For wine enthusiasts looking for the ultimate wine getaway that combines awe-inspiring landscapes with world-renowned wines, Mendoza is absolutely that place you’re looking for. Home to some of Argentina’s most prized varietals, such as Malbec and Torrontés, this region is a treasure trove of viticultural delights waiting to be explored.
From the beautiful Mendoza vineyards, to hidden gem wineries with exclusive tastings, to amazing local cuisine paired with award-winning wines, Mendoza promises unforgettable experiences and it delivers big time. It’s a fantastic destination for wine tasting, with world-class wines, breathtaking views and excellent wine tourism options.
Mendoza is comprised of three major wine producing areas that make up the typical wine route: the Uco Valley, Maipu, and Lujan de Cuyo. Each of these growing areas produces slightly different varietals and has a unique feel that sets it apart from the others.
The best way to see the entire region at your own pace is to visit one wine region per day with a tour guide and driver (this may be expensive, but is necessary). Have them set up visits to three wineries per day with a wine-paired lunch each day. This is the way we planned our trip and it was perfect.
We also suggest you visit a good mix of modern, large commercial and family-owned wineries, so you can see the vast array of wineries and styles in the region. If you go in the harvest season, you might even see them making wine.
>> Learn more about the Mendoza Wine Region and where to stay when you’re there.
Key Takeaways
- If you want to experience Mendoza’s wine country at its most vibrant and witness the harvest process, the autumn months of March to May are typically ideal.
- It’s best to hire a local guide to book appointments and do the driving. We recommend Damian with Borravino (mention Savored Journeys for a bonus winery!).
- The best way to enjoy the wine and food is to do a wine-paired lunch at the wineries! Ask Damian to set them up for you.
Plan a Mendoza Wine Tour
If you’d rather not plan your own Mendoza Argentina wine tour, you should rely on the expertise of a guide and driver. We hired a private guide who planned out the stops and the route for us, with our input on the wineries we wanted to visit. It’s a great way to go, so you don’t have to worry about any of the details.
- First of all, the roads are not well marked and it can be very difficult to find your way around to the wineries and they all have very tight security with guards.
- Secondly, if you don’t speak Spanish well, you may run into issues getting into the wineries. It’s best to hire a driver. Or better yet, hire a tour guide and get all their expertise and knowledge!
Book a Tour With Borravino
I recommend booking a wine tour with a reputable company, like Borravino. The tour guide, Damian, was born and raised in Mendoza and has a deep knowledge of the wine regions. On his tours, you’ll meet passionate winemakers, explore boutique wineries, and savor the region’s best wine and food.
When you work with Damian, you can decide where to go or have him take care of all the details for you – transportation, appointments, and everything. Book a one-day tour or go all out and have him plan a magical tour of Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Chile’s wine regions, and Uruguay’s wine regions – it’s entirely up to you. I personally recommend booking at least 3 days – one in each area of Mendoza.
If you do contact Damian, please let him know that I referred you or use coupon code SJWINE on his website checkout page. Doing this will earn you free perks like visiting an extra winery or olive mill (for a 1-day tour) or free transfers from airport to hotel (for a 3-day tour).
*We’ve partnered with Borravino to give you a great wine tour option that we know and trust. If you book with them, we will receive a small commission.
Borravino Wine Tour Options
1-Day Wine Tour to Any Mendoza Wine Region
Visit three wineries and have a wine-paired lunch at the third.
Price per person: $175 USD for Lujan or Maipu; $215 USD for Uco Valley (all inclusive). There is a 10% discount for groups of 4 to 8 people. Larger groups should discuss the price with Damian. BOOK HERE (Use coupon code SJWINE for a FREE extra winery visit).
3-Day Mendoza Experience Private Wine Tour (Lujan de Cuyo, Maipu & Uco Valley)
Visit all 3 of Mendoza’s well-known wine regions: Lujan de Cuyo, Maipu, and Uco Valley. Each day you’ll visit 3 wineries (a mix of old and new, big and small), with a wine paired lunch at one of the wineries.
Price per person: $565 USD (all inclusive). BOOK HERE (use coupon code SJWINE for a FREE extra winery visit).
7-day Local Immersion in Argentina’s Hidden Gems (Buenos Aires & Mendoza)
Spend 2 nights/3days in Buenos Aires and 4 nights/5 days in Mendoza. Transfers, hotels, dinners are included. Discover the city, neighborhoods, and iconic landmarks. Then transfer to Mendoza for a personalized wine tour of the three regions of Mendoza, paired with traditional Argentine cuisine. Price includes accommodation for couples, all private transportation, all activities, wine tours, city tours, lunches, and wine tasting.
Price per person: $1848 USD. BOOK HERE (use coupon code SJWINE for a FREE welcome dinner)
Borravino Customer Review
“Each of our experiences planned by Damian were perfect – great wine, great views, friendly people! We had a wonderful time in Mendoza and Uruguay and cannot recommend this experience enough! 🙂 By Caitlyn Miller on Apr 20, 2022.”
Check out the offerings here and be sure to tell Damian that Savored Journeys sent you.
Where to Go Wine Tasting in Mendoza
For your wine tasting pleasure, we have put together a list of 11+ must-visit Mendoza wineries. Of course, there are hundreds more wineries you could enjoy in the area – from large producers to small family-run wineries. These are just a few of our favorites, broken up by region.
Region: Lujan de Cuyo
Luján de Cuyo is a well-renowned wine region situated at the foothills of the Andes mountains in Mendoza, about 40 minutes south of the city. This region is considered to be where wine began in Mendoza. Its elevation, at an average of 3,000 feet above sea level, makes its terroir very unique.
Luján de Cuyo was also the first region to institute the AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlée) for Malbec in 1993, which greatly advanced the wine industry in Mendoza.
⇒ Book a private tour to the Lujan de Cuyo wine region (use code SJWINE and receive a free tasting)
Archaval Ferrer
Started by a group of friends in 1998, Archaval Ferrer is committed to producing small quantities of fine red wine. It’s a small working winery and you’ll witness that firsthand as you tour the internal workings of the winery, walking directly through areas that are integral to their production process. At the end of the tour, you’ll stop for a barrel tasting in the cellar.
Winery Address: Calle Cobos 2601, Pedriel (5509), Mendoza, Argentina
Tel.: 54 9 0261-155535565
Reservations: online form
Bodega Ruca Malen
Note: Temporarily closed for renovations
Ruca Malen is a certified organic winery since 2020, located in Agrelo, the foremost wine region of Mendoza where high-end wines are made. When we visited, we went on a journey through the winemaking process to see how modern techniques have been implemented. If you’re lucky, you arrived here at lunch time to indulge in the highly creative five-course menu with wine pairings that’s served in a sunny solarium with a unequaled view of the vineyards and surrounding mountains.
Winery address: Ruta nacional 7 km 1059, Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina.
Tel.: (+54 261) 413 8909
Reservations: mendoza@bodegarucamalen.com
Vistalba
Bodega Vistalba is unique in that the winery was designed so that the whole winemaking process takes place using gravity, without the use of pumps. The tasting room is also underground. A tasting reservation includes a tour of the winery and vineyards, along with a tasting of 4 reserve wines from their Vistalba, Tomero and Progenie collections. You can also book a tasting of 5 of their high-end wines.
If you’re looking for a unique experience, they do a wine blending and a blind tasting experience. They also serve a tasting menu for lunch at their restaurant La Bourgogne, open from Tuesday to Sunday, and they have a wine bar.
⇒ If you’re interested in visiting the wineries on a bike tour, sign up for this 6-hour bicycle tour through the Luyan de Cuyo region, starting at Vistalba winery.
Winery address: Roque Saenz Pena 3531, Vistalba, Mendoza, Argentina
Tel.: 54 (261) 498 9400
Reservations: info@bodegacruzat.com or use the online form on the homepage
Clos de Chacras
This boutique winery is housed in an architecturally restored 1920s building that establishes the feeling of old world charm when you enter. A tour will take you through the working winery and end with a tasting of the different levels of wine they offer, served alongside a cheese plate. You can also enjoy lunch or dinner here, or just grab a glass while you enjoy the outdoor seating. Tours can be done Wednesday – Sunday and on holidays.
Winery address: Monte Líbano 1025 – Mendoza Province, Argentina
Tel.: 54 261 496 1285
Reservations: reservas@closdechacras.com.ar; www.closdechacras.com.ar
Bodega Norton
Bodega Norton is another top winery in Lujan de Cuyo. The winery has been producing wine since the late 1800s and is known for its high-quality Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Bodega Norton has five vineyards spread over the main terroirs of the province of Mendoza, at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, all of them within a privileged zone known as the First Zone for the quality of its grapes. The winery tour includes a visit to the vineyards, the winery, and a tasting of their signature wines.
Winery address: RP15 km 23, M5509 Perdriel, Mendoza, Argentina
Tel.: +54 9 261 372-8497
Reservations: Form on website
Region: Valle de Uco
Located the furthest away from the city, about a 75-minute drive, Valle de Uco is the newest wine region in the area and is also one of the highest-altitude wine regions in the world, having some of its vines planted 4,000 feet above sea level. It’s a longer journey to get there, but very rewarding, not only for the world-class wine, but the amazing views and incredible, modern architecture.
- Book a tour of 3 wineries of the Uco Valley with Borravino
Salentein
A masterpiece of modern architecture, Salentein is built in the shape of a cross as a symbol of the area’s religious roots and to increase production in the winery, both of which you’ll learn about on the tour.
There are no better views of mountains and vineyards to be found in all of Mendoza. It is just stunning here, and the winery fits right into the middle of the vineyards. It is located at 4,000 ft in elevation, which in combination with the terroir, gives a unique expression to the wines.
Along with the fantastic views from the property and the stunning cellar that can house up to 5,000 barrels, Salentein also houses a gallery with exclusive collections of Argentine art, and a restaurant where you can stay for a lovely 3-course lunch.
Winery address: Ruta Provincial 89, Los Árboles, Tunuyán
Tel.: 54-02622-429-500
Reservations: www.bodegasalentein.com
Andeluna Cellars
Andeluna Cellars winery and vineyards are situated along the Andes Mountains, over 4,200 feet above sea level. Tour the state-of-the-art facilities before enjoying a glass of wine at the tasting bar, or a special tasting of their Reserve, Limited Reserve and Grand Reserve wines in the wine cellar. They have a great restaurant that serves a 5-course meal paired with your preferred tier of wine.
Winery address: Ruta Provincial 89 s/n, Distrito de Gualtallary. Tupungato, Mendoza
Tel/Fax: +54 2622 423 226 ext. 13
Reservations: turismo@andeluna.com.ar
Domaine Bousquet
The main objective of Domaine Bousquet — a small, family-owned winery — is to combine the European winemaking style (the family hails from France) with the cool climate and terroir of the Uco Valley. During the tour, you’ll walk through the vineyards and visit the winery to learn the steps they employ to create such beautiful wines.
Then enjoy a tasting of all three lines of wine. Domaine Bousquet also has a lodge and cooking school for further exploration into the region. Gaia Restaurant serves a 4-course or 6-course lunch with wine pairings in the rustic and charming tasting room.
Winery address: Ruta 89 S/N Km 7, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina
Tel: +549 261 5320896
Reservations: turismo@domainebousquet.com
Region: Maipu
Maipu is the closest region to Mendoza city — a quick 15-minute drive — so if you’re short on time, this is the region to visit. The main varietals produced in Maipu are Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, and this area is home to some of the largest names in the industry.
The mostly flat vineyards are located at around 2,600 ft in elevation. The sunny days and cool nights make for perfect conditions in which to grow intense fruit that results in full-bodied wines with great structure and tannins.
⇒ Book a Borravino wine tour in Maipu with lunch
Trapiche
While the Trapiche brand has been around since 1883 – one of the pioneers in Mendoza wine making, the building they occupy has a much different story. The original owners of the building, which was built in the early 20th century, sold it in 1970 and it was abandoned soon after. Trapiche acquired it in 2006 aiming to rescue and restore its original structure.
They recycled the interior and incorporated the latest technology and equipment for the production of their high-end wines. A tour of the facility exudes the historical qualities that make it unique, including the glass floor in the tasting room that gives a view into the barrel room below.
Trapiche owns 1,255 hectares of vineyards. Their wine has won many awards, beginning with the first in 1889. It’s clear that they are a formidable competitor in this market, and because of that you probably recognize the label from home. Their wine is exported all over the world.
Winery address: Nueva Mayorga s/n street (M5522CHA), Coquimbito, Maipú
Reservations: Book a Tour on their website
Bodega Tapiz
The highlight of Tapiz is the horse-drawn carriage ride around the vineyards that is included in the tour. The vineyards are planted at 920 to 1,400 meters above sea level, and the abundant daytime sun and cooler nights create the perfect climate for production.
After the ride around the vines, you’re welcomed inside the winery where you’ll try samples straight from the fermentation vats and barrels.
Club Tapiz also has a hotel (Hotel Club Tapiz) and a restaurant that’s open daily from 7am to 11pm. They have an ala carte menu and a multi-course menu served with Tapiz wines. Be sure to book in advance.
Winery address: Ruta Provincial 15 km 32, Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina
Tel.: +54 261 496-3433
Reservations: http://www.bodega-tapiz.com.ar/
Familia Zuccardi
Familia Zuccardi is one of the most well-known wineries in Mendoza. In fact, it’s more than just a winery. In addition to wine, they also produce olive oil, offer daily tours and and tastings, host cooking classes. Sabastian Zuccardi, the 3rd-generation winemaker at Zuccardi has been recognized as one of the top 10 winemakers in Argentina.
They also have a restaurant, and you should definitely plan to stay for lunch! The wine is fantastic and the experience is enriching and fun.
Location:Ruta Prov 33 km 7,5 | Fray Luis Beltran, Maipu M5531, Argentina
Tel: +54-261-441000
Where to Eat in Mendoza
Downtown Mendoza
Mendoza is not only famous for its wines but also for its vibrant culinary scene that pairs excellently with the local wines. Remember to make reservations in advance if possible, as these places can get busy, especially during the tourist season. Enjoy the fantastic combination of Mendoza wines and Argentine cuisine!
Here are some of the best places to eat dinner in Mendoza for wine lovers:
- 1884 Restaurante Francis Mallmann – One of the most iconic restaurants in Mendoza, 1884 is owned by the famous Argentine chef Francis Mallmann. It is known for its open-flame cooking style and an excellent wine list. Address: Belgrano 1188, Godoy Cruz, Mendoza
- Maria Antonieta – A bistro-style restaurant, Maria Antonieta offers an array of dishes made from fresh, local ingredients. They also have a solid selection of wines, and the relaxed ambiance is perfect for a casual dinner. Address: Belgrano 1069, Mendoza
- Azafran – This restaurant is famed for its extensive wine list that features a broad selection from the Mendoza region. The cuisine is a combination of traditional Argentine with contemporary touches. Address: Sarmiento 765, Mendoza City
- Siete Cocinas – Siete Cocinas, meaning “seven kitchens”, is a reference to the seven different culinary regions of Argentina. The restaurant offers a diverse menu using seasonal ingredients and a fantastic selection of local wines. Address: Mitre 794, Mendoza City, Argentina
- Grill Q – Parrilla Argentina – For a classic Argentine asado (barbecue), Grill Q is a top choice. It offers a range of grilled meats and other Argentine delicacies, accompanied by an extensive wine list. Address: Chile 1124, Mendoza City, Argentina (inside the Park Hyatt Mendoza)
- La Lucia – This restaurant offers modern Argentine cuisine with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and creative dishes. It also features an extensive wine list. Address: Villanueva 899, Mendoza City, Argentina
Lujon de Cuyo Winery Lunches
- Achaval Ferrer Winery: This winery offers a unique wine lunch experience that includes a tour of the vineyards, wine tasting, and a delicious lunch paired with their signature wines.
- Bodega Norton: This winery offers a gourmet wine lunch experience that includes a tour of the winery, wine tasting, and a three-course lunch paired with their award-winning wines.
- Ruca Malen Winery: This winery offers a wine lunch experience that includes a tour of the vineyards, wine tasting, and a five-course lunch paired with their premium wines. The lunch is served in their beautiful restaurant with stunning views of the Andes mountains.
In Uco Valley
- Salentein Winery: This winery offers a wine lunch experience that includes a tour of the winery, wine tasting, and a three-course lunch paired with their signature wines. The lunch is served in their stunning restaurant overlooking the vineyards.
- Zuccardi Winery: This winery offers a unique wine lunch experience that includes a tour of the vineyards, wine tasting, and a four-course lunch paired with their premium wines. The lunch is served in their beautiful restaurant with panoramic views of the Andes mountains.
- Andeluna Cellars: This winery offers a wine lunch experience that includes a tour of the winery, wine tasting, and a three-course lunch paired with their award-winning wines. The lunch is served in their elegant restaurant with breathtaking views of the Uco Valley.
In Maipu
- Trapiche Winery: This winery offers a wine lunch experience that includes a tour of the winery, wine tasting, and a three-course lunch paired with their signature wines. The lunch is served in their beautiful restaurant with views of the vineyards.
- Familia Zuccardi Winery: This winery offers a wine lunch experience that includes a tour of the vineyards, wine tasting, and a four-course lunch paired with their premium wines. The lunch is served in their elegant restaurant with views of the Andes mountains.
- Tempus Alba Winery: This winery offers a wine lunch experience that includes a tour of the winery, wine tasting, and a three-course lunch paired with their award-winning wines. The lunch is served in their modern restaurant with stunning views of the vineyards.
- Casa de Campo: Not a winery, but Casa de Campo is a great spot for lunch. You’ll find it packed with locals and very little English being spoken by the staff. What you will get is an authentic Argentinean meal at a great price. Ask your driver to help you order if necessary, or just go with the tasting menu, which will give you a fairly large portion of a lot of their famous dishes.
Where to Stay in Mendoza
One of the best places to stay is right in the center of Mendoza city, where you don’t need a car to get around. You can walk to many great restaurants and bars. However, one of our favorite hotels is on the outskirts of town among Mendoza’s malbec vines, and I wouldn’t shy away from staying there either, if you like something more quiet.
Click here for a comprehensive overview of all our favorite places to stay in Mendoza.
- Park Hyatt Mendoza Book a stay on Expedia | Read reviews on Trip Advisor
- Entre Cielo – Book a stay on Expedia
- Villa Mansa Wine Hotel – Book a stay on Expedia
- Lares de Chacras – Book a stay on Expedia
- Finca Adalgisa – Book a stay on Expedia
I’m pretty convinced you’re going to love Mendoza. It’s such a beautiful place to visit, even if you don’t like wine, but if you do… you’ll be in heaven!
Best Mendoza Wine Tasting Tips
- Hire a Local Guide or Driver: The vineyards can be spread out, and local laws are strict about drinking and driving. Hire a local guide (mention Savored Journeys for a discount) or driver.
- Book Tours in Advance: Mendoza’s wineries can get busy. You’ll want to secure a spot by booking tours and tastings in advance. This ensures you get to visit the vineyards you’re interested in, without disappointment. Your guide can book these for you!
- Balance Your Tasting Day: You’ll find both large, commercial wineries and small, boutique producers in Mendoza. Mix and match your visits to get a well-rounded view of the region’s offerings.
- Pair with Local Cuisine: Don’t miss the opportunity to pair Mendoza’s wine with local Argentine cuisine. Many wineries offer lunch or dinner options.
- Ask Questions: The winemakers and guides in Mendoza are passionate about their craft. Engage with them, ask questions, and don’t be shy about seeking their insights.
- Dress for the Weather: Mendoza’s climate can vary, and the vineyards may require some walking. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear that’s suitable for the weather on the day of your tour.
When to Visit Mendoza for Wine
The best time to visit Mendoza for wine tasting largely depends on what you’re looking to experience. Here’s a quick guide:
- Spring (September to November): As the vineyards come to life with blossoming flowers and green leaves, the weather is pleasantly warm. This season allows you to witness the beginning of the growing cycle and offers beautiful scenic views.
- Summer (December to March): If you’re interested in seeing the vineyards in full bloom, summer is the time to visit. This is the peak of the tourist season, so expect more crowds. The weather can get hot, so plan your tastings accordingly.
- Autumn (March to May): This is considered one of the best times to visit Mendoza’s wine country. The weather is cooler, and the vineyards are awash with golden and red hues as the leaves change color. Harvest typically happens during this time, providing a unique insight into the winemaking process.
- Winter (June to August): If you prefer a quieter experience, winter might be for you. While the vineyards are dormant, and the landscape is more barren, the Andes Mountains are often snow-capped, offering a different kind of beauty. Some wineries may have limited hours, so check ahead.
Tours to Book
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Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.
What a great roundup! I went to Mendoza many, many years ago and visited a couple of the older wineries like Pascual Toso. I should go back now and visit the new ones.
I’d really like to get back to Mendoza myself. There are so many wineries, it would take years to visit them all!
Hi Laura,
This is an interesting list but a bit disappointing. I live in Buenos Aires and have been to Mendoza 10 times now and this list mostly represents the large wineries that are always talked about in all travel publications due to their large marketing budgets. All of these wineries have received money from foreigners and are generally not owned by Argentines. There are so many more interesting and beautiful wineries in Mendoza that are not mentioned here (Lagarde, Mendel, Zorzal, etc) that I would recommend visiting.
You’re very right, John. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of other great, small, family-run wineries in Mendoza that are highly recommended. This list represents only a very small portion of the great wineries in the area. You’re lucky to live so close and be able to check out so many of the others. I wish I’d had months to do more exploring. We’ll be back in the area soon and will report on some of the ones you mentioned. Thanks!
Well there’s a winery/lodge/restaurant called Alpasion. Have you heard of it? It’s really wonderful. It’s a small lodge which is very cozy. The food is absolutely mouth watering. But the best part is the wine. You have to pay that place a visit. You can even enquire online.
Thanks for the info, Himanshu.
Have just found your website, via a search for wineries around Mendoza. Name is David Walter, Houston, Texas. Have made initial deposits for a one week trip to the Patagonia with a short after trip to Mendoza to see the city and a few wineries (as time allows). Will try to extend the trip since already there, but may be locked in from a group travel rate. Will try to talk airline making the flight back to Houston to see if I can’t pay something extra and stay longer.
Will peruse the comments on the list for the names of some lesser commercial wineries to visit. If not a complete list, at least a good start. Have taken German and Mandarin Chinese and now on a crash course to learn Spanish. Have started and have three months yet. Trip October 17-25, main trip, then to Mendoza October25 – 28.
Since there thought to extend for several more days if I can get return trip changed, local lodging and great wineries to visit. Have raised grapes, made homemade wine, even distilled some to make a kind of brandies. Great fun
Would appreciate any suggestions on anything, drivers, lodging, wineries maybe not yet in the comments
Thanks for any time and suggestions you can make.
David Walter, email: dwalter123@comcast.net
Hi David, Sounds like you’ll need to iron out your dates before you can start planning. We’ve put all of our recommendations in this post and I would encourage you to start there. There are plenty of wineries listed here to keep you busy for a full week.
Hi John,
We are visitîg Mendoza next week. Which are the wineries u would recommend? We will stay around Lukan de Cuyo. thank you for ur advise!!!
Hi Ana, We’ve personally been to and highly recommend all of the wineries on this list. If you’re going to Lujan de Cuyo, do check out the ones we’ve recommended in that area. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
Hi, Laura is true that every time there are more wineries that open doors to tourism, I actually live in Mendoza and I think that definitely you need to hire a car to visit wineries (with driver) in my opinion is not so expensive for people from US because the change is very good for you. Definitely you need one day for each region Maipu, Lujan and Uco Valley and you can’t visit more of three wineries per day perhaps four, having tasting in each winery and lunch with tasting in one of them. Don’t forget to do reservations to visit wineries and some times one month before like Catena Zapata.
Gustavo: Will be trying to extend a short trip to Mendoza after a longer trip to the Patagonia. Oct 17-25, Mendoza Oct 15-Oct 28. If I can change my return flight to stay longer, even though trying to learn Spanish over the last 2 months, like your suggestion of a driver. Any suggestions of lodging, wineries, restaurants.
David Walter, Houston, Texas, US, email: dwalter123@comcast.net
Hi Laura,
I would like to ask for your permission to translate your post to spanish and use it in my blog, obviously citing the source.
I Hope you like the idea.
Of course, Ariel. You can translate and use the content with a link back to the source. 🙂
Laura,
Thank you for the article.
My fiancé and I are going to Mendoza in 2 weeks and were wondering if you had any more hidden gems?
I reached out to Gustavo (above) about hiring his drivin service and will leave a review if we connect.
Thank you!
Hi Stuart. That’s awesome that you’re going to Mendoza. I love it there! Definitely stop by Vines of Mendoza shop in town, and their resort. Francis Mallman’s Siete Fuegos is great for dinner. My other recommendation would be to make sure you find a good, knowledgeable driver who can make local recommendations for you. We found some really great wineries because of that. Also, if you plan ahead, you can schedule to just have tastings at some of the wineries instead of a full tour, which can become tedious after the first few. If you have any other question, feel free to email me.
We’re going to Mendoza Christmas week. Are there any boutique wineries that have spectacular wines that we should visit? What would you recommend for New Year’s eve dinner?
Some family wineries that we loved are Clos de Chacras, Domaine Bosquet, Carmelo Patti. There are so many. It would be worth it to visit Vines of Mendoza and try some wines to see which you like most for a visit. I’m not sure where there might be New Years Eve parties, but I would personally try to see what big wineries are doing pairing dinners for NYE. Your hotel should be able to help you with that.
Hi Laura:
I have lived in Mendoza Region (San Rafael) for 4 years and as always the second largest city in the Province does not get a mention (but then we are used to that 🙂 )
I would highly recommend to the list of excellent wineries you posted one of my all time favorites, also has an excellent restaurant and probably architecturally the most stunning of them all: Bodega O’Fournier.
On my way to my own vineyard I will take my fiancee this trip for her first time and we will visit some of my favorites as well as take some of your suggestions. Unfortunately Catena Zapata did not have anything for us on relatively short notice. So those that are going, this is also a winery you want to visit and yes…make reservations well ahead of time.
None of these wineries usually allow popping in for a tour. The exception Salentein. At Salentein visit the art gallery as well. Part of your ticket.
Hi Martin. It’s a very good point you make that the wineries in this area don’t allow for pop ins. They often even have a security clipboard with expected names on it. We didn’t get a chance to visit O’Fournier yet, but we’ve had their wines and love them. Excellent recommendation.
Hi Laura, great list. We just got back from a week in Mendoza and visited many of the wineries you mentioned in your list. However I was surprised you didn’t mention Lagarde! We had an absolutely fantastic multi-course lunch with wine pairings in their garden. Was the highlight of our trip. Not only were the wine pours limitless, but the food was the best we had the entire week. We ended up staying so much longer than we anticipated. Highly recommend a visit if you haven’t tried it. Oh and we splurged on two nights at the Cavas hotel, what a sublime experience.
Hi Francesca. So happy to hear that you loved Mendoza. We’re always finding great new wineries – very good to hear about Lagarde. As you know, there are just too many to choose from. Thanks for the latest recommendation to add to our list.
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Did you have an opportunity to meet Sebastian Zuccardi?
Hi guys congratulations on your postings and information. We are writing from Carmelo Mountain Lodge a place that you probably would like to know, please if interested contact us for exclusive arrangements for you.
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Best regards
My husband is determined to rent a car and do the driving himself. We live in Mexico so he’s used to driving in a Spanish speaking country. You keep talking about hiring a driver. Is this a must? Why?
Abigail – it’s not a must, but it’s the most practical way to get around for most wine tasters. The roads are not always well marked and the wineries can be difficult to find. If you speak Spanish you’ll be better off, but if you’re drinking it’s really not recommended. The ABV is .05%
Hi! Laura,
After we read your article, we booked a private tour through your link and tried to contact the private tour company to design our trip. However, the number provided by the website does not work. We booked it through Viator. Do you know what we can do now? Where can we find customer service to contact that private tour company? Thank you for reading my message in advance.
Sincerely,
Yetta
Yetta, can you send me an email to laura@savoredjourneys.com with the name of the company so I can help you sort it?