The Best Wineries in Mendoza, A Wine Tasting Guide

Mendoza is one of my favorite destinations in Argentina.

The vineyards are beautiful, wine is abundant and views of the Andes Mountains are epic.

The air is crisp, the weather is generally always sunny, and the people are warm.

There are also traditional ranches, horseback rides, hikes included in the many things to do in Mendoza

But this post isn’t about those things.

This post is all about the best wineries in Mendoza, as well as best winery hotels, wine tours and winery lunches.

I have been to Mendoza three times over the past 10 years and have seen the wine tourism situation here change. What was once a massive effort involving emails back and forth with unresponsive wineries to schedule tours is now as easy as a click on the link in their Instagram bio.

Hundreds of wineries are now open for tourism, finally embracing this new aspect to the industry, and most use online booking platforms making it easy to plan tours yourself.

That said, going on a winery tour is still a good idea so no one needs to sacrifice and be the designated driver. Relax and let a guide take you.

However you decide to visit the best bodegas in Mendoza, you may be researching which wineries to visit, so keep reading for my favorites!

QUICK NOTE: This post contains affiliate links and Sol Salute may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.

A Complete Guide to Wine Tasting in Mendoza

One thing you need to know before you plan your Mendoza wine tour is that it’s huge.

There are actually three wine regions that make up Mendoza: Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo, and the Uco Valley.

While you will taste incredible wine anywhere you go in Mendoza, all wineries and wine regions were not created equal regarding experience.

The three Mendoza wine regions are:

  • Maipu is closest to the city and easiest to reach by bus then tour by bike. I recommend it for backpackers on a shoestring budget.
  • Lujan de Cuyo is a little further from the city yet still reachable by bus or even a taxi. Some wineries are reachable on foot, others by bike, and the best of the best by car or Uber.
  • The Uco Valley is home to the best wineries in Mendoza and the most stunning views. It is the furthest from the city (an hour and a half drive). You need to hire a private driver like this one or rent a car.

As I edit and update this post in December 2024, it pains me to delete my descriptions of wine tastings in Mendoza as cheap. Tastings and visits are now very pricey and on par with the US or Europe.

One bodega we visited for $7 in 2018 now charges $50 for the same experience. This seems to be the case across the board, prices are up.

Luckily, however, the quality of the Mendoza wine you will taste here is excellent and so is the quantity.

Tasting sizes tend to be full pours here (which makes the private drivers worth their weight in gold).

NOTE: You’ll also want to read my guide on Where to Stay in Mendoza (with all of the best hotels and neighborhoods).

The Best Mendoza Wine Tours

There are SO many top Mendoza wineries to visit but how does one visit them?

Here are the best tours to help you get around. With so many options there is really something for all budgets and interests.

  • Rent a car & DIY itCheck rental rates here and rent a car. It gives you the most freedom but we must mention the elephant in the room – driving yourself can impede in the fun of a wine tasting.
  • Borravino Wine Tours – Run by a Mendocino, Borravino offers excellent private tours of Lujan de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Click here to book and use my code SOLSALUTE for extra perks on your tour, like an extra tasting.
  • Private Driver – I went on a tour of the Uco Valley with Patricia on our recent visit and she took great care of us! The visits were well planned and everything was seamless. Book here.
  • Small Group Tour – This is one of the highest rated Mendoza winery tours and ideal for solo travelers or those wanting to meet fellow travelers. With a maximum of 9 people, the tour visits three wineries and includes a five course meal with pairings. Book here.
  • Bus VinitivicolaA hop on hop off bus but for vineyards, hard to beat and at a great price for budget travelers. Book here.
  • Mendoza Bike Tours – You can spend a little more and book this excursion that is all inclusive, or you can go directly to the source and rent bikes and plan the day as you go. Baccus Bikes is great in Chacras del Coria and I’ve heard good things about Wine and Ride in Maipu.

The Best Wineries In Mendoza

Updated December 13, 2024

For what feels like the umpteenth time since originally publishing this article in 2018, I am once again re-writing this list of Mendoza’s best wineries.

In November 2024, we visited Mendoza for a third time and in the meantime I’ve also been collecting a long list of wineries I wish I had time (and funds) to visit from fellow wine loving friends.

Below is the list of wineries I’ve been to and wineries I will visit one day (come hell or high water).

I break the list down geographically by the three wine regions, then provide two more lists – one for family friendly bodegas and architectural stunners.

Dried vines in a vineyard in winter in front of a mountain range

The Best Wineries in Maipu

Maipu – let’s start with the area closest to Mendoza city proper and possibly the easiest to visit.

This area is popular with backpackers.

Take a bus to get to Maipu then rent a bike to get around the bodegas. Alternatively, you could use rideshares like Uber or Cabify.

The road is a bit industrial, with a bike lane making things safe but you will bike part of the way along large trucks. However, once you get off the main road and into the wineries, it is very peaceful.

When we rented bikes (admittedly back in 2014), no reservations were needed for the wineries that are on their circuit. They gave regular tours and our bike rental company gave us a general overview with a map.

Casa Vigil (El Enemigo)

This is repeatedly one of the most highly recommended wineries and restaurants in Mendoza in recent years, the “casa” of Alejandro Vigil and his wine label – El Enemigo.

Casa Vigil was inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, transporting you from hell to paradise, and the struggle with the inner self (explaining the label’s name, El Enemigo).

Reserve well in advance as Vigil is in high demand. Ingredients are locally sourced, many from their own garden.

Reserve your table or visit in advance via their booking platform or book this excursion.

Bodega La Rural

If you’re interested in history you’ll love La Rural and their Museo de VIno filled with wine production antiques.

La Rural is one of the most important bodegas in Argentina.

Felipe Rutini starting making wine here in 1885 and their wines are on just about every menu in the country.

You can book your visit online here.

Unlike most Mendoza wineries, most of their wine is consumed locally, rather than for export, so if you’re visiting from abroad their wines may be new to you.

Mevi

Mevi is a great option for lunch on the bike route of Maipu wineries.

It is charmingly boutique compared to the mass production of La Rural. Click here to reserve your visit.

We skipped the full tasting in favor of ordering a glass of delicious Malbec Rose to enjoy on their terrace (we’d already had quite a bit of wine by this point).

For food you can order a picada (charcuterie platter) to enjoy on one of their two terraces.

They are located down a small road further from the main highway so it is quiet and beautiful here.

Trapiche

Trapiche is the one winery in Maipu I wish we had had time to visit but weren’t able to.

No matter where you’re visiting from, you’ve likely seen a bottle of Trapiche Malbec on your store shelves back home.

They are one of the oldest wineries in the region, established in 1883 and winning awards since 1889.

The building you’ll tour is newer to Trapiche, remodeled and restored to its previous glory.

If you’ve tried their wines at home don’t miss the chance to learn about their interesting history in person.

To reserve your tour and tasting, find more information on their website or book here

Lujan de Cuyo

The Best Wineries in Lujan de Cuyo

Luján de Cuyo, now we’re talking.

I love Lujan de Cuyo. This is still close to the city but feels miles apart.

To get here with public transport there is a city bus from downtown Mendoza that takes about 45 minutes. Otherwise, a taxi or Uber takes about 20 minutes.

The small town of Chacras de Coria is the beating heart of Lujan de Cuyo with a number wineries (like Clos de Chacras or Pulmary) reachable on foot.

You can rent bikes to visit wineries in and around Chacras de Coria or if you have a car or driver, visit the wineries that are further afield.

If you’re visiting wineries on your own with Uber or a rental car, it’s best to reserve in advance. Plan for 3 visits/tastings with one of those involving lunch.

If you don’t want to deal with logistics, hire a tour wine tour of Lujan de Cuyo:

  • Bike Tour of Lujan de Cuyo – I always recommend this region for biking, wineries are close enough to make it feasible but it’s much more beautiful than Maipu.
  • Private Tour of Lujan de Cuyo – This tour includes my favorite wineries like Carmelo Patti and will take care of all the logistics, no need to deal with reservations or transportation.
Carmelo Patti is my favorite Mendoza winery in Lujan de Cuyo

Carmelo Patti

This is a must visit if you’re in the area. Carmelo himself is always present and is clearly passionate about what he does.

Carmelo Patti is a garage winery, which technically means there is no cellar, but it’s also in a literal garage-like warehouse.

Carmelo Patti (seen above) is the winemaker, owner, and even the tour guide. Click here to visit his website and reserve one of his four daily tours (closed Sundays).

If you buy a bottle, he’ll sign it and write which year to open it for best results.

Lagarde

Lagarde produces excellent wine grown on a beautiful historic estate.

It was founded in 1897 but was acquired by the Pescarmona family in 1969. Today it’s run by two sisters, Lucia and Sofia Pescarmona.

It’s exciting to see women take the reigns in Mendoza and you can see it in Lagarde’s Proyecto Hermanas line.

Visit their website for information on tours and to reserve a tour or for dining.

If you’re looking for a more upscale restaurant for lunch, their two restaurants – Zonda and Fogon – are of the best in the area (recognized by the Michelin Guide).

Finca Minimal

Our hotel, La Maria Hotel Boutique, recommended Finca Minimal and I quickly made a reservation for the following day.

This farm houses a vineyard, a goat farm that produces their own cheese, and a restaurant. All of these “small universes” as they call them come together to form Finca Minimal.

Our lunch was five courses with wine pairings and I was grateful for a meal that was heavy on fresh produce and light on the steaks (we had had quite a bit of steaks up until this point).

It was a very laid back experience with zero pretension. We stopped our meal multiple times to go visit and feed the goats and see the chickens, which kept our kids happy throughout the meal.

Message them on Instagram for a reservation, at the time we visited there were discounts for Argentina residents that helped us out a lot!

Clos de Chacras

This boutique winery is located in downtown Chacras de Coria, but once you’re through the gates you feel like you’re miles from the city.

Relax with a glass of their wine on the deck next to their large coy pond or enjoy lunch in their dining room, located inside a beautiful restored building from the 1920’s.

Tours take you through the winery and vineyard and the tasting at the end conveniently comes with a cheese plate that you can enjoy at your leisure.

Click here to reserve either tastings/visits or dining.

Bonus points for Clos de Chacras are that you can walk here if you’re staying in town, saving you any logistics! We went here and to Pulmary one day when we didn’t want to deal with bikes or tours or thinking. Which leads me to…

Pulmary

Another walkable winery in Clos de Chacras, Pulmary is an organic winery. In fact, they were the first family-run organic winery in all of Argentina.

Admittedly it has been a decade since we visited but they were my first exposure to organic wines (which are now quite the trend).

For reservations, reach out to them via WhatsApp. You can find the number and details in their Instagram bio.

A16 is a beautiful boutique Mendoza bodega in Lujan de Cuyo

A16

I decided to visit A16 only because I’d never heard of it before. I like to visit boutique wineries or wineries that are new to me, rather than try wines I see all the time in the shops at home.

The random choice paid off because the wine was spectacular and our tour guide was very friendly.

After our tour of the property (which included a tasting straight from the barrel), we were free to taste any of their wines that we’d like.

I was particularly intrigued by their white wine made out of Malbec grapes.

They have tours and tastings and a Criollo lunch menu, click here for information and to reserve.

On Saturdays, you can watch the sunset from their vineyard with a DJ and a food truck.

The view from our lunch table at Ojo de Agua

Ojo de Agua

We enjoyed a delicious three-course lunch with wine pairings at Ojo de Agua, sitting outside on the porch by the vines with a view of the snow-capped Andes.

Ojo de Agua is owned by Swiss artist and musician Dieter Meier.

They don’t sell their wines in Argentina or the US, so eating here may be the only chance you get to try their wine.

Click here to reserve. You can go just for a tasting but with their location and view, I highly recommend staying for lunch.

More Lujan de Cuyo Wineries

I have quite a lot of wine loving friends who have contributed to my wish list of Mendoza wineries. One day, in an ideal world I’ll visit all of them, until then – here is the list for you!

The fact that I have not visited these wineries is due to budget (my lack thereof) and not lack of interest and definitely not due to their lack of quality. These are some of the most highly recommended wineries in Lujan de Cuyo:

  • Viña Cobos – A favorite of a friend who knows what she’s talking about
  • Cruzat – Best known for their sparkling wine
  • Susana Balbo – Balbo was the first female winemaker in Argentina.
  • Riccitelli – Their restaurant has become one of the most in demand spots in the area
  • Decero
  • Anaia
  • Achaval Ferrer – Ex-Melipal, Previously I raved about Melipal but it has since been bought out by Achaval Ferrer.
  • I could go on forever…
The Uco Valley

The Best Wineries in The Uco Valley

You’ll be hard-pressed to have a better Mendoza wine tasting experience than the one you’ll have in the Uco Valley.

If you only have one day to spend tasting wine in Argentina, then choose a tour or private driver that will bring you here.

Note: You absolutely must make reservations ahead of time for Uco Valley wineries.

If you’re planning to rent a car and go on your own, spend some time planning your itinerary and making reservations before you leave for Argentina.

If you’re touring with a private driver, they likely take care of it for you (check to be sure) but can follow your itinerary if its important to you.

Also, if your driver or guide is creating your itinerary and you want to visit a specific winery, let them know in advance.

Alfa Crux in the Uco Valley is an architectural masterpiece.

Alfa Crux

Alfa Crux may be hard to reach but it’s worth every minute you sit in the car to get there.

It took us an hour to get there from Tupungato (where we stayed in the Uco Valley). It will take an hour and forty minutes from Mendoza’s city center.

The wines were spectacular and the building was as well.

If you love architecture, then you have to visit Alfa Crux. The highlight for me were the massive tanks that also served as structural columns.

Our tasting included a wine from each level of their wines. If you want to get more bang for your buck regarding the drive out, stay for lunch at their restaurant (the views won’t disappoint).

To visit, you need to message them via WhatsApp, which you can do via their website or Instagram.

SuperUco

SuperUco was my favorite Argentina winery tour and tasting out of our 2018 trip.

This Uco Valley winery is owned by the four Michelini brothers and is a family passion project.

They grow and produce their wines organically and bio-dynamically, aiming to keep everything as close to the way nature intended as possible.

You can see this in how they grow their vines to how they’ve designed the architecture of the building itself.

The tasting took place on their deck with a view to the Andes in front of us.

For information on visits and lunches, check their SuperUco Turismo Instagram.

People sit at restaurant tables in the mountains
The lunch set up at La Azul is the best I’ve ever seen

Bodega La Azul

Bodega La Azul is my absolute favorite winery and restaurant in all of Mendoza. We’ve had lunch at Bodega La Azul on our first two trips.

Bodega La Azul offers a 5-course lunch with (bottomless) wine pairings.

After lunch, you are taken for a private tasting of a reserve wine straight from the barrel.

I can say confidently this is the best lunch I’ve ever had, twice. The wine flows freely and the views are unbeatable. 

For a unique experience offered by people who truly love what they do, have lunch at La Azul, a family owned winery.

You can read more about my most last visit there in my review of Bodega La Azul (restaurant and hotel).

Familia Blanco

I tend to prefer boutique vineyards over large scale production bodegas and family-run is even better. Familia Blanco ticks all the boxes.

Mónica, the head of the bodega and also the family, met us with a glass of rose and gave us a tour of the vineyard and bodega.

Familia Blanco’s pride and joy is Bonarda and they have five different labels featuring the varietal, which is very unique in Malbec loving Mendoza.

And fun fact, if their wine looks familiar maybe you saw it on the menu on Emarites. The airline chose one of their wines for first class during the Quatar World Cup.

Visit Familia Blanco by booking a tour guided by the owners, a Bonarda focused tasting, or a general tasting that samples their different lines.

Domaine Bousquet

French-owned Domain Bousquet makes organic wines in the Uco Valley.

The father of the current owners came to Argentina after searching the world for the perfect location to support organic wine production.

Lucky for us, the dry desert air in the Uco Valley was perfect.

The dry air, the land, everything came together for him to produce some of the best organic wines in Argentina. Click here to reserve a visit or meal.

Fun fact: His children are in charge now but he runs Jean Bousquet just next door.

Salentein is one of the top Mendoza wineries in the Uco Valley | Photo by Matt Broch on Unsplash

Bodegas Salentein

Salentein is one of the most popular wines domestically in Argentina and abroad.

You will see it on store shelves everywhere and for good reason.

Their wines are excellent at every level, even their youngest line Portillo finds its way to my kitchen on a regular basis.

This is one of the most popular Mendoza wineries to tour in the Uco Valley.

The building itself is an architectural feat designed to be as inconspicuous as possible.

From ground level it appears to be a minute single-story building but once you descend the staircase you’ll find a massive space with room for 5,000 barrels.

The star of the show (aside from the wine) are the acoustics.

In the center of the barrel room is a space designed to reverberate sound directly upwards.

Concerts can be (and are) had here without affecting the barrels just steps away, not a single drop of wine will vibrate.

There is also an in house art gallery, Espacio Killka. Click here to reserve a visit or lunch. You can also stay overnight at their luxury hotel.

Zuccardi Valle de Uco

Zuccardi in the Uco Valley is not only among the best Mendoza wineries, for three consecutive years it has been voted the best vineyard in the world in a list of the world’s Top 50 vineyards (other Argentine bodegas on the list include Salentein, Catena Zapata, and Trapiche and in 2022 they were welcomed into The World’s Best Vineyards Hall of Fame.

Zuccardi has been in the same family for three generations, run today by Sebastian Zuccardi. He is passionate about wine making, believing that drinking a wine should take you to its place of origin.

Click here to reserve a tasting or lunch in their restaurant, Piedra Infinita. Understandably, demand is high so make your reservation early.

The Best Mendoza Wineries For Families

Yes, you CAN visit Mendoza bodegas with kids.

Traveling Argentina with kids is actually a really enjoyable experience and Mendoza is no different.

But it’s true, and understandable, that not all wineries will be as welcoming for families. I just took my two toddlers to Mendoza and did a lot of research on where I would be able to take them while still enjoying myself, here is what I found.

Bring toys to keep them happy, for us that was Water Wows and coloring books. Other than that, they just ran wild in the grass.

Family-Friendly Mendoza Wineries:

  • Finca Minimal – We booked lunch at this winery in Lujan de Cuyo and it was spectacular. They had a reasonably priced kids menu (22k pesos in Nov 2024, which was half of what I saw at other bodegas) and it’s relaxed so the kids could run around in the grass while we ate. They have goats that the kids had so much fun feeding (with adult supervision between courses) and even chickens. Everyone was happy.
  • Bodega La Azul – This is my favorite winery in Mendoza and is very laid back. You can bring the kids and they can run around while you eat but bring toys (no animals or entertainment here). Just beware that La Azul serves A LOT of wine with the meal so you will be limited with the kids, drink in moderation.
  • Bodega Familia Blanco – This winery was so good to our two kids, setting up coloring pages with markers for them to play while we enjoyed the tasting along with a very generous snack bag that kept them extra happy and busy.
  • La Julia – La Julia has a cooking class for little ones, I read about it on social media but can’t find information on their website so just reach out to them directly for details.
  • Cruzat – This bodega, known for their sparkling wines, has a F friendly tour where the kids can paint the label of a bottle you’ll then take home as a souvenir.
  • Ecochacra – Not a winery but I wish I had known about this sooner so we could have gone, this farm looks amazing for families and kids of all ages.
Septima, designed by Bormida y Yanzon is designed to blend in with the landscape

Mendoza Vineyards for Architecture Lovers

A team of two architects together make up the firm Bormida y Yanzon.

If you love architecture and design, you’d be well-served to take their projects into account when planning your wine tasting itinerary.

Together they have designed the most impressive buildings that dot the landscape across Mendoza.

They incorporate innovative materials such as concrete, stone, wood, and glass into their projects that result in a building that echoes the land around it.

Their winery projects are both modern and functional but also fit perfectly into the natural landscape of Mendoza.

A few noteworthy bodegas that they’ve designed include Salentien, O. Fournier, Septima (above) and DiamAndes.

If you’re interested in learning more, put this article about them through Google Translate.

For a complete list of their projects visit their website, click on proyectos, then bodegas.

When to Visit Mendoza Wineries

The best time of year to visit Mendoza’s vineyards is generally from October until April, from Spring until the fall harvest.

However, visiting in summer (January and February) will give you hot afternoons and the busy season.

Locals travel in droves during their summer holidays in January.

The absolute best time to visit Mendoza is in March for harvest (the “cosecha” or vendimia).

Despite all of that, Mendoza is a generally a great destination year-round.

We have visited three times. In March, we were there a week before the actual harvest festival, so we were able to see the vines lush and full of grapes.

In September, we were there just after most wineries had done their pruning. While we didn’t see any vines, it was still beautiful.

The vines will begin to regrow for spring at around the end of September. Our third visit was in November and the vineyards were full and lush, the grapes were still tiny.

Read more: The Best Time to Visit Argentina

How to bring wine home with you

If you find a wine you love that isn’t exported, then you might want to bring a bottle or 6 home with you.

Wine in Argentina is very cheap for the quality that you get, so many wine loving friends of mine bring many, many bottles home with them each trip.

This is how they do it:

Wine Bottle Suitcase | Holds 12 Standard 750 ML Size Bottles | Universal Airplane Luggage Case, TSA Approved Wheeled Bag For Professionals and Consumers, Gift For Wine Lovers & Connoisseurs (24 IN)

  • A Wine Suitcase – This suitcase is filled with foam and fits 12 bottles. Filled to capacity it remains under 23kg/50lbs so you can check it without an extra fee.
  • Wine Travel Pouches – Maybe you don’t need to bring two cases of wine. If you just want to pick up a bottle or two, these flat pouches take up no space or weight and keep your bottles safe.
  • Inflatable Wine Pouches – These pouches are similar to those above, but inflate. It’s more of a hassle in that you need to have the little pump but they may offer more protection, emphasis on may.

Mendoza Wine Tasting Tips

Planning your day of wineries in Mendoza can be overwhelming.

Plan well to make sure you have a great Mendoza wine tasting experience and not ruin your wine tasting.

  • Check opening hours! Many Mendoza vineyards aren’t open Sundays. Others close Mondays and Tuesday.
  • If you’re driving yourself, you’ll need to contact the wineries ahead of time to make your reservations. Many wineries use the Meitre booking software, others require you to WhatsApp them.
  • Most wineries begin offering tours from 9:30-10 am. Ideally, you’ll visit two wineries at 10 am and 11:30(ish) and a third for lunch. Lunches are best at the wineries themselves, most offering a fixed coursed menu with wine pairings.
  • PRO-TIP: I always like to have a few extra wineries in mind that are nearby. I won’t reserve a tasting with them in case there’s no time. Two tours and lunch can usually fill the day. But if there is time, I’ll swing by and see if they have time to squeeze me in for a tasting (you won’t have time for a third tour).
A wine bottle and two glasses

Sample Mendoza Winery Itineraries

Here are two sample itineraries for my two favorite Mendoza wine regions: Lujan de Cuyo & The Uco Valley.

They’re tried and tested (they’re our itineraries from our more recent trip!).

Take them and copy them identically or use them as a guide, substituting your own favorite wineries that are nearby.

Whichever you choose, I hope you have an excellent day of wine tasting!

Uco Valley Itinerary

If I were to plan a wine tasting in Valle de Uco Itinerary for a friend, this is the day I’d schedule for them.

  1. Alfa Crux – 10 am – This winery is the furthest, so start here and work your way back up. Their first tour is at 10 am, so wake up early and eat a hearty breakfast to prepare yourself for all that wine you’ll be drinking today.
  2. SuperUco – 12 pm – It will take you 40 minutes to drive here from Alfa Crux so you’ll need to schedule SuperUco for no earlier than noon.
  3. Optional Bonus Tasting at Corazon del Sol or Solo Contigo: If you have time for an extra tasting after SuperUco and before your lunch reservation, see if you can squeeze in a quick tasting at one of these two wineries. They’re on the same property as SuperUco (as they form part of The Vines).
  4. Bodega Azul – 2:30 pm for lunch – You’ll spend the remaining hours of your afternoon hours here, so sit back and enjoy the meal. Stretch your legs in between courses under the Mendoza sun looking at the mountains, or lounge on the sofas in the grass after lunch.
A bottle of wine on a table next to a basket of bread
Wine and lunch at Ojo de Agua in Lujan de Cuyo

Lujan de Cuyo Itinerary

This is my ideal day in Lujan de Cuyo, and it’s tried and tested because this is how we spent a day here this year.

You’ll need a car or a driver for this itinerary as these wineries aren’t reachable by bikes rented from Baccus. It’s worth the effort, I promise.

  1. A16 – 10 am – Start your day with a tasting and a tour at A16.
  2. There are a LOT of wineries in this area, pick from: Ruca Malen, Cruzat, Vinas Cobos, Septima, Susan Balbo for winery #2 at 11:30
  3. Ojo de Agua – 1:30 pm for a winery lunch – It took us about 15-20 minutes to drive to Ojo de Agua from Melipal (which has since been bought out by another corporation). Enjoy a leisurely lunch, we finished lunch at 4 pm.
  4. Optional Bonus Tasting after lunch. Wineries close at 5 or 6 so if you play your cards right you can squeeze in one last tasting (no tour) after Ojo de Agua. Choose from: Septima, Cruzat, Viña Cobos or Ruca Malen.

Map of the Best Mendoza Wineries & Hotels

Use the following map to see the locations of the best Mendoza vineyards, hotels & restaurants mentioned in this post.

Where to stay in Mendoza

I have a more complete guide on Mendoza accommodation where I break down the pros and cons of staying in town versus on a vineyard, and list the best hotels in each location.

But for a quick glance, here are the best places to stay in Mendoza starting from hostels in town and ending in my favorite Uco Valley guesthouse.

Hotels in Downtown Mendoza:

Hotels in Chacras de Coria:

  • Posada Borravino: We stayed at this boutique hotel in Chacras de Coria and had a lovely stay back in 2018. This small town is adorable and quieter than the city center, at just a 15 minute drive (taxi or rent a car). They have bikes you can use to visit the wineries and a lovely pool and patio to rest afterwards. Check availability & rates here.
  • La Maria Hotel Boutique: La Maria is a luxury property also in Chacras de Coria. Oriented to couples (no children allowed) this is the place to spoil yourself on a honeymoon or just because. The rooms are full apartments with private saunas and plunge pools. Check availability & rates here.

Hotels in the Uco Valley:

  • Finca La Azul Guesthouse: We also stayed at Finca la Azul Guesthouse (seen below). It was ideal after having lunch at their restaurant and drinking all their wine. It’s my favorite winery in Argentina so clearly I also LOVE their hotel. I can’t recommend it enough. Check availability & rates here.
  • Tupungato Divino: We spent two nights in Tupungato Divino in 2018 and it remains a favorite. It’s made up of small cabins and the view from your bed consists of vines, the Andes and one hell of a sunset. It’s luxury in the Uco Valley on a budget. Check availability & rates here.

Wine Tasting in Mendoza’s Bodegas: In Summary

I hope this post gives you EVERYTHING you need to know to visit Mendoza.

If you have any questions whatsoever, please let me know in the comments and I’ll answer you as soon as I can.

If I missed your favorite Mendoza vineyard, let me know in the comments as well!

I’m always looking for places to visit on our next Argentine wine trip.

Cheers!!

Read More About Argentina Wine Regions

Argentina Travel Resources

  • TRAVEL INSURANCE | It is always a good idea to travel insured. It protects you in so many cases, like lost luggage and trip cancellations, medical emergencies and evacuations. It’s very affordable with the potential to save you thousands in the case of an emergency. I recommend SafetyWing.
  • PHONE PLAN | These days, traveling with data is essential. Especially in Argentina where everything is managed on Instagram and WhatsApp. I recommend this E-SIM card. It’s hassle-free and affordable, for more read how to get an Argentina sim card.
  • ACCOMMODATION IN ARGENTINA booking.com is the most common hotel site used in Argentina and it’s where you’ll find the most options.
  • RENTAL CARS | I love to travel Argentina via road trip, I’ve always used rentalcars.com, now they are operating under the umbrella of Booking.com’s car rental system.
  • BUS TICKETS | Check Busbud for long distance bus routes and tickets.
  • VPN | If you’ll be using a public WiFi connection and want to secure your data, I highly recommend using a VPN, I personally use and have had a good experience with ExpressVPN. I also use it to access Hulu and American Netflix from Argentina.
  • FLIGHTS | Always check Google Flights and Skyscanner for flights to and within Argentina. Aerolineas Argentina is the local airline with the most routes. FlyBondi and Jetsmart are two budget airlines with dirt-cheap prices (but expect to pay for every add-on like luggage).
  • BOOK A CONSULTATION | I offer one-on-one travel consultations to help you plan your trip to Argentina. Pick my brain to get a local’s insight. Click here for more information.

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39 thoughts on “The Best Wineries in Mendoza, A Wine Tasting Guide”

  1. Wine is the official national drink here in Argentina so definitely include it in a tour if you visit! 🙂

  2. Wine tasting in Mendoza has been on my list for quite some time. Hopefully I get there one day! Your post is awesome… such helpful tips and beautiful pictures and descriptive inspiration 🙂

  3. I hope you can make it someday! It’s such a great spot because it’s so affordable for such luxury experiences 🙂

  4. Thanks so much! I want everyone to love their wine tasting experience as much as I did 🙂 You’re going to have to come back again and visit Uco Valley and Carmelo (I never get tired of his tours even though they never change)

  5. Thank you for the great article! I am heading there in October and was curious about renting a car. I have heard that the roads are not well marked and that renting a car is not the best idea. It seems like you rented a car though, did you have any issues? Thanks!

  6. Hi Nicole!
    You’re right that a lot of the roads aren’t well marked but the region is full of wineries and I didn’t have a hard time getting around. I recommend making a map on google maps with your itinerary mapped out, or download a map on an app like "maps.me" before you go, google maps led me straight to the wineries with no problem.

    Cheers!

  7. This is amazing! I am glad I found this blog in preparation for my trip. Thank you for sharing! I will make sure to share this. My dearest friend and I are heading to Argentina in celebration of a milestone birthday. We will be in Mendoza on her birthday. Any recommendations on planning this special day for her? vine tasting and spatacular lunch? Any highly recommended dinner location in the city of Mendoza ?

  8. This is the most complet post I found about Mendoza. This is funny because I am argentinean myself but I’d never been to Mendoza. Thanks so much for all the information and the detailled description 🙂

  9. Thank you so much for your kind words!! You will LOVE Mendoza, it is my happy place 🙂

  10. Great post. Tons of good information. I’ve been to Mendoza many times but you uncovered parts I didn’t know about!

  11. Hello Augustina! Thanks, we were actually there this past weekend 🙂 We enjoy it and the wineries!

  12. Thanks so much Matt! I LOVE Mendoza and still have even more places left on my list of wineries and restaurants I want to visit there, it’s my happy place haha

  13. This is so great, Thank you for posting this! I am planning to visit Mendoza July 2020 for our Honeymoon. Any other locations you recommend? Also, do you remember roughly how much each winery’s tasting fee was?

  14. Hi!
    Thanks for all the great tips! I am going there in a few weeks and am just now trying to map out a day of wine tasting.
    Can you share the pricing of any of the Uco Valley wineries? Or in general how much should I expect to spend for a tasting?

  15. Hi Emela!! Most wineries in the Uco Valley will have tastings from around $7-10 US (with different options including the different reserves). Some are pricier. For example, I think Salentein is around $20 US or the wineries in Clos de los Siete (which are more expensive to visit). I don’t find these expensive ones to be worth the double or triple cost, all of the wineries there are excellent!!

  16. Hi Erin!
    Thanks for this guide, it is fabulous.
    I am interested in hiring a car with a driver (cause we will be consuming all the wine!!) but want to organize my own itinerary. Couldnt find where to do that though. Could you help out? I basically want to do your Ucu Valley itinerary 🙂

  17. Thanks so much for this blog, it’s fantastic! As people who adore wine, trying to narrow down which places to go was a Herculean task so this is super helpful. Quick question: if we were to do the bike tours in Maipu and Lujan de Cuyo, would we need to book with them in advance with Mr Hugo/Bacchus and let them know our preferred schedule, or can we just turn up on the day?

  18. I would contact private driver’s and see if they’ll arrange the itinerary you want. If you’re more independent, I know friends who planned their own itinerary by calling the wineries themselves (this post has all the contact information) and arranging reservations, and hiring the driver to take them where they had already reserved.

    Try contacting a driver like this one and see if they’ll take you along my route 🙂
    partner.viator.com/en/67263/tours/Mendoza/Mendoza-Private-Wine-Driver-Guide/d931-26017P1

  19. Wow! Thank you! This is by far the most helpful traveling website/blog I have found, especially about Mendoza. I have the Lonely Planet books and have looked else where but did not give me near the info I needed. I copied and pasted your UCO itinerary. We will be renting a car as well… (hopefully that’s not to hard? Do I need to get a travelers license?) And I will be doing everything in your list. We have 3 days, my husband and myself. Planning our trip to south America in October. Much needed vacation, we have 5 kiddos! Also another question, how much do the bottles of wine usually cost, on average?

  20. Hi Beth! I’m so, so happy to hear you found what you needed here! Renting a car is very easy but it can be harder to get an automatic. I’d check on that as early as you can if that matters to you. And your US license is fine, you don’t need an international license.
    You’ll LOVE the Uco Valley itinerary, I could easily repeat it again and still enjoy it. And as a rest from five kids you will definitely enjoy yourself haha.
    Wine can be very affordable, I’d say young wines start at 500 pesos (at the moment that’s less than U$3! Reserves will probably run $1,000-$3,000 depending on the vineyard, you’re looking at $5-$15 US. Save space in your luggage.

  21. Hi Erin,
    Just wanted to express a warm thank you for this detailed and insightful blog post — it helped us a great deal on our trip to Mendoza and we visited several of the places you recommended. Also Chacras de Choria was a great tip! Bianca

  22. Hi Erin, I’m bianca from Brazil and I’ll be travelling to Argentina next month. I really would like to THANK YOU with all my heart! all of your posts are helping me to plan my motorcycle trip. Congratulations for your beautiful pictures and for all the information you’ve collected. Best wishes for u and your family

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