Mendoza Wine Country

All across Argentina and much of the world, the name Mendoza is synonymous with wine. With more than a thousand wineries, Mendoza has become a hot destination in South America. Some say it is reminiscent of Napa Valley twenty years ago, but as New York Times writer, Ann Marie Gardner, puts it, "Why go to the Napa Valley when you drink more exotic and affordable wines, and go horseback riding across the magnificent Andes Mountains with sexy Latin meat eaters?" Aside from that, what sets Mendoza apart from their counterparts in Napa, Bordeaux, and Tuscany is that most Argentine vineyards are willing to share recipe and techniques with visitors. Most vineyard tours are free and include a sample tasting but require reservations which will allow you to get up close and personal with barrels, equipment, and grapes.



Mendoza is a mere two hours plane ride from Buenos Aires. European settlers introduced the ancient craft of winemaking in the 19th century, and ever since Mendoza has been producing delectable wines. The fourth largest city in Argentina has wide, leafy streets, scenic plazas with glorious fountains, and cosmopolitan restaurants. The city is vivacious during the day, but really gets going at night when the bars, restaurants, and cafes open up along Av Aristides.



March harvest, when the region turns into a weeklong party, is an ideal time to visit. There are also festivals like the Wine Fair, when big-name chefs from all over the world take over the kitchens of big-name vineyards. With that said, anytime you take a trip to Mendoza, the wine will be flowing and it is bound to be full of excitement. So take a few bottles down, take a few bottles home, or just have a glass with dinner.



Continue to bask in pure gluttony, or explore the area. There is plenty of adventure tourism including world-class hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, horseback riding, and skiing.



This guide to a Mendoza vacation in Argentina was written by a Argentina travel expert at Argentina For Less available to help you custom design your exciting Argentina vacations.