Mendoza WineCountry
3
Day Itinerary •
Argentina
Three days in Mendoza and the Argentine wine country delivers the most extraordinary high-altitude wine experience on earth, where the remarkable Malbec vineyards of Lujan de Cuyo and the Uco Valley stretch across an extraordinary Andean desert landscape with the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera rising directly behind, and where Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside Asia at 6,962 metres, dominates the horizon from the vineyards below. This focused route covers the essential Mendoza wine experience. The extraordinary Lujan de Cuyo wine route with the finest boutique Malbec producers, the remarkable Uco Valley high-altitude wineries at 1,400 metres where the finest Mendoza wines are produced, the extraordinary Aconcagua provincial park approach road, the olive oil producers and the finest parrilla asado with Malbec in the remarkable bodega restaurant settings of Mendoza wine country.
Best Time To Visit
March to May, harvest season for the finest wine experience
Getting There
Fly into Governor Francisco Gabrielli Airport (MDZ)
Getting Around
Hired car strongly recommended, or organised wine tour
Budget Per Day
Approx 80 to 200 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, flat wine country with some mountain roads
DAY 1
LUJAN DE CUYO MALBEC ROUTE
MORNING
ALTA VISTA, CATENA ZAPATA AND LUJAN DE CUYO MALBEC ROUTE
The extraordinary Lujan de Cuyo wine route, the birthplace of Argentine Malbec and the most celebrated wine sub-region in the country, where the remarkable Catena Zapata pyramid winery and the extraordinary Alta Vista estate produce the finest Malbec in Argentina. The extraordinary bodega visits include cellar tours through remarkable oak barrel halls and the finest Malbec tastings available in Mendoza. The backdrop of snow-capped Andean peaks behind the extraordinary vineyard rows is remarkable. 20 min drive
MIDDAY
ACHAVAL FERRER AND BOUTIQUE MENDOZA PRODUCERS
The extraordinary Achaval Ferrer winery, one of the finest boutique Malbec producers in Mendoza, with remarkable single-vineyard expressions from extraordinary old-vine Malbec plots planted at different altitudes across the Lujan de Cuyo sub-appellation. The tour and tasting reveal the extraordinary complexity that altitude, soil and the remarkable Andean drainage give to the finest Mendoza wines. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
LUJAN DE CUYO OLIVE OIL PRODUCERS AND VINEYARD SUNSET
The extraordinary olive oil estates of Lujan de Cuyo, where remarkable ancient olive trees grow in the same extraordinary Andean desert conditions as the vines, producing the finest extra virgin olive oil in Argentina. The extraordinary combination of olive groves, vineyard rows and the remarkable snow-capped Cordillera behind creates the finest sunset landscape in Mendoza wine country.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Vistandes winery in Lujan de Cuyo, a small family-owned bodega overlooking an extraordinary old-vine Malbec vineyard planted in 1929, produces the finest single-vineyard Malbec in the sub-appellation and is visited by almost no tourists despite its extraordinary quality. Visit by appointment only. The extraordinary old vines trained on the traditional pergola system are unlike any other in Mendoza.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the morning winery visits. | Lunch: Casa El Enemigo, Lujan de Cuyo Outstanding winery restaurant lunch at one of the finest bodega estates. Extraordinary Malbec pairing. | Dinner: Azafran, Mendoza city The finest Mendoza city restaurant. Extraordinary modern Argentine cuisine and the finest Malbec wine list.
DAY 2
UCO VALLEY
MORNING
UCO VALLEY HIGH-ALTITUDE WINERIES AT 1,400 METRES
The most extraordinary wine landscape in Argentina, the Uco Valley 100km south of Mendoza city where the remarkable high-altitude vineyards at 1,100 to 1,500 metres produce the finest Malbec in the country. The extraordinary O Fournier, Salentein and Clos de los Siete estates sit in a remarkable landscape where the extraordinary Andes rise immediately behind the vineyard rows. The finest wine tasting in Argentina is found here. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
SALENTEIN WINERY AND CHAPEL
The most extraordinary winery building in Argentina, the remarkable Bodega Salentein with its extraordinary cross-shaped underground cellar design and the remarkable Chapel of the Senses built for wine ceremonies. The extraordinary Salentein Numina Gran Malbec and the remarkable Single Vineyard series are the finest wines produced in the Uco Valley. The winery restaurant serves the finest asado paired with extraordinary Uco Valley Malbec. 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
ACONCAGUA PROVINCIAL PARK APPROACH ROAD
The extraordinary drive west from Mendoza city through the remarkable Quebrada de los Horcones gorge into the Aconcagua Provincial Park, approaching the 6,962-metre peak at the foot of the remarkable Horcones Valley trail. The extraordinary views of Aconcagua's south face from the Los Penitentes viewpoint are the finest accessible views of the highest mountain outside Asia. Entry approx 800 ARS for day visitors.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Clos de los Siete in the Uco Valley is a remarkable 850-hectare wine estate created by seven French wine families including Michel Rolland, producing extraordinary wines from the finest plots in the Valle de Uco. The remarkable seven estates all open for visits and the extraordinary combined tasting is the finest comparative Malbec experience in Argentina.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the 1-hour drive south to the Uco Valley. | Lunch: Salentein winery restaurant Outstanding asado lunch at the extraordinary Salentein bodega with remarkable Uco Valley Malbec pairing. | Dinner: 1884 Restaurante Francis Mallmann The most celebrated restaurant in Mendoza in the extraordinary Escorihuela winery. Extraordinary Argentine parrilla.
DAY 3
MENDOZA CITY
MORNING
MENDOZA CITY AND PARQUE SAN MARTIN
The extraordinary Parque San Martin, the finest public park in Argentina outside Buenos Aires, a remarkable 420-hectare Andean park with an extraordinary rose garden, remarkable boating lake and the finest views of the snow-capped Mendoza Andes from the hill above the park. The extraordinary Cerro de la Gloria monument with its remarkable allegorical friezes commemorating San Martin's Andean crossing is the finest viewpoint in Mendoza city. 20 min walk
MIDDAY
MERCADO CENTRAL AND MENDOZA WINE MUSEUM
The extraordinary Mercado Central of Mendoza, the finest food market in the wine country, with remarkable stalls selling every product of the extraordinary Mendoza agricultural economy including olive oil, dulce de leche, dried fruits, the finest artisan cheeses and remarkable regional preserves. The extraordinary Museo del Vino at the Giol winery complex tells the remarkable story of the Italian and Spanish immigrants who built the Mendoza wine industry. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
FINAL BODEGA VISIT AND FAREWELL ASADO
A final extraordinary bodega visit in the Maipu sub-region, Mendoza's most accessible wine area, with remarkable cycle routes between boutique wineries. The extraordinary Trapiche estate, the largest and most historic producer in Mendoza, offers the finest cellar tour in the region. The remarkable farewell asado lunch with extraordinary Mendoza Malbec under a pergola of old vines is the finest last meal in Argentine wine country.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Zuccardi Valle de Uco winery, voted the world's best vineyard by the World's 50 Best Vineyards awards, is a remarkable earth-and-stone building that rises from the extraordinary Uco Valley floor as if grown from the landscape. The extraordinary tasting experience in the remarkable tasting room with views over the vines to the Andes is the finest in South America.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the Parque San Martin walk. | Lunch: El Mercado Central Extraordinary market lunch with local Mendoza produce, fresh bread and fine olive oil. | Dinner: Anna Bistro, Mendoza city Outstanding modern Argentine restaurant in Mendoza city. Extraordinary Andean ingredients and Malbec.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Mendoza City Park Hyatt Mendoza or Hotel Fuente Mayor. Central location. Approx 100 to 300 USD per night. Wine Country Cavas Wine Lodge or Entre Cielos. Vineyard setting. Approx 200 to 500 USD per night. Budget Option Hotel Argentino or Hostel Independencia. Central Mendoza. Approx 20 to 70 USD per night.
Top Tips
1. Harvest season (March to April) is the finest time to visit Mendoza. The extraordinary bodega activity is remarkable.
2. Hire a car for the wine country. The bus system does not connect the wineries. Many top bodegas require a car.
3. Book the 1884 Francis Mallmann restaurant weeks ahead. One of the finest Argentine restaurants.
4. Zuccardi Valle de Uco is the world's finest vineyard. Book a tasting well in advance.
5. The Uco Valley requires a full day. It is 1 hour from Mendoza city and the finest wine area in Argentina.
6. Never drink and drive. Argentina has strict drink-driving laws. Use a designated driver or hire a remise.
Total Budget
60 to 640 USD/day