The Mendoza region of Argentina is one of the vineyard jewels of South America with award-winning wineries (known as bodegas in Spanish), Michelin-starred restaurants, and thermal baths and spas. Yes, there are other highly regarded wine regions in South America, especially in Chile, but it is Mendoza that has produced some of the best wines and is especially known for its Malbecs. The quality of the soil rivals European wine destinations which has led to significant investment in the wineries here. However, the area is particularly distinct due to its higher elevation and consistent weather that maintains a certain quality of the wine. (They claim that there are only good cultivation years in Mendoza.) Below is how you can visit some of the best Mendoza wineries.
How to Get to Mendoza
Mendoza is easy to access from Santiago, Chile or other towns in the region. Check out different bus options here.
How is Mendoza Organized?
Mendoza is a city found in the province of Mendoza and is the center point for tourism in the region. If you are looking into exploring the wine region and doing other adventure activities, we recommend you stay in the center of the town. The two famous wine areas outside of Mendoza city are Valle de Uco and Lujan de Cuyo and they each have their benefits. If you are only looking at visiting the best wineries in Mendoza, it may be better to stay in the more scenic accommodations in either of these two wine regions.
Lujan de Cuyo is the wine region closest to the city of Mendoza. It is the area that most group tours go through because of its proximity to the city and has some of the best Mendoza wineries for the more casual wine drinkers. You can also hire a private driver to take you to the different bodegas here if you would like to pick out your specific bodegas rather than visit the ones predetermined by a tour group.
If you are looking for award-winning wines and picturesque vineyards and bodegas, then Valle de Uco is the area that you should look into. This valley hosts the top wines of Argentina but it is about 1.5 hours from the city of Mendoza. There are also several hotels in the valley if you are looking for a more intimate experience. To visit the different bodegas, you will need to hire a private driver.
Where to Stay in Mendoza
Mendoza City
For those who want Easy Access to a variety of Activities
Mendoza City is the main town in the region between the various wine valleys. This is where all the tours leave from and is the best place to stay if you want to participate in the wide variety of activities to do in the region.
Valle de Uco Or Lujan de Cuyo Area
For those who Want to Indulge in the Vineyards and wine culture
The areas of the wineries and vineyards are a great place for a luxurious visit. You can stay in relaxing hotels looking at beautiful vine-filled landscapes. If you are in the region to focus on the wine, then it is worth staying directly within the vines.
Looking for where to stay for in the Mendoza area? You can check out various hotels here.
Now how do you visit the different vineyards and Best Mendoza Wineries?
There are two ways to visit the different wine regions. The first is with a group tour. You will have the greatest success with group tours in Lujan de Cuyo. For these tours, the tour group organizes and reserves the different wine tastings, plans the lunch, and provides transportation from your accommodations to the different bodegas. You do not have to plan anything!
The second way is with a private driver. For this, you can have as much or as little control as you want with organizing the bodega tastings. These drivers are not only a form of transportation but they also plan and reserve tastings based on your preferences and are your guides during your time with them, helping you discover the best Mendoza wineries. If you do want to make your reservations, they are there to give you suggestions and guidance on the feasibility of your plan based on the distances between the bodegas. They can also help you organize multi-day wine tastings in different regions and vineyards to gain an even better appreciation for the quality of wine produced in Mendoza. Using a private driver can give you a truly unique and individualized experience through the vineyards. We recommend reaching out to Mauro Gomez de la Valle at +5492615129253 on WhatsApp to organize your trip. He is from Mendoza so knows everything about the different bodegas in the region and is a trained sommelier so also knows about the wine varieties as well. Best of all, he is a wonderful person that can help facilitate your transportation to visit the best wineries of Mendoza.
You can typically visit two to three bodegas a day, although they do pour quite a bit of wine! If you want to spend multiple days doing wine tastings, we recommend limiting your tastings to two a day. The first tasting starts around 10 am. The second would be around noon. If you are only doing two tastings, you can set up this second tasting to come with lunch. If you are doing a third tasting, it would be at 2 pm and this one would be paired with lunch rather than the second pairing.
Many of the bodegas offer extraordinary lunches and pride themselves in delicious multi-course tasting menus to pair with their wines. Some are Michelin-star level and others, like La Azul, are less formal and highlight incredible Argentine cuisine. If you are going with a tour group, the three bodega schedule is how they will organize your tour. No matter how you schedule your time, you will be able to relax in the Argentine vineyards.
The Best Mendoza Wineries to Consider
The bodegas allow you to have an intimate understanding of the wine-making process. The tours are led by sommeliers or winemakers, giving you an educated perspective of each bodega’s history, wine flavor, and overall process. Below are some of the best Mendoza wineries in the region and visiting all three will allow you to experience highly regarded bodegas but in various different environments.
Bodega Monteviejo – This beautiful, modern bodega is what you picture when you think about a winery. It combines incredible brick, concrete, and plaster architecture with the beautiful vista to make it a surreal place to visit. The tour itself walks you through the whole process of winemaking and finishes with a tasting of four of their wines. They produce smaller batches of wines as well as larger exports out of Mendoza that were all delicious.
Bodega Piedra Negra – This prestigious winery is one of the first in the region and was pioneered by a French winemaker. You can learn more about the winemaking process and taste a variety of wines at different price points, including award-winning delights.
Bodega La Azul – This bodega is a boutique winery known for its organic farming practices, making sure to protect the environment while producing delicious wine. It is a local favorite for its delicious lunch and fun environment. The experience feels like an elevated backyard family gathering and may even have live music during your visit. The lunch typically consists of a 5-course menu with 3 appetizers, a main, and a dessert, all paired with wines from the bodega. It is more casual than some of the other bodegas and celebrates an elevated version of local Argentine cuisine. If you are looking for a more local and laid-back experience, this is the place for you! We recommend this as one of the best Mendoza wineries for lunch and it is the great way to conclude your visit to Valle de Uco.
Bodega Zuccardi – While it is younger than some of the other bodegas on this list, it is often considered one of the fanciest wineries in the region. Its restaurant, Piedra Infinita Cocina, does not have a Michelin star but is listed on the Michelin website as one to consider.
