“ I think that if travelers choose well where they go, they will always find rooted experiences and really personal experiences, because most of the wine world is like that. Wine is all about people, family, and stories. There's so much diversity with local producers. It's amazing because I promote many of my colleagues—I go to their places, they come to mine, I send my guests, I pick their wines for my wine list—and everyone has a story to tell.”

We’re in great company with Ana Lovaglio Balbo, Co-Founder of Susana Balbo Unique Stays, and the daughter of one of Argentina's most iconic winemaking legends—who has woven her family's four decades of passion for wine, art, and terroir into Susana Balbo Winemaker's House & Spa Suites—a hidden oasis in the vineyards of Mendoza, where luxury hospitality and winemaking heritage are inseparable.

From the vine to the suite, Ana has spent her career turning a winemaking legacy into a living, breathing hospitality experience—and she's only just getting started.

As Ana uncorks the story behind her family's remarkable journey, this conversation is a reminder that the most memorable hospitality is never about the accolades—it's about the people, the place, and the passion behind every pour.

Top Takeaways

[2:10] Growing up between the vineyard rows and the wine cellar, Ana's childhood was shaped not just by the land—but by the world that came to visit them.

[5:45] Hospitality came naturally to Ana—but it started, as so many good things do, with nourishing food and a table set for strangers.

[8:50] What does it look like when you lock down two visionary women with too much energy and not enough to do—and what happens to a city when they finally open the doors?

[14:45] Ana doesn't want you to feel at home — she wants you to feel like a welcomed guest in hers, guided through Mendoza by a local friend you didn't know you needed.

[17:30] A black door. A hidden garden. And the faint feeling that you've somehow slipped out of the world entirely—without ever leaving the city.

[20:45] Seven suites. Seven elements. One vine-rooted symbol—“el Árbol de la Vida”—where “vid”, the Spanish word for vine, breathes life into every corner of the experience, and quietly invites every guest to reflect on their own story while immersed in Ana’s.

[24:25] For Ana, two MICHELIN Keys, membership in Relais & Châteaux and the Virtuoso network, and a Silver Eco Label for sustainability were never the goal—they were simply what happens when you stop chasing accolades and start chasing excellence.

[27:50] At La Vida, expect to have your assumptions about Argentina gently, elegantly overturned — one white wine pairing at a time.

[31:30] From winemaking legends to the next generation of female talent, Ana's Winemaking Expeditions are a window into an Argentina most travelers never get to see.

[35:35] From concrete egg barrel bathtubs to grape seed scrubs, wellness at SB Winemaker's House & Spa Suites is less a spa menu and more a love letter to the vine.

[38:20] Waking up inside a high-altitude vineyard, face to face with the Andes—the Mountain Lodge in Valle de Uco is Ana's next chapter, and it's only just beginning.

Notable Mentions

Osadía de Crear & Espacio Crios

“Tila” herbal tea made from lime tree blossoms

Susana Balbo Limited Edition Blanco de Gualtallary

“ Medialunas” Argentinian croissant

Visit For Yourself

Susana Balbo Unique Stays Website | @susanabalbouniquestays

Susana Balbo Wines Website | @susanabalbowines