Wine Tasting in Argentina

Enjoy Malbec on an Argentina Wine Tour

Argentina is one of the strongest makers of wine in South America. Mendoza is the main area for wine-growing, due to its year-round sunshine. The wines are delicious here, especially in view of the snow-capped Andes Mountains beyond the wineries, glistening with sunshine. There are also fine dining restaurants and gourmet cooking classes in Mendoza, so you can pair your wines with great food. You can even visit an Argentine wine festival.

But you can also try activities like horseback riding, white water rafting, hiking, and mountain biking while on one of our Argentina wine tours. Mendoza is located near the Andes Mountains, and so there’s great hiking. Plus, the rushing waters of the Mendoza River make for great white water rafting. So come for the unique and delicious wines, but stay for the whole experience.

Celebrate the Vendimia Wine Festival

The Vendimia Wine Festival is a celebration of the grape harvest, held every February in Mendoza, Argentina. Late February-March is the best time to take an Argentina wine tour because the Vendimia celebration is in full swing. During the Vendimia festivities, you can partake in merrymaking such as movie nights, activities for children, open-air dancing, and a crafts show where local artisans sell their wares. Traditional Mendocino food is in abundance.

Vendimia Wine Festival Activities

The main attraction of the celebration is the Via Blanca de las Reinas, a parade through town with colorful floats, dancers, and music that celebrate the queens of each department of the Mendoza province. The candidates for Harvest Queen enjoy tossing fruits to the adoring crowds. The crowning event is the naming of the Grape Harvest Queen, a tradition that’s been going on since 1936. There is even a fireworks show to accompany the crowning of the Queen.

Soon after, another parade comes to town: the Carrusel de Vendimia. Focusing more on the rich colonial history of the Mendoza province, this parade includes gauchos dressed in full cowboy gear, traditional musicians and dancers, and horse-drawn carriages that hearken back to the colonial era.

The final spectacle is the Acto Central, an elaborate lights and music show held in the Greek Theatre (el Teatro Griego) in Mendoza. Hundreds of dancers and musicians perform traditional folktales as well as other impressive feats. You must purchase a ticket in advance in order to see the show, but it’s also possible to view the show from the surrounding hillsides, where local families bring chairs and picnics for the evening spectacle.

Planning Wine Tours in Argentina

On an Argentina wine tour, expect to enjoy plenty of wine, lamb asado, beefsteak, and meat empanadas while touring the country. Most wine tours start from Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires. Surrounding this bustling capital are the famous pampas where gauchos herd cattle, and so beefsteak is a staple throughout the region. After a Buenos Aires tour head over to Mendoza, located in the northern highlands of Argentina near Chile.  This is where the major wine tasting takes place.

Usually, a half-day wine tour includes visiting two or three bodegas. A full day might include more tasting and local lunch. Our Essential Mendoza Wine Tour includes all you need for a first visit. Both Buenos Aires and Mendoza offer various cooking classes so if you want to try how to prepare a steak or become an empanadas master – just go for it! You might also want to head over the Andes to Santiago, another excellent location for wine and food tasting. There’s so much you can do and see on a wine tour Argentina.