Argentina is known for two main wine circuits: Uco Valley, Mendoza, and Cafayate, Salta. Each region has its own charm and unique scenery.
Mendoza can be visited year-round and is just a short 1.5-hour flight from Buenos Aires. Salta is best enjoyed from April to August (to avoid the rainy season and high temperatures). The closest international airport is a three-hour drive from Cafayate.
This is a complete guide to the land of Malbec, where I’ll cover the best winery experiences, where to eat, and lodging overlooking the vineyards. I certainly know my stuff: I’m a food writer certified in Argentine wines and based in Buenos Aires.
So join me as we dive into the best wines and wineries in Argentina.
Wineries in Mendoza: Uco Valley
Catena Zapata
- Region: Luján de Cuyo (a 30-minute drive from downtown Mendoza, stop on the Bus Vitivinicola)
- Restaurant: Angélica Cocina Maestra (Michelin mention). Make reservations online for lunch (noon, 2pm) or dinner (Wednesday-Saturday, 7.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm).
- Nearby wineries: Finca La Anita, Piatelli, Chandon
The Catena wine empire runs generations deep. Thanks to a century of winemaking knowledge, Catena Zapata was chosen as 2023’s “World’s Best Vineyard”.
This wine family was the first to export Argentina’s fine wines to the world and make Malbec famous. The winery features a stunning pyramid structure inspired by the ancient Mayans.
Catena Zapata is definitely one of the best-organized wineries when it comes to the tour. The tasting room has a panoramic view of the impressive gallery of oak barrels.
English tours are available Tuesday-Saturday. Arrive bright and early at 9.30am for a two-hour tour that includes a tasting of 4 wines, and creation of your own wine blend. For music lovers, the 3:30pm tour includes a tasting of 5 wines and listening party. Bookings fill up months in advance, so reserve online.
Planning Your Trip to South America?
Save time, stress & money with a customized travel itinerary planned for you by a South America expert
Luigi Bosca
- Region: Maipú (a 30-minute drive from downtown Mendoza)
- Nearby wineries: Vistandes
Luigi Bosca is another historic winery, battling for the title of Argentina’s best Malbec. Recognition has come this year in the form of a Hollywood feature, with a bottle of their Malbec placed in the Oscar-nominated film “American Fiction”.
Visiting the bodega is easy, with laid-back tours available every day. The “Roots” tour takes 3-4 hours and includes an audio guide on how to taste 4 wines, plus a picnic lunch. During the summer season, you can book a “Sunset” experience with wines and tapas on the terrace. Reserve your spot online (and choose a picnic blanket or table lunch).
Luigi Bosca is known for its award-winning wines. Wine critic Tim Atkins is a big fan, rating 4 of their wines 90+ last year: Paraíso 2020 (Malbec & Cabernet Sauvignon blend- 96 pts), Riesling 2022 (93 pts), Malbec DOC De Sangre 2021 (92 pts) and Apuntes Petit Verdot 2021 (92 pts).
Zuccardi – Piedra Infinita
- Region: Paraje Altamira (1.5 hour drive from downtown Mendoza, stop on the Bus Vitivinicola)
- Restaurant information: Piedra Infinita Cocina (Michelin mention). Reservations for lunch (1pm) or dinner (Thursday/Friday/Saturday 8pm) are available online. You can enjoy a 4 or 9-course menu with 5-7 wine pairings.
- Nearby wineries: Finca Suarez
Zuccardi is the new giant in Argentine winemaking. Its modern architecture, tasting room with panoramic glass windows, and concrete fermentation eggs set it apart from other bodegas.
The accolades won’t stop rolling in either. Thanks to an innovative focus on terroir, its Piedra Infinita vineyard won “Best in the World” for 3 years in a row, and the winery itself was selected as “New World Winery of the Year” in 2022.
A Zuccardi wine is distinctive, with a marked minerality due to the soil and fermentation techniques. Tim Atkins selected the Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Guallaytary 2021 Chardonnay as his favorite white wine of 2023.
Snagging a reservation can be challenging, despite tours being offered every day at 9.30am, 11am, 12.30pm, 3.30pm. There are two tasting options: one that focuses on wines that pay homage to different generations of winemakers, and another that includes their high-end estate wines. Because the winery is a long drive from most hotels, you can also choose to just do the tour. To reserve online, you’ll need to place your credit card on file.
Kaiken
- Region: Las Compuertas (a 30-minute drive from downtown Mendoza, stop on the Bus Vitivinicola)
- Restaurant information: Ramos Generales Restaurant by Francis Mallmann, mentioned by TIME Magazine in its 2021 World’s Greatest Places. The restaurant is open for dinner Wednesday-Monday during the summer and fall season (November-March) and for lunch from March-November. Meals are either a la carte or a 3-course wine pairing menu. Reservations are recommended and available online.
- Nearby wineries: Riccitelli, Durigutti
The name of the winery comes from caiquén, a wild duck that migrates each year from Chile to Argentina, much like the owner, a Chilean winemaker who crossed over into the rival industry in Argentina in 2000. However, Kaiken’s winery itself dates from the 1920s and has been a pioneer in biodynamic agricultural practices.
Choosing a tour can be difficult, with 4 options, but a clear pick for red wine lovers would be the “Malbec Terroir” experience. All tours are offered in English, and you can reserve online.
Lagarde
- Region: Luján de Cuyo (just 20 minutes from downtown Mendoza)
- Restaurant information: Zonda Restaurant (2023 Michelin Star). Reservations are available online for lunch (11am-2pm). There are three menus to choose from: Cuyano (a seven-course pairing menu starting at 1pm), Zonda (includes a morning coffee, kitchen, and garden tour, and a nine-course pairing menu, starting at 11am) or Paisaje (includes a morning coffee, kitchen, and garden tour, and a nine-course pairing menu with high-end wines, starting at 11am).
- Restaurant information: Fogon Restaurant (Michelin mention). Reservations are available online for lunch (12.30pm-2.30pm) or dinner (8.30am-10am). You can choose from a 4 or 7-course wine pairing menu. Credit card required to place on file.
- Nearby wineries: Carmelo Patti, Viamonte, Mendel
One of the oldest wineries in Mendoza, Lagarde is run by a pair of 3rd-generation winemaking sisters. Early adopters of innovative techniques and new grapes, they export much of their organic wines to the US & UK.
The Lagarde winery is now mostly focused on its two restaurant experiences, although you can request a tour and tasting in English (call +54 261 498-0011 or email: [email protected]).
El Enemigo
- Region: Maipú (a 30-minute drive from downtown Mendoza, stop on the Bus Vitivinicola)
- Restaurant information: Casa Vigil (a Michelin Star restaurant) offers lunch (11.30am-3pm) and dinner (7:00-9:30pm) with reservations available online. You can choose from either a 3 or 10-course wine pairing menu (try the Gran Enemigo pairing). Winery tours are included with your meal reservation.
- Nearby wineries: Luigi Bosca, Vistandes, Familia Cecchin
Winemaker Ale Vigil’s larger-than-life personality makes El Enemigo a must-visit in Mendoza. He translates that into eclectic decoration and flavors that are over the top.
The wine you must try here is their Cabernet Franc. Wine critic James Suckling’s 2nd favorite wine (2023) is the Gran Enemigo Gualtallary 2019 (a double 100pt wine).
You can visit the winery at 9am, 11.30am, or 4.30pm. Tour groups fill up quickly, so it’s recommended to book in advance. It’s both educational (showing how enologists measure the soil) and exotic (you visit an underground passageway full of creepy art inspired by Dante’s Inferno).
Riccitelli Wines
- Region: Luján de Cuyo
- Restaurant information: Riccitelli Bistro’s dedication to sustainability has earned it a Michelin Green Star. If you’re coming for lunch, make sure you arrive by 12.30pm for a free winery tour. Lunch reservations are available online (12.30pm-2.30pm, Monday-Saturday).
- Nearby wineries: Kaiken, Durigutti, Bodega Artesanal y Comedor L´Orange
Riccitelli is a small boutique winery known for experimental winemaking techniques and an artistic flair. Winemaker Matias Riccitelli has developed a style that displays a constant curiosity and respect for natural resources.
Visits to the bodega are Monday-Saturday at 9.30am and 11.30am. Their booking calendar tends to have open availability, and reservations can be made online.
Ruca Malen
- Region: Luján de Cuyo (a 30-minute drive from downtown Mendoza)
- Restaurant information: A seven-course wine pairing lunch is available at their Ruca Malen restaurant (Michelin mention).
- Nearby wineries: Séptima, Viña Cobos
This winery is a hidden gem, with the most stunning view of the Andes. Under new leadership since 2020, Ruca Malen has kept up with the times, producing fruit-forward wines that branch out from the classic Malbec.
You don’t necessarily need a reservation to visit, however you can book a tour online or send them a WhatsApp. It’s best to arrive by noon to snag a table.
Wineries with Lodging in Mendoza
Alpasión Lodge
- Region: Los Chacayes
- Nearby restaurants: Gimenez Riili restaurant, Siete Fuegos restaurant by Francis Mallmann, Casa de Uco restaurant
Alpasión ($490 USD double) offers boutique lodging with a choice of rooms in the main hotel or eco domes (with wood-burning jacuzzi and view of the vines). Its restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Gimenez Riili – Guest Lodges
- Region: Los Chacayes
The guest lodges located inside the Gimenez Riili ($380 USD double, 30% cash discount when booking via WhatsApp) winery offer comfortable rooms, pool access and breakfast at the restaurant.
Nearby restaurants: Siete Fuegos restaurant by Francis Mallmann, Casa de Uco restaurant
Bodega Atamisque Lodge
- Region: Tupungato (a one-hour drive from downtown Mendoza)
- Nearby restaurants: Rincon Atamisque restaurant
The private lodges at Atamisque ($280 USD double) offer privacy and individual jacuzzis, with great views for nighttime stargazing and peace and quiet. A small restaurant is available for breakfast and dinner.
Domaine Bousquet – Gaia Lodge
- Region: Tupungato (a 1.5-hour drive from downtown Mendoza)
- Nearby restaurants: Gaia Restaurant, Ruda Cocina
Gaia Lodge ($190 USD double, 25% cash discount) is a boutique hotel with five rooms located in the middle of the vineyard, with views of the Andes.
Wineries in Salta: Cafayate
Piatelli Vineyards
Sure to delight, Piatelli winery and resort ($320 USD double) is an idyllic spot located just 15 minutes from downtown Cafayate. The building’s architecture and size is impressive, complete with a hotel and spa. The wine to try here is the Torrontes (the only grape variety native to Argentina).
To join the tour exclusively in English at 4pm (email for reservations), be sure to book ahead of time. Otherwise, the guides are pretty accommodating to translate for mixed English and Spanish groups. If you’d rather show up to have lunch, you can probably snag a table without a reservation. The Piatelli Wine Resort Aura Restaurant has a poolside bar and grill for guests at the resort.
Bodega El Esteco
El Esteco is located on the road to the scenic Valles Calchaquies, only a 10-minute drive to downtown Cafayate, with the Patios de Cafayate ($230 USD double) on site.
The winery is situated at over 5,500ft above sea level. El Esteco is known for its wine blends that combine grapes harvested from two extreme altitude levels. High-altitude Malbec wine is both jammy and spicy in the mouth- a must-try while in Salta!
Visits to the winery are available all day, from 10am to 5pm. For wine tastings, you can choose from either the Terroir experience or High Altitude tasting. Reserve your spot online. They also offer:
- Horseback riding and wine tasting, which includes a tasting of 3 wines; available Saturdays at 10am
- Wine tasting around a bonfire, which is available April-October, Wednesday-Sunday from 7.30pm-9.30pm
Their restaurant, Patios de Cafayate, offers lunch (12.30pm-2.30pm). You’ll need to reserve a table online.
Ready to plan your trip to Argentina? Don’t book anything until you’ve read our in-depth post on the best time to visit Argentina according to an expert. Are your flights booked? Discover the finest cuisine Buenos Aires has on offer here and the best places to visit in Argentina here.