The Mendoza province and its eponymous capital is Argentina 's wine growing region . In the shadow of the Andes , and South America 's highest peak - Aconcagua - the manmade irrigation channels have turned the arid central plain into an agricultural oasis.
The city of Mendoza itself sits at the centre of a spider's web of irrigation. It is a lively city and nearly 500 years old, but is characterised by the wineries that surround it rather than anything intrinsically beautiful in itself. These vineyards are the central figures in the Argentinian wine industry and many of them offer tours and tastings.
Head for the lower slopes of the Andes in winter for the region's other main draw - skiing . Ski centres such as Las Leñas and Los Penitentes attract winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world to their pistes.
