,000 USD more than I paid originally! They paid me to drive that car for five years. What a country! 

Bodega Atamisque is set on one of the most spectacular properties in Valle de Uco, just outside Tupungato. The property covers over 600 hectares and includes vineyards, fruit orchards, a fish hatchery, the winery, Rincon Atamisque restaurant, plus owner, John Du Monceau’s beautiful home that includes an infinity swimming pool and is set against his 9 hole golf course. It’s something to see. And now Du Monceau is breaking ground on an ultra luxury boutique hotel. The first phase of the project will have five bungalows, and each bungalow will contain two grand suites. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2012. Just one more example of how things are moving in Valle de Uco. Value is being added all over the area. If you like fresh trout, the restaurant, open to the public, serves the best trout in Argentina. Try it with the Atamisque Chardonnay. Delicious. 

Another example: Grupo Cioffi is constructing a 170 room first-class hotel and restaurant near Tupungato, something that is badly needed. The hotel is set on 50 hectares; 20 planted with vineyards, and of course, the views of the Andes are stunning. Cioffi is the hottest construction company in Mendoza, growing like crazy, with 14 new buildings under its umbrella in the past 5 years, including 4 other hotels, 4 restaurants, and two of the premier office buildings in downtown Mendoza. I had dinner recently with Adolfo Cioffi, the company’s founder and owner, and it’s clear that Cioffi doesn’t do anything unless he knows he’ll make money. That’s why his biggest bet so far is placed on Valle de Uco. You can place your bets also by taking advantage of the vineyard properties we offer in Tierra Mansa, our private vineyard estate community, or in other stand alone properties we offer through our real estate company. Click Here to see updated photos of TM and surrounding neighbors. 

Brazil is making its move on Argentina, and they’ve chosen Mendoza to set up shop. The government of Brazil wants to improve trade with the wine industry of Mendoza, plus they realize that foreigners from all over the world are visiting Mendoza to do business, buy property, and set up other businesses. These Brazilians don’t miss a trick. In our private label winemaking business—our brands are La Morocha and Ojos Negros—Brazil is our number one market, and we’ve barely scratched the surface. Private label winemaking is just one of the areas we work in with ourProject Development and Management service expertise. We also specialize in hotel and resort development, and in vineyard and winery management. Email Stephen for details of our services.

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Mendoza, Argentina – March 22, 2011
By Stephen Vletas 

A CRAZY YEAR FOR WEATHER – TIERRA MANSA UNSCATHED - VENDIMIA ROCKED AND MISS GODOY CRUZ IS QUEEN – IS THIS AN ELECTION YEAR?

Ok, so we live here in a wonderful dry climate, surrounded by dessert, nothing but sunshine (and wine of course)….so how could it rain for almost two straight weeks? That’s what it did before Vendimia, the grand harvest celebration. Then it seemed that we returned to normal for Vendimia week, March 1-6 (but it rained some at night). Then Vendimia ends and we have more rain. And we had hail in places we never have hail. And then more rain, until last week.

Now we’re back to “normal”, so that’s beautiful sunny days, cloudless blue skies, swimming pool weather, kicking back and catching rays and eating an asado. But the cost has been high. Many of the highest quality vineyards were damaged earlier in the year by a freak late frost, then by too much rain, and by hail. But Argentines, if nothing else, are resilient. The harvest is now in full swing, and due to many new vineyards that are coming into full production this year, our overall grape production should be slightly up. It will be a year, however, to pay attention to special vintages down the road, and to pay attention to which vineyards they come from. 2011 won’t be a banner year for our wines, the first time that has happened since 2001. Well, one so-so year in ten is not much to complain about, and there will be plenty of gems coming out of 2011, you’ll just have to look a little harder. Or ask us!

When we set out to find an ideal property in Valle de Uco to create a special place for ourselves, and for our clients, we considered only the premier wine zone, and within this zone we considered the risks of frost and hail. The risk for both are extremely low in Tierra Mansa, and this wild and wacky weather has proved it clearly. We had no damage from frost, and no damage from hail this year. Gracias a Dios, our young vineyards (the most vulnerable time) are in top shape and cruising toward our first harvest next year, then a full harvest the following year. See more information on our Tierra Mansa South project; a project dedicated to building luxury homes on 1.5 to 4 acre parcels of prime land planted with Malbec vineyards. For investors looking to produce significant rental income when not using their home, we will operate these homes like an upscale luxury hotel, complete with concierge and turnkey travel planning services. Click Here for TM highlight photos.

OK, so you want something available now instead of waiting for your home to be built? No problem: Check out this Unique Luxury Home surrounded by 3.5 hectares of Malbec vineyards located in Tierra Mansa North. This is a turnkey home, fully-furnished, ready to move in with all utilities and DirecTV. The Andes views are unparalleled. Imagine sitting on the expansive covered terrace overlooking your vineyards and sipping a fine wine from Valle de Uco. Click here for photos. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

The city was packed to the gills for the Vendimia Week Celebration. Thanks to all our clients who visited, and were able to share it with us. Click Here to see Vendimia Parade Photos (sorry, SV is no professional photographer, that’s for sure.)

And now a quick note on politics. Well, this is a presidential election year, so imagine the hype and media frenzy that would be going on if this was the United States, or France, or Germany, or England. Not here. In fact, our canny politicians play this game in reverse. None of them, including Queen Christina want to declare their candidacy. Christina is saying she’s not sure she’ll run, she’s analyzing the situation. Read that as her wanting her followers to beg her, please, please, run Christina. And the competition? There are some strong candidates, but the same. Nobody wants to be out in front of the issue. So here’s my question? Why is not one candidate making use of Twitter and other social media? If people can topple governments and create revolutions all over the Middle East at the risk of their lives, you’d think Argentine politicians could at least get a campaign together, and try to better their government. Pero no. Y bueno. Que vas a hacer? Let’s just all go have an asado. Why not?

If you would like to be on our Newsletter email list, you can sign up on the Home page of this web site.

We hope to see you here soon, in the land of sun and wine.

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Mendoza, Argentina – February 18, 2011
By Stephen Vletas 

TOURISM CONTINUES ON A TEAR – BRAND NEW LUXURY HOME FOR SALE IN VALLE DE UCO – FOCUS ON LAVALLE FOR THE BEST VALUE IN AGRICULTURAL PROPERTIES, INCLUDING TOP OLIVE FINCAS

Picture this. Any hotel with an occupancy rate of less than 80% is virtually impossible to find, and that’s during the week. On the weekend, hotels are full, hostels full, camping parks full, and now, there is more than a 60% increase in people who want to stay outside the city. Places like San Rafael and Malargue are seeing huge jumps in tourism numbers, and many visitors without reservations cannot find a vacant room. The same is true for mountain resort areas like Cacheuta and Uspallata. And out in the lush vineyard country of Valle de Uco, demand for higher end accommodations cannot be met.

This is the principle reason that we have started our Tierra Mansa South project; a project dedicated to building luxury homes on 1.5 to 4 acre parcels of prime land planted with Malbec vineyards. For investors looking to produce significant rental income when not using their home, we will operate these homes like an upscale luxury hotel, complete with concierge and turnkey travel planning services. It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful place. Just picture an expansive carpet of lush green vineyards nestled against the glacier-draped spine of the Andes Mountains, vast fruit orchards, sprawling fincas, and cozy communities, and you’ll get the idea of what Valle de Uco is all about. Then realize that Mendoza City and the international airport are less than an hour away on paved Route 40, and you’ll have an even better idea of why this unique place in the world is on the move as an internationally recognized wine capital, and one of the most desirable locations for investors, for those seeking a vacation home, or an alternative lifestyle. Click Here for TM highlight photos.

OK, so you want something available now instead of waiting for your home to be built? No problem: Check out this Unique Luxury Home surrounded by 3.5 hectares of Malbec vineyards located in Tierra Mansa North. This is a turnkey home, fully-furnished, ready to move in with all utilities and DirecTV. The Andes views are unparalleled. Imagine sitting on the expansive covered terrace overlooking your vineyards and sipping a fine wine from Valle de Uco. Click here for photos. Please email Stephen for details and pricing.

Well, in real estate it’s all about location, location, location. Now we say for top olives properties and agricultural values it’s Lavalle, Lavalle, Lavalle. We have olive and vineyard properties from 20 hectares (50 acres) to 400 hectares (1,000 acres) available in the prime areas of this sleepy rural community just 15 minutes north of the Mendoza City International Airport off National Route 40. Super values for properties from 20 to 75 hectares in the $165,000 USD to $400,000 USD range. These properties are increasing rapidly in value, and they can be managed by our on-site experts to produce significant cash flow. For more information please email Stephen.

Now back to tourism, and the upcoming Vendimia Celebration. Wow, things are really revving up, and the city is packed. If you don’t have a reservation now, you’ll have to be very lucky to find a place to stay. We want to thank all of you who signed up for our  Special Invitation Vendimia Celebration combined with Real Estate and Wine Tour March 1-5, 2011. This event is SOLD OUT! We look forward to seeing all of you here soon. For those of you who missed out, we have ongoing Real Estate and Wine Tours throughout the year. Click here for more details, or email Stephen. For groups of 6 or more, you can choose your dates and we’ll customize the tour to meet you needs.

If you would like to be on our Newsletter email list, you can sign up on the Home page of this web site.

We hope to see you here soon, in the land of sun and wine.

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Mendoza, Argentina – January 25, 2011
By Stephen Vletas 

VALLE DE UCO ON THE MOVE – TOURISM BOOMING – INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful place. Just picture an expansive carpet of lush green vineyards nestled against the glacier-draped spine of the Andes Mountains, vast fruit orchards, sprawling fincas, and cozy communities, and you’ll get the idea of what Valle de Uco is all about. Then realize that Mendoza City and the international airport are less than an hour away on paved Route 40, and you’ll have an even better idea of why this unique place in the world is on the move as an internationally recognized wine capital, and one of the most desirable locations for investors, for those seeking a vacation home, or an alternative lifestyle. One of the best investment and lifestyle opportunities is available in our Tierra Mansa private vineyard estate project in the heart of Valle de Uco. For more information please email Stephen.

As we’ve reported previously, the final 4-lane double highway section connecting Valle de Uco to Mendoza City is well under way, with completion scheduled for later this year. Now, Edemsa, the principle provider of electricity in the province, has launched a $4.5 million pesos grid upgrade project to more than double the electricity output from Tupungato to Tunuyan, a wide area of Valle de Uco that includes Tierra Mansa. The upgrade has been urged and is supported by the local governments who recognize the need for additional electrical capacity to meet the demands of fast-paced growth in the area. Further, Vialidad, the province’s highway and road department, has launched another series of road and street improvements that include works around Tupungato, Valle de Uco’s version of Sun Valley, Idaho circa 1960.

Part of the infrastructure work is due to the fact that we are now in a presidential election year, and part due to the fact that Mendoza received over 2 million foreign tourists in 2010, and that amount is expected to grow more than 20% in 2011. Many of the Valle de Uco wineries have responded to increasing tourism by adding additional services and offering special lunch menus. If you are interested in visiting the best wineries in Valle de Uco, we can arrange your customized visits including private car and driver. Please contact Lujan for all the details and options.

Another reason for the tourism growth is that it’s now much easier to travel to Mendoza! Mendoza International Airport continues to add direct flights to new destinations. TACA airlines has opened a counter at the airport and they offer three flights a week to Lima and Cusco, Peru. For those visiting Machu Pichu and other destinations in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, you can now fly direct. Mendoza airport also offers direct flights to Cordoba, Bariloche, Salta, and Iguazu Falls, to go along with 3 daily flights to Santiago, Chile, and 8 daily flights to Buenos Aires. If you need any assistance with travel planning, please contact Stephen. We offer complete travel planning services, everything from airline reservations, to hotels, to private wine tours. We also offer multi-country South American travel planning. For this service please contact Kim Vletas at Aspen Travel.

And even the national government is getting in on the infrastructure kick, allowing YPF, the largest oil company operating in Argentina, to explore for oil and gas in the Malvinas. This is a major move for the Cristina K government, and part of the lightening up since the death of Nestor Kirschner. Argentina has vast reserves of oil and gas that are untouched due to overzealous government control. If the government really decided to allow foreign oil companies to explore, Argentina could move up to the level of Brazil as a resource powerhouse in a relatively short period of time. Veremos.

Special Invitation: Join us for the Vendimia Celebration combined with Real Estate and Wine Tour March 1-5, 2011. This week is booking up fast, so please get in touch with us soon to book this Special Harvest Celebration tour. Or if you just want to visit and experience the Harvest Festival, you need to make reservations now as the city is close to being sold out. If you need help with travel planning, drop us an email. info@southerncrossland.com;  stephen@southerncrossland.com

If you would like to be on our Newsletter email list, you can sign up on the Home page of this web site.

We hope to see you here soon, in the land of sun and wine.

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Mendoza, Argentina - November 8, 2010
By Stephen Vletas 

CONGRATULATIONS ENTRE CIELOS – THE OPENING OF THE FIRST HAMAM/SPA IN ARGENTINA.

On Thursday November 4, Entre Cielos—a unique boutique hotel, Hamam/Spa, and vineyards project—previewed the first Hamam/Spa in Argentina. The Hamam, with an Asian and Turkish flare, offers a special circuit of 10 treatments over the course of an hour to relax your mind and spirit and enhance your health. Traditional massages, Tai massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, and other beauty treatments are available as well. For more details, and to see the Hamam routine, visit the Entre Cielos web site.

Last Thursday evening the Hamam was unveiled to a gathering of invited guests and media with a cocktail party that featured Entre Cielos private label Malbec Rose, fine champagne, tapas, live music, and the grand opening presentation of the Hamam complete with Arabian dancers, complimentary foot massages, and a facility tour. It was also a chance for the architects from A4 Estudio to show off their designs, and for the entire construction team, lead by SanCo S.A., to relax for a minute with part of the job complete.

Now off we go to complete the hotel and restaurant, the commercial spaces, and additional landscaping. The hotel is scheduled to open at the end of February, beginning of March 2011. That is when we will really have a serious party. We’ll keep you updated so you can be among the first to book a reservation at this very special place.

Southern Cross Land Project Development and Management – As the overall project managers, it has been a rewarding process to see the project go from an abandoned piece of land set against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains, to where it is today—on the way to becoming one of the most desirable boutique hotels in South America.

We are currently working on our November newsletter, “Notes from the Field.” Should have it out to our email list next week.

If you would like to be on our Newsletter email list, you can sign up on the Home page of this web site.

Mendoza, Argentina - October 28, 2010
By Stephen Vletas 

THE CENSUS – THE DEATH OF NESTOR KIRCHNER – TIME TO BUY AGRICULTURAL LAND

Yesterday was supposed to be a simple holiday where everyone was obliged to stay home and be counted in the new national census, but it turned into a national day of mourning as ex-president Nestor Kirchner died of a heart attack. Kirchner was at his home near El Calafate to be counted himself, and was there with his wife, Cristina, the current president, when he was struck with this latest heart attack. He was rushed to the hospital, but could not be saved.

Kirchner has had a series of health and heart problems, with the last attack only this past September. Three days of official mourning have been declared by Cristina. Condolences to the family, and to all those who cared about him. RIP Mr. Kirchner.

In the short term, we don’t expect anything to change. What Mr. Kirchner’s loss means politically is a loss of power for his allies, and more, a loss of power for Cristina. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the 2011 presidential elections (November 2011). It was expected that Mr. Kirchner would be the candidate for president in 2011. No doubt many candidates will emerge, but that will be after these days of mourning. Veremos.

If you are a tourist traveling in Argentina the next few days, you can expect the government to be shut down, most schools closed, and many public services (like buses) might be suspended. Banks might be closed too. Plan accordingly.

On the business front, there has never been a better time to buy agricultural land in Argentina, especially if you invest in the up and coming areas like Lavalle, San Martin, Rivadavia and San Juan. These are prime areas for growing olives, grapes, walnuts and other cash producing crops like garlic, plus manufacturing mosto from the grape fermentation process. We have many listings in these areas for undervalued properties, and properties in production with positive cash flow and room to expand. We expect appreciation in these areas to be significant in the coming years, and demand for these crops to increase dramatically as the emerging world demands more food production. Contact Stephen for more information.

We are currently working on our November newsletter, “Notes from the Field.” Should have it out to our email list next week.

If you would like to be on our Newsletter and update email list, you can sign up on the Home page of this web site.

Mendoza, Argentina - October 18, 2010
By Stephen Vletas 

TIRED OF RECESSION TALK, POLITICAL GRIDLOCK, GLOOM AND DOOM? TRAVEL TO ARGENTINA. IT’S ALL GOOD HERE!

As winter approaches in North America, here in Argentina we are in full on spring with summer in plain sight. Walking down the Peatonal (Pedestrian walkway) in Mendoza City under a canopy of lush green trees, the fresh air is invigorating. The sidewalk cafes are full of people chatting, drinking coffee, and enjoying our Palm Springs like weather pretty much year round. You can literally feel the enthusiasm blossoming with the spring flowers.

The city is bustling with activity; new businesses and restaurants opening; new apartment buildings ready for sale or rent; and out in Valle de Uco, the prime wine country, I’ve never seen such activity in my seven years of living here. Thousands of hectares are being planted with new vineyards, wineries are adding capacity, new hotel projects are underway, and the first deluxe homes are being built in our Tierra Mansa project with more on the way.

The people of Valle de Uco are super friendly to begin with, and have always welcomed foreigners, but I have to say I’ve never seen them more ambitious and thoughtful in their thinking about welcoming foreign investment, and making those of us who live here feel completely at home. The towns of Tunuyan and Tupungato are booming, I mean just busting out in every area with new banks, hardware stores, food markets, and infrastructure projects. When you are out on the streets in the afternoon (for us that’s from 5 pm until 8 or 9 pm) it’s just pure fun to see how much the people are enjoying themselves and their thriving economy.

Route 40, the main highway from Mendoza City to Valle de Uco, is a four lane gem for about 60% of the way, and another 30% is under construction now. While a one-way trip from the city to Tunuyan only takes about 45 minutes, another 10 minutes or so will be cut when the new stretch is complete in a couple of months. But really, once you are in Valle de Uco, why leave?.

And now we make it easier than ever to visit us. Please check out our Real Estate and Wine Tours, plus we can arrange all your travel to Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, everything from airline tickets to the best hotel recommendations, to the best inside secrets on things to do and see. Email us with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you here soon in the Land of Sun and Wine.

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Mendoza, Argentina – October 12, 2010
By Stephen Vletas 

Asado, relax in Tierra Mansa's new quincho

We’re all back at work after a relaxing long weekend and looking forward to the vineyard planting season in Valle de Uco, the home to our Tierra Mansa project. We invite you for a visit, and to our second annual TM Asado in our new quincho on November 6. For more information please email Lujan. 

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY IN THE WORLD-RENOWNED WINE COUNTRY OF MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

TIERRA MANSA - A Private Vineyard Community at the foot of the Andes – In Harmony with Nature.

Tierra Mansa South

Significant Rental Income on your home

. 10% returns in the first year of rental. This is possible when you have a high demand and ZERO supply. There are Zero deluxe homes for rent, or for sale, in Valle de Uco, the heart of Mendoza’s booming wine tourism industry. Luxury villa homes, ready to build, range in size from 150 m2 (1,635 square feet) to 250 m2 (2,725 square feet). We have six model homes to choose from, 3 single story, and 3 two-story. These homes can also be customized to fit your needs, or we can design your home from scratch. 

Limited Time Offer: Pricing starts at $199,500 USD: This includes your lot, vineyard, AND luxury villa home

 (150 square meters/1,635 square feet). Larger home options are available. You will not find this level of value pricing in any top quality vineyard or mountain retreat community anywhere else in the world. ONLY AVAILABLE for the next three lots sold, then prices are going up. 

Payment terms with 0% interest: Because we own Tierra Mansa outright we can offer interest free financing with no bank hassles or bank charges. 

Lot sizes range from approximately 1.25 acres to 3 acres. Each lot includes your private vineyard, luxury villa home, private label winemaking options, and use of the club facilities (clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis court, and park). 

We hope to see you here soon in the Land of Sun and Wine. 

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Mendoza, Argentina – October 8, 2010
By Stephen Vletas 

Hello, and Welcome to the Land of Sun and Wine. 

The vineyards are sprouting green and we are looking at perfect swimming pool sun tanning weather for the long weekend with temperatures around 80 F. Lots of asados are in the works, and of course plenty of vino tinto. We invite you to come visit us and to partake in the carefree Mendocino lifestyle. And now we make a visit easier than ever with our Real Estate and Wine Tours. 

World Economic Crisis? Forget that in South America: Argentina is on pace to grow GDP in 2010 at 9% or better; Brazil close to 8%; Paraguay and Uruguay about 7%. These four charter members of the MercoSur along with Chile (4.5% growth) are offering world-class business opportunities, and worldwide investors are arriving in significant numbers to capitalize. 

Real estate sales in Mendoza have exploded in the past two months, which is not normal for our usually “slow” winter season. This has been true across the board: for rural and vineyard properties, for raw land investment opportunities, and for upscale homes and apartments in the city. We have no concrete explanation for this other than this is a wonderful place to visit, live, and invest, and people are not happy where they are. 

Infrastructure Improvements: Route 40, the main highway from Mendoza City to Valle de Uco is being expanded again. Another 40 kilometers of 4-lane double highway is being added to connect to Zapata. This will put driving time to just over 30 minutes (down from 1.5 hours in 2003). As all real estate investors know, infrastructure improvements of this nature increase property values, and Valle de Uco is already booming. 

And the TRAIN is coming, connecting Mendoza to Santiago, Chile via a spectacular Andes passage. More soon. 

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