13. Santa Julia Malbec 2008

Busing around Argentina puts Greyhound to shame. The bus terminals are reminiscent of airports with their full-service cafes, general lack of vagrants, and high level of cleanliness. As for the buses, riding is a revelation from the air conditioned waiting rooms to the seats that recline fully into a bed for overnight travel to the demi-bottles of wine served on board with dinner. With the imminent collapse of the airline industry in the United States, we entreat bus companies to follow Argentina’s lead. If a bus is comfortable and clean, it is a pleasant mode of transportation. The largest variation we’ve found between bus companies in Argentina tends to be the cups. We’ve had Styrofoam (Via Bariloche), plastic (Andesmar), and actual glassware (Rio Uruguay). The glassware significantly increases the enjoyment of the free wine, and it’s worth seeking out.