A Wine Lover’s Guide to Mendoza, Argentina

How Mendoza Found Me After 32 Hours of Travel

I had dreamed of Mendoza for years. When I finally landed—after a 32+ hour journey filled with reroutes, delays, and a missing suitcase—I was reminded that sometimes the most beautiful destinations demand a little surrender first. Nestled at the foot of the Andes, Argentina's wine capital met me not with ease, but with a lesson in patience, perspective, and presence.

This journey wasn't just about wine. It was about people. About edges. About the quiet power of land that speaks through vines. Here's what I discovered, glass by glass, step by step.

Where Is Argentina? And Why Is It Perfect for Wine?

Argentina is located in the southern half of South America, bordered by Chile to the west and south, and stretching from subtropical lowlands in the north to the icy wilderness of Patagonia in the south. Most of Argentina’s vineyards are situated close to the Andes Mountains and spread across 1,500 kilometers, from Salta Province in the north to Río Negro and Neuquén in Patagonia. The vineyards here are planted at high altitudes, ranging from 600 to over 2,000 meters above sea level. These elevations allow for cooler sites despite the proximity to the equator, giving wines from Argentina their signature freshness and purity.

Malbec is the country’s most famous black grape—deep, plush, and expressive—while Torrontés is the best-known white, offering floral intensity and bright acidity. Other red varieties include Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot, along with smaller plantings of Tempranillo and Pinot Noir. For whites, Chardonnay stands out, particularly from higher elevation sites. Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, and Semillon also thrive here.

Discovering Mendoza: Argentina's Wine Capital

I visited Mendoza Province, which produces the vast majority of Argentina’s wines. This is a high desert, protected by the Andes to the west. Mendoza is divided into several departments, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley—two of the most prestigious winegrowing areas.

Though I didn't make it to Buenos Aires on this trip, locals told me that Mendoza is where Argentinians—especially porteños (Buenos Aires residents)—go to reset. It's their retreat. Their refuge. Their Napa. And while Buenos Aires is officially one of my home town Chicago's Sister Cities, Mendoza felt like a soul sister—connected through spirit rather than policy. Here, time stretches out, and wine becomes the language of connection.

Where I stayed- Hotels in Mendoza: Where to Stay for Comfort & Views

Amérian Executive Hotel, Chacras de Coria – My first base, located in a quiet village with local wine bars and a sense of calm that helped me recover from the long journey.

Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort – A dream stay in the heart of the Uco Valley. Mornings here meant mountain light, vineyard walks, and one unforgettable horseback ride through the foothills.

Diplomatic Hotel, Mendoza City – My final weekend retreat. A gym for grounding, a buffet for comfort, and the perfect location to stroll the quiet Sunday streets and reflect on it all.

Daily Mendoza Wine Itinerary: Tastings, Vineyards, and Personal Moments

Day 1: Arrival and Reset

Thirty-two hours of travel teaches you things. I learned to be the calm in the storm, to greet chaos with charm, and to appreciate the travel companion beside me (shoutout to Todd Nelson). When I finally arrived, exhausted but open, Mendoza welcomed me with a softness I didn't expect—and didn't know I needed.

Day 2: Viña Cobos and Malbec with a Breeze

At Viña Cobos, we walked the vineyards of  Chañares Estate in the region of Valle de Uco. These vineyards lie in the foothills of the Andes, southwest of Mendoza City. The area is known for  world class Malbecs that are structured and elegant. Here, Cabernet Franc also thrives in rocky desert soils that see just 8 inches of rain annually. At Chañares Estate, I stood where Paul Hobbs first saw potential in wildness. Later came an empanada-making class where mine turned out overstuffed and under-crimped (13 crimps is apparently the rule here), but delicious nonetheless. That night at Urrutigoity Cocina, the 2021 Viña Cobos Zingaretti Estate Malbec whispered dark red fruit with a cool breeze at its core.

Day 3: Sustainability and Soul at Santa Julia

Bodegas Santa Julia showed us sustainability in action—organic vineyards, a women's sewing workshop created for community economic empowerment, and olive oil that tasted warm, earthy, and a little spicy. We sampled wines that told revealed the future of Argentine wine:

Santa Julia Natural Rosé (nicknamed "Elburro") – vibrant and electric
Santa Julia Natural Torrontés – textured, bright, and alive

More than anything, I felt the richness of our group—wine professionals of all ages and backgrounds having honest conversations about inclusion and legacy. It reminded me: Mendoza is more than a wine trip. It's a heart trip.

Day 4: Horseback and High-Elevation Wines in the Uco Valley

In Gualtallary, in the Uco Valley, we visited vineyards planted between 900 and 1,500 meters above sea level. Cool nights and high elevation give these wines remarkable freshness and aromatic lift. Agronomist Martín di Stefano spoke of "contemplative viticulture"—a practice of listening to the land. We tasted Zuccardi's Chardonnay and Malbec right in the vineyard where they were born. Later, I rode a horse through the Andes foothills under the Uco Valley sun. That quiet adventure was a return—to curiosity, to stillness, to myself.

Day 5: Piedra Infinita and a Lesson in Stillness

At Zuccardi Valle de Uco, every detail felt intentional. Concrete fermentation. Mountain soil expression. Wines are still evolving. We tasted 2025 vintages still searching for their voice. Sebastián Zuccardi and his team aren't just making wine—they're crafting meditations in a bottle.

We closed the day with dinner at Flor del Desierto—a meal that tasted like gratitude.

Weekend: Slow Walks and City Soul

I stayed a little longer, exploring Mendoza's city streets, enjoying slow mornings, long walks, and moments of solitude. At the Diplomatic Hotel, I found space to reflect—to let everything I'd tasted, seen, and felt begin to settle into memory.

Argentine Wines to Try: 3 Recommendations

These aren't just wines—they're stories in a bottle. Here are three worth seeking out (as seen on WGN Spotlight Chicago):

Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2022
Fermented in concrete to preserve purity and texture. Tastes like wild berries and violet, with the minerality of the mountains woven through every sip.

Bramare Luján de Cuyo Malbec 2022
From Viña Cobos—rich, elegant, and built to impress. Dark fruit with balanced structure that doesn't overwhelm.

Bodegas Salentein Reserve Cabernet Franc 2022
A rising star from Argentina. Herbaceous, spicy, and food-friendly with a refined edge that makes you reconsider what Cabernet Franc can be.

watch the tv segment 

Planning Your Mendoza Wine Trip: When to Go, Where to Eat, and What to Know

When to Go:
March–May for harvest season energy, or October–December for spring blooms.

Where to Eat:

Pan y Oliva – Honest, local cuisine on the Santa Julia estate
Piedra Infinita Cocina – A standout Zuccardi wine lunch experience

Pro Tips:
Hire a driver—Mendoza's wine regions are spread out, and you'll want to fully indulge
Schedule long winery lunches—they're meals, memories, and masterclasses in one
Pack light (but do pack your edge control)

Final Sip: What This Wine Journey Taught Me

There's a certain peace that lives in precision. A clarity that only shows up when you slow down. In Mendoza, I remembered that wine is more than flavor—it's feeling. It's geography. It's generosity. It's standing in the soil, riding toward the mountains, and letting the story pour through you.

Sometimes the most profound journeys begin with surrender. Mine did. And Mendoza poured back everything I gave it—multiplied.