The Argentine wine route reaches much further south than Mendoza. The province of Neuquén, more precisely the area of San Patricio del Chañar, has one of the most distinctive terroirs in our country where, due to its latitude, climate and soil, wines of the highest quality are obtained. There are five wineries that make up its wine path, all close to Route 7, and the last week of April they celebrated their 2022 harvest with recitals and feasts. A great destination to consider for wine and travel lovers.
Gastronomy accompanies good wine. Saurus, the restaurant at Familia Schoeder winery, got its name because it was built on a dinosaur. Or almost. When they began to dig for their building, they found the remains of a sauropod, later baptized Panamericansaurus Schroederi, which inspired the name Saurus for the first wines from this family business.
And also the name of your restaurant.
In charge of the fires, since its opening, is the chef Ezequiel González, who proposes a menu that makes the most of local products. Apples, pears, strawberries and cherries (the most incredible he has ever tasted) are literally within reach, and are part of the kitchen dishes providing a good counterpoint of sweetness and acidity. The apples accompany a humita croquette with goat cheese mist; strawberries are the perfect complement to a beet carpaccio with yogurt with merken; a pear foam adds its touch to a lamb roll; and trout, from nearby lakes, strut their stuff with local vegetables and herbs. The seasons pass, the products change and with them the menu, always careful.
The first thing is a visit to the winery, where you can tour the champagnera and the Cava del Dinosaurio. The tasting includes not so popular (and delicious!) varieties such as Pinot Noir and Merlot, which find the best climatic conditions in the area. As a perfect pairing, the cheeses of Mauricio Couly, the master behind the Ventimiglia cheese factory, who makes magic with the milk of Patagonian sheep.
