Traveling to Mendoza and visiting wineries can be a dream plan for a wine lover or anyone looking for a few days of relaxation in what we call “Disney for adults,” but it may not be as simple as it seems. Here are some tips to make it a dream trip.
1) Planning: It’s crucial to plan this tour well in advance. Select wineries, areas, lunches, service providers, and accommodation. Every reputable winery requires prior reservations; tasting rooms have limited capacities of 8, 10, or 12 people, and wineries offer three or four daily tours. Once reservations are filled, there’s no more availability. You can’t just show up at a winery without a reservation to visit, taste wines, or even buy. It’s ideal to manage reservations at least thirty days in advance.
2) Where to Go: In Mendoza, there are three wine tourism regions: Luján de Cuyo, Maipú, and Valle de Uco. It’s reasonable not to visit more than one region in a single day to avoid wasting time on the road. Distances between wineries can be considerable; for example, it takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to drive from Zuccardi Piedra Infinita to Huentala Wines, both located in Valle de Uco. Hiring someone knowledgeable and seeking advice is a wise decision.
3) A Day at Wineries: The typical itinerary for a day tour includes visiting and tasting at two wineries and having lunch at a third. However, it’s highly recommended to reduce this to one winery visit and tasting along with lunch. This allows for a more relaxed day without rushing from one winery to another.
4) Listen to Wine Tourism Experts: Mendoza boasts over a thousand wineries, and often the best ones are not the most famous. Be skeptical of marketing campaigns in traditional media and awards like “Best Winery Restaurant in the World,” “Best Architecture,” “Best View,” or “Best Chef.” Truly good wineries don’t buy awards to get featured in newspapers.
5) Opening Hours and Dinner: Keep in mind that wineries generally open from 10:00 to 17:00, with rare exceptions. There are no afternoon visits to wineries or dinners at winery restaurants. Typically, if you’ve had lunch at a winery (which is very substantial and wine-filled), you won’t need dinner reservations; a light evening stroll and early rest are preferable to prepare for another day of wine tasting.
6) What Are You Looking For?: Be honest with yourself. You don’t need to pretend to be a wine connoisseur if you’re not. It’s better to come to Mendoza to learn and enjoy a dream weekend, taste the best wines, and take glamorous photos. Be clear with yourself and your travel companions about your expectations. Whether you’re a group of friends looking for fun or a couple celebrating a milestone anniversary, your preferences for winery ambiance will differ.
7) Transportation: Wineries in Mendoza are not in the city; they are in rural areas with no efficient public transport. Depending on your budget, there are many alternatives from regular tours with traditional agencies (where you travel by bus or minibus with a group) to private tours with a chauffeur and bilingual expert guide. At Discovery Wines Mendoza, we specialize in private tours where you visit selected wineries and enjoy private tastings in exclusive settings.
8) Children and Wineries: While it’s possible to organize, it’s not recommended at all. A wine tour in Mendoza is an adult plan for a relaxing getaway; it’s not suitable for families. Children and parents won’t enjoy it, and the boredom for minors will be significant. Despite potentially impacting sales, it’s honest to say that leaving children behind for two or three days is better. You can always return to enjoy wines with them when they’re older. As someone who shares wine and this wine tourism project with my children, I can attest that tasting wine with them is close to pure happiness.
Author: Hugo Laricchia
