Reviewed on 22 Nov. 2021
Reviewed on 13 Mar. 2020
Reviewed on 5 Dec. 2021
Travel through Argentina’s main wine districts to taste the products of the country’s finest red and white grapes.
The Cuyo Wine Region comprises some of the world’s most acclaimed vineyards. The nation’s malbec and cabernet sauvignon varieties are exported around the globe, putting this region’s cities on the map. Spend your holiday noting the subtle differences between wines on trips to the famous bodegas.
Visit the nation’s wine capital of Mendoza city for its many wineries and scenic valleys. Relax with a picnic that includes some locally produced wine and relish the view of the lake in the General San Martín Park. Take a tour of Bodega Norton, Bodega La Rural and Bodega Giol. Try the best wines of Lagarde Winery and Pulenta Estate Winery.
Another popular wine spot is San Rafael, which is a 3-hour car journey to the south of Mendoza city. Continue your vineyard tour with trips to Bodega Jean Rivier, Bodega La Abeja and Bodega Champanera Bianchi. See the whitewashed cathedral and town hall overlooking the impressive Plaza San Martín.
North of Mendoza province is San Juan province and its eponymous capital city, where wine and olive oil are the main products. Learn about wine production at the Santiago Graffigna Wine Museum. Take the kids to the scenic Parque de Mayo for its lakes and fields and tour the Ullum Dam that controls water flow in this arid area.
For a change of scenery, ascend to the mountains of the rocky landscape to the north of San Juan city. Wander through the moonlike terrain of the Ischigualasto Provincial Park, where evidence of dinosaurs was discovered.
The region has hot summers and mild, dry winters. Expect a little rain in the summer, which falls as snow in the higher areas.
The Cuyo Wine Region covers a large portion of western Argentina along the border with Chile. It includes the provinces of San Juan, San Luis and Mendoza as well as small parts of neighboring districts. Fly to Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport or ride a bus west for 15 hours from Buenos Aires. Alternatively, fly to Santiago de Chile and cross the border.
Visit the Cuyo Wine Region to see where some of the world’s pre-eminent grapes are grown.