South America's Napa.(travel to Argentina's premiere wine district, Mendoza)

Byline: Brian Byrnes

Every time I visit the vineyards of Mendoza--a two-hour flight from my home in Buenos Aires--I end up spending hours chatting with the winery owners. It's not that these guys aren't busy. Argentina is the world's fifth-largest wine producer, and exports have tripled over the last decade; 70 percent of the country's wine comes out of Mendoza. But the vintners always make time for a quick hello or--

better yet--an impromptu barrel tasting. I've sipped a Malbec-Cabernet-Merlot blend with the gregarious Walter Bressia in the cluttered cellar of his eponymous winery and chatted with Jose Manuel Ortega of O. Fournier over Frisbee-size rib-eye steaks prepared by his lovely wife, Nadia. And I have to be honest: these experiences make me like their wines that much more.

I am convinced it is this personal attention--and the breathtaking views of the surrounding snowcapped Andes--that has made Mendoza the world's hottest wine destination, 2008's "Wine Region of the Year," according to Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Now Argentina's wine industry is beginning to recognize its tourism potential. Investors are shelling out millions for modern tasting rooms, bucolic boutique hotels, world-class restaurants and outdoor activities like skiing, paragliding and whitewater rafting. And the Southern hemisphere summer--from January to March--is the ideal time to visit.

Leafy Mendoza city is the best place to start. The white-pillared Park Hyatt is the first choice for classy accommodations downtown. The casino next door offers diversions, and for a nightcap, the brand-new Vines Wine Bar sells 100 top Argentine vintages by the glass or bottle. A sleek Sheraton Hotel just opened nearby, and is looking to steal some of the Hyatt's clientele with 17th-floor views of the Andes.

Outside the city of Mendoza, Cavas Wine Lodge consists of luxurious adobe cabanas nestled among the vines and towering trees. The attentive staff can arrange private tastings with a sommelier, as well as cooking classes and horseback-riding excursions. The restaurant serves local delicacies with a twist, like smoked trout with a cheese-and-blueberry mousse. Guests seeking a little romance can light a fire on the balcony outside each room, uncork a bottle of a local Viognier white and watch the sun disappear behind the mountains.