Things to Do in Mendoza

The area of Mendoza is well-known for wine, with production here having started as early as the 1500s. But it was not until the 1990s that Mendoza became world-renowned for its production, mainly of reds. The vineyard Finca Decero is a newcomer to the game, built with foreign (Swiss-American) funds, to plant and construct a sustainable, hand-made vineyard “from scratch,” (as the name de cero means). Decero makes mostly single vineyard wines, inspired by one of the founding family’s connection with Napa Valley in California.

Remolinos Vineyard, one of Decero’s most famous, is located in the highest reaches of Agrelo, in Mendoza, at 3500 feet. With the area’s warm days and cool nights, and small, naturally occurring circular gusts of wind provide perfect conditions for their wines, specifically Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, though they also make blends with Petit Verdot and other varieties, much of it by hand, and all of it aged in fine-grained French oak barrels. Decero’s first wines came out in 2004, and their wines are consistently high-scoring in competitions and magazines.

The Navarro Correa Winery in Mendoza dates back to the year 1798, when the first grapes were planted at the foot of the Andes by Don Juan de Dios, who would later become an important political figure in the area.

Nowadays, visitors come from all over the world for guided tours and tastings of the reds, whites and sparkling wines for which Navarro Correa is known, which are drawn from different plantations of grapes in the Tunuyan, Tupungato, Maipu, Ugarteche, Pedriel and Agrelo regions near Mendoza. The gleaming, minimalist architecture of the tasting area and installations built in recent years have also won the vineyard attention from architecture aficionados. The visitors’ center, which is nearly 8,000 square feet, houses a wine bar, two tasting rooms, the reception area, and space for art exhibitions. Navarro Correa’s dedication to art is also seen in their wine bottle labels, which have been designed by renowned Argentine artists. The vineyard is ecologically conscious, with systems in place for recycling of water, minimal waste production and minimizing the amount of energy used in wine production.

The area surrounding Mendoza, Argentina is of great historical importance, having been used as an important pass connecting the east and west parts of the South American continent. There is a natural bridge called Puente del Inca, not far from Mendoza (towards the Andes) over the Río Mendoza, that used to have a hot spring. It is hypothesized that the bridge itself was formed by the accumulation of sediment over ice, such that the sediment petrified, and when the ice melted, it left the orange, yellow and ochre-colored bridge behind. The bridge was given its name due to the presence of the Inca people in this area, and the belief that they would have visited the springs for the curative qualities of the water. 

The bridge itself sits at about 9,000 feet, and is closed to the public, due to some instability in the structure, but it is still very photogenic. The area surrounding the bridge is spectacular, and includes views of several major peaks surrounding Aconcagua, including Tupungato, which tops out at 6,650 meters. Also nearby is the Cementerio de los Andinistas, built in homage to mountain climbers, both those who perished in the Andes, and those who had tremendous respect for the mountains.

The Achaval Ferrer Winery traces its history back only to 1998, shortly after the beginning of the Malbec boom in Mendoza. The winery is Argentine and Italian owned, and the winemakers all have decades of experience extending back to far before this project began.

The boutique winery has four different vineyards on which grapes are grown, representing four different terriors with flood irrigation that decreases the chances of phyloxera. In some cases, there are cherry or olive trees lining the vineyards. Grapes are harvested by hand, and in the early morning hours. In case of hail damage (which happens occasionally), damaged grapes are removed from the plants to keep bitterness at bay in the final product. These practices, as well as several others (such as low density of plants), keeps production low, but quality high. 

The Bella Vista Estate in Mendoza’s Luján de Cuyo is on the south bank of the Mendoza River, and this is where Achaval Ferer receives visitors for tastings and winery tours.

The Bodegas Salentein, located in Mendoza’s Valle del Uco (Uco Valley) has the largest “cool climate estate” in Mendoza. The estate covers almost five thousand acres, over 1,000 of which are planted with grapes in three different plantations, ranging in altitude from 3,000 to about 5,500 feet. They plant 80 percent red and 20 percent white grapes, and are well-known for their malbec, merlot, chardonnay and pinot noir wines.

In addition to wine tours through the cellars with more than 5,000 barrels, and tastings, the winery also has a restaurant and wine bar serving Argentine food beside their award-winning wines. There is also an exhibition space called Killka which houses paintings by Argentine and Dutch masters. Finally, there is a chapel on the grounds, inspired by Andean architecture, with earthen walls, which features lead and granite sculpture and benches carved from old olive trees. The chapel is shaded by carob trees.

A 14-ton bronze national monument atop the steps of the Hill of Glory pays tribute to the Army of the Andres battle for liberation, which freed Argentina, Chile and Peru from Spanish rule in the early 19th century. Travelers can wander the crooked path through San Martin Park, past a Greek theater and soccer stadium, to this historic monument, which was designed by a Uruguayan artist and is a recognized part of the urban skyline.

Stones for this iconic memorial were trekked in from the Uspallata area of the Mendoza Mountains. Life-like images depicting struggles, victories and historic moments are etched into the sides of the Hill of Glory, but it’s the massive statues of brave soldiers perched atop the towering rocks that make this piece of public art so noteworthy.

Unlike some of the smaller wineries in the Mendoza area, Trapiche is very well known in the international wine scene, and in fact, the winery traces its history to 1883, and began sending wines to international competitions in Paris as early as 1920. Since the 1970s, Trapiche has been exporting its wines to the international market and has won the Argentine Wine Producer of the Year award twice.  Their wines are imported by businesses in 40 countries.

But that doesn’t mean that they have sacrificed quality, and some of their best-scoring wines are a line of single vineyard Malbec, which is made from grapes from high altitude near the Mendoza River valley. Other wines they produce include Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Torrontés, Rosé, Viognier and a Pinot Grigio. Visits to the winery include a multimedia presentation, walks through the cellars and tastings.

It would be a shame if, while visiting Mendoza, Argentina’s most populous city in the western part of the country, you didn’t make it up to the Andes. Not only to see the border between Chile and Argentina, but most importantly, to glimpse these giants of the mountain world, including Aconcagua, which is the tallest mountain in the western hemisphere, at 6962 meters or 22,841 feet. A winding drive up from Mendoza reveals snowcapped peaks at every turn, and short turnoff brings you to a mirador, or lookout point, for Aconcagua itself.

While climbing the mountain is a serious affair, subject to permits, regulations and climbing fees, visiting the Provincial park of Aconcagua requires little more than a three-hour drive from Mendoza, and also puts you close to the Puente del Inca, a nearby natural attraction. Once at the Aconcagua Park, you have a few options for day hikes, including a one-hour loop suitable for children. Keep an eye out for the llama-like guanaco, or possibly red foxes, and overhead, it is common to see Andean condors.

The name Andeluna comes from a combination of the words Andes, in the foothills of which these grapes are grown, and luna (moon), which the winemakers say impart magic and inspiration to their winemaking. Andeluna harvests Argentine grapes from vineyards originally planted 125 years ago by early Italian immigrants. These are brought to a 48,000 square foot winemaking facility for the de-stemming, crush and fermentation. Andeluna was started in 2003 under the tutelage of one Argentine and one American investor, H. Ward Lay, of the Lays potato chip fortune.

The winery is located in Tupungato, Argentina, near Mendoza, and here they grow Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc, all at altitude, in this case at up to 4300 feet above sea level. The winery features classic architecture with views of the Andes Mountains, over some of the area’s prime grape vines. There is a bar, tasting room, reserve tastings in the wine cellar where they also store 1,200 barrels of wine, and a kitchen and dining room for gourmet lunches.

Maipú is a small city in the Mendoza province of Argentina, with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. It is located about 10 kilometers from the city of Mendoza. Maipú is one of the most important wine-growing regions in Argentina, and produces up to 2/3 of the country’s wine. It is located on the eastern side of the Andes, and specifically, in the shadow of Mount Aconcagua, which is the tallest mountain on the continent, at over 22,000 feet. Mendoza has wineries at altitude of between 2,000 and 4,000 feet above sea level, assuring the warm daytime temperatures and cool nighttime temperatures essential to wine production.

Maipú represents the greatest concentration of wineries is in Argentina, with more than 150 wineries, nearly 30 of which accept visitors.  It is also where the oldest winemakers in the region, such as Trapiche, which dates back to 1883, are located. 

The area around Maipú is warm and dry, and is of great historical importance, having been named for a famous battle with Chile. It is also home to a museum to wine and the wine harvest, called the Museo Nacional del Vino y la Vendimia.

This winery that grows organic grapes is easily accessible from Mendoza, in the Uco Valley, with the closest town being diminutive Tupungato. Domaine Bosquet dates to the 1990s when the Bosquet family, with a long history of winemaking in their native southern France, came to Mendoza. They eventually bought land in 1998 at the current location, where they grow grapes at approximately 1,200 meters in altitude, which makes it one of the highest altitude wineries in Mendoza and in the world. Much of the harvest is done by hand, and Domain Bousquet prides itself on combining French and Argentine traditions.

The winery has a capacity of 2.5 million liters, divided among Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, a sweet Malbec and a sparkling wine. The grapes are certified organic, and the Domaine Bosquet has been certified as fair trade as well. They offer four different types of tastings, including one that is all Malbec, and another that gives samples from the various lines, such as Reserve or Grand Reserve.

Opened in 1999, Bodega Tierras Altas was one of Mendoza's first boutique wineries. Run by the Arizu family with more than a century of experience in winemaking, the winery (bodega) produces malbec, cabernet sauvignon, and malbec rose wines, as well as a range of extra virgin olive oils.

 

Wine lovers can discover the secrets of Argentina's most famous wine during a guided tour at Tierras Altas. Stroll around the vineyards, peek behind the scenes of the winemaking process, and visit the wine cellars. After learning the step-by-step process of wine production, enjoy a guided wine tasting, straight from the barrel.

 

 

Bodega Tierras Altas is located 20 minutes south of Mendoza city by road. Biking is a popular way to reach the winery, but the hop-on hop-off Vitivinicola bus also stops right outside.

The winery is open Tuesday through Sunday. Although wine tours are possible year-round, the most pleasant time to explore the vineyards is in spring and summer, from October through March.

Mendoza is the largest wine region in South America, with three main appellations: Lujan de Cuyo, Valle de Uco, and Maipu Valley, plus more than 1,500 wineries dotting the fertile mountain valleys. The region is most famous for its malbec, which is shipped all around the world, but it's also possible to find excellent cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and syrah, as well as some white wine varieties, such as chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and riesling.

Portillo is one of Chile’s most famous ski resorts, and is set into a picturesque piece of the Andes, above a turquoise lake, and under some of the most sought-after peaks in South America. It is about a two-hour drive from Santiago, towards the Argentine border, and though it would be a good day trip, most people who ski here come for a week. The conditions here are generally some of the best in Chile, and the resort has 80% sunny days and an average seasonal snowfall of about 25 feet. The terrain maxes out at about 11,000 feet and has a vertical drop of 2500 feet.

International teams have been training here during the northern summer for decades, but the resort is mostly filled with Chilean families, especially during the July summer holidays when children have a week off from school. The high season runs until late September, but there can easily be good ski conditions through October, depending on the year.

Even if you don’t ski, a visit to the resort is beautiful at any time of year, and there is a gourmet restaurant on site, with a view over the Laguna del Inca, as well as a few walking trails you might want to try. Or head a little closer to Argentina an check out Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America at 22,841 feet.

One of Mendoza's most cutting-edge wineries, Bodega Renacer has incorporated new technology into its Argentine winemaking process since 2004. A collaboration between owner Patricio Reich and renowned winemaker Alberto Antonini, the contemporary winery is renowned for its excellent malbecs.

Wine enthusiasts can experience the winery on a tour with guided tastings of Renacer's red and white wines. After admiring the site's architecture, visitors then tour the vineyards and wine cellars to discover how science and tradition meet to create some of Argentina's most interesting new wines. The unique tour even includes a virtual reality winemaking experience.

Bodega Renacer is located about a 30-minute drive south of Mendoza city in the Perdriel region. Biking is a popular way to reach the winery, but the hop-on hop-off Vitivinicola bus also stops outside.

The winery is open daily. Although wine tours are possible year-round, the most pleasant time to explore the vineyards is in spring and summer, from October through March.

Perdriel, a Lujan de Cuyo subregion, is known for its terroir, which is credited with producing some of Mendoza's top malbecs. The area features some of Mendoza's oldest vines, and its slightly higher altitude and proximity to the Mendoza River offer a moderately cooler climate that produces soils ideal for growing malbec and cabernet sauvignon grapes. Made in one of few regions that still carries the Controlled Designation of Origin mark, Perdriel wines are known to be top quality.

Luján de Cuyo is another part of the Mendoza wine-producing region (in addition to Maipú), and was the first Argentine wine-producing region to establish its own appellation of origin. It has a long history of wine production, and is best recognized for Malbec, which is made from a grape that is originally from Bordeaux. In Luján de Cuyo, they also produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, San Giovese, Barbera and other red wines including Pinot Noir. Among whites, there are several for which they are well known, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.

In the area of Luján de Cuyo, there is also cultivation of olives and almonds, and there is some adventure tourism, including rafting, rappelling, horseback riding, parasailing and hiking, though of course some of the main activities here is visiting wineries and enjoying the local foods. Luján de Cuyo has a high concentration of vineyards, and has more than 35 wineries that are open to the public. 

Most wine tourism to Luján de Cuyo starts in Chacras de Coria, a town popular with wine and food lovers, which maintains its traditional character, including wide boulevards overhung with old trees. 

While most of Mendoza's wineries specialize in rich reds, most notably malbec, Bodega Cruzat has carved a niche for itself producing sparkling wines. Founded by winemaker Pedro Federico Rosell in 2004, Cruzat grows pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, and produces a selection of fine white and rose sparkling wines using traditional methods.

 

On a Cruzat winery tour, visitors can discover the entire wine-making process, from growing and harvesting grapes to the traditional "champenoise" method that involves a second fermentation in the bottle and produces sparkling wines. After peeking behind-the-scenes at the production area, including the wine cellars, disgorging machine, and bottle-labeling machine, sample the wines during a guided wine tasting.

 

 

Bodega Cruzat is located about a 30-minute drive south of Mendoza city in the Lujan de Cuyo region. Biking is a popular way to reach the winery, and the hop-on hop-off Vitivinicola bus also stops there every Tuesday.

 

The winery is open Monday through Saturday. Vitivinicola wine buses arrive on Tuesdays, making it one of the busiest days. Although wine tours run year-round, the most pleasant time to explore the vineyards is from October through March.

Mendoza's wine scene has constantly evolved since the millennium, and while red varietals still lead the way, a number of wineries are now devoted to producing high-quality sparkling wines. French Champagne house Moet & Chandon first realized Mendoza's potential for producing sparkling wines, setting up the Chandon Argentina winery in the 1950s. Today, along with Chandon and Cruzat, popular wineries along Mendoza's Sparkling Wine Trail include Norton and Septima.