My original intention was to use several different wine tour companies in order to compare them for an article I was writing. But after our fabulous experience with Ampora, we immediately booked on for a second tour day and all thoughts of other tour companies were abandoned.

Ampora's tour guides, Maria and Connie, were exceptionally well-informed about the wine-making industry. Both had previously worked for vineyards. They were obviously passionate about sharing their knowledge with others, but were able to bring information to life in a relaxed and unassuming way that made you forget you were actually learning. These intimate wine tours far surpassed anything I've experienced in California wine country.

Lunches on the tours were set at the base of the Andes in breath-taking vineyard restaurants. We were served 5 star, 4 course meals paired with local wines.

We visited an eclectic combination of wineries ranging from very modern, more commercial-like facilities to tiny owner-operated facilities where we tasted wine directly from the storage tanks. All wineries were extremely candid in sharing their wine-making philosophies. Additionally, they did a fabulous job of complimenting each other's information, recognizing that we were part of a tour visiting several wineries that day.

Everything from transportation to arranging the tour, to even paying for it in a combination of U.S. dollars, credit cards, and Argentinian pesos could not have been made easier for us. Ampora is truly a high-end, customer service oriented company that wildly surpassed my expectations in touring us through some of the most beautiful wineries in the Mendoza area. I can't recommend them enough!