The Mendoza region of Argentina is one of the vineyard jewels of South America with some award-winning wineries (known as bodegas in Spanish), Michelin-starred restaurants, and thermal baths and spas. Yes, there are other 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. 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.)
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. You can read more about the town itself in Kevin’s reflection on our week in Mendoza here. The two famous wine areas are Valle de Uco and Lujan de Cuyo and they each have their benefits.
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. You can also hire a private driver to take you to the different bodegas here.
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.
Now how do you visit the different vineyards?
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. If you do want to make your reservations, they are there to give you suggestions and guidance on the feasibility of your plan. They can also help you organize multi-day wine tastings in different regions and vineyards. 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.
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 bodegas are how they will organize your tour. No matter how you schedule your time, you will be able to relax in the Argentine vineyards.
The Bodegas We Visited and Recommend
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.
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 local 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. We came here for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the food, wine, and ambiance. The lunch consisted 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 so if you are looking for a more local and laid-back experience, this is the place for you!
Bodega Zuccardi – We did not have the opportunity to visit this bodega but it was highly recommended to us. While it is younger than some of the others 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.
What Is There to Do in Mendoza Beyond Wineries?
Besides wineries, there are several other things to do in Mendoza that will expand your enjoyment of the region and give you a better understanding of the culture of the region.
Termas Cacheuta – these thermal baths can be easily visited with a tour group from Mendoza. This would add to the relaxation that you can experience throughout the region. When you arrive in Mendoza, you can talk to a tour company to see the tour that they can provide for the thermal baths.
Michelin Star and Fine Dining Restaurants – there are four one-star restaurants and 15 restaurants with distinction (2024), in the region. These restaurants have tasting menus with wine pairings that allow you to try unique takes on Argentine cuisine.
Adventure Activities – the region provides different adventure activities, including rafting, horseback riding, ziplining, etc.
Alta Montana Tours – we did this tour to explore some of the history of the high Andes and see some Incan ruins. You can learn more about this day tour here.
