10 Days in Argentina Wine Country — Mendoza & Beyond

Argentina produces more Malbec than the rest of the world combined — and most of it comes from Mendoza, a city at the foot of the Andes at 750 metres altitude. The combination of hot, dry summers, intense UV radiation, and cold nights produces wines of extraordinary concentration and colour. But Mendoza is not Argentina's only wine story. Four hours north by domestic flight or bus, the Cafayate valley in Salta province sits at 1,700 metres and produces Torrontés — a fragrant white grape found almost nowhere else on earth.

This 10-day itinerary spends four days in Mendoza and its sub-regions, one day making the crossing to the Valle de Uco, and three days in Cafayate before returning to Mendoza for a final bicycle-and-wine day in Maipú. Total budget: US$150/day mid-range, including accommodation at US$60–120/night.

Arriving in Mendoza

Most international flights arrive via Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE). From there, domestic flights to Mendoza (MDZ) take 1.5 hours; Aerolíneas Argentinas and LATAM fly multiple daily departures from around US$80–150 return. Alternatively, overnight sleeper buses from Buenos Aires Retiro station cost US$30–60 and take 14 hours — the premium "cama suite" seats are flat and surprisingly comfortable.

Time zone: Mendoza operates on UTC-3 (same as Buenos Aires). Currency: Argentine Peso (ARS). The blue-rate informal exchange delivers significantly better rates than official bank rates — exchange at hotels or licensed "cuevas" in Mendoza city. Always carry US dollars cash for this.

Day 1 — Arrive Mendoza, Explore City Centre

Mendoza city is an elegant tree-lined grid with a serious wine bar scene. Check into a hotel in the Aristides neighbourhood or near Parque General San Martín. Spend the afternoon walking the Arístides Villanueva strip — the street lined with wine bars, restaurants, and empanada shops. Visit The Vines of Mendoza wine bar on Espejo for a structured regional introduction: US$30 gets you 8 wines from across Mendoza's sub-regions with expert commentary.

For dinner, try Azafrán on Sarmiento — widely regarded as Mendoza's finest restaurant, with a wine list of 700 labels. Budget US$60–90 per person with wine pairing. For something more local, the parrilla (grill) at La Marchigiana on Patricias Mendocinas has been feeding the city since 1950.

Days 2–3 — Luján de Cuyo: The Malbec Heartland

[Luján de Cuyo](https://winetravelguides.com/mendoza) is 25km south of Mendoza city and sits at 950–1,100 metres. This is the sub-region that defined Argentine Malbec. Rent a bike or hire a driver — the distances between estates are 5–15km.

Day 2: Start at Achaval-Ferrer on Cobos for their single-vineyard Finca Bella Vista Malbec (one of Argentina's most expensive and most celebrated bottles). Book the guided cellar and tasting (US$35). Then drive to Cheval des Andes — the joint venture between Château Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes — which makes one wine per year from old-vine Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. The tasting experience is understated and exceptional.

Day 3: Spend the day at Bodega Catena Zapata, the iconic pyramid-shaped winery above Agrelo. The Adrianna Vineyard wines at the top of their range sell for US$300+/bottle; the Catena and Catena Alta labels are world-class at US$25–50. The tasting room has mountain views and a structured tour of the winery's history. Book well in advance. Nearby Zuccardi Valle de Uco has won "World's Best Winery" from Wine Spectator — their Concreto Malbec is made in massive concrete eggs and worth tasting.

Day 4 — Valle de Uco Day Trip

The Valle de Uco sits 100km south of Mendoza city at 1,050–1,200 metres — one of the highest wine valleys in Argentina. The drive via Ruta 40 takes 90 minutes. This is the frontier of Argentine fine wine, where limestone soils and altitude produce wines of greater freshness and complexity than the warmer Luján de Cuyo. Zuccardi Valle de Uco (see Day 3), O. Fournier, and Clos de los Siete (Michel Rolland's seven-producer consortium) are all here.

For lunch, the Francis Mallmann Siete Fuegos restaurant at The Vines Resort in Tunuyán is one of South America's great dining experiences — the open-fire cooking and the Andes backdrop make it worth the US$80+ price tag. Book months in advance for dinner; lunch is sometimes available on shorter notice.

Day 5 — Fly to Cafayate (via Salta)

Domestic flights from Mendoza to Salta (SLA) take 1.5 hours, from US$80–130. From Salta city, it's a spectacular 3-hour drive south through the Quebrada de las Conchas (Gorge of the Seashells) to Cafayate — a canyon of coloured sandstone that rivals the American Southwest. Hire a car or join a shared transfer (US$25–40). Arrive in Cafayate mid-afternoon.

Cafayate is a small colonial town at 1,683 metres altitude, surrounded by vineyards. Check into Patios de Cafayate (the most comfortable hotel, attached to Bodega El Esteco) or one of the many charming posadas for US$60–100/night.

Days 6–8 — Cafayate: Torrontés Country

[Cafayate](https://winetravelguides.com/argentina) produces 90% of the world's Torrontés — a grape that smells like Muscat and Gewürztraminer but tastes bone dry. The high altitude, intense UV, and cool nights preserve extraordinary aromatics. Three days here is ideal.

Day 6: Bodega El Esteco sits in a historic 1892 hacienda with a wine museum and excellent guided tour (US$20 including tastings). Their Don David Torrontés is the benchmark; the Altimus Malbec shows what high altitude does to the variety. Afternoon visit to Bodega Nanni — the oldest bodega in Cafayate, family-run for three generations. Walk the town plaza at sunset with a glass from any of the street-facing wine bars.

Day 7: Drive north 40km to Tacuil in the remote Calchaquí Valleys — one of Argentina's most isolated wine estates at 2,200 metres altitude. The Tacuil Malbec and Criolla Grande from centenarian vines are extraordinary. The drive is an adventure in itself on unsealed roads through indigenous Andean communities. Pack lunch and allow a full day.

Day 8: Visit Clos de los Siete Cafayate vineyards (their parcels extend into this valley) and spend the morning at El Porvenir de Cafayate — their Amauta Torrontés is consistently one of the valley's top three. In the afternoon, explore the sandstone formations in the Quebrada de las Conchas on the road back towards Salta: the Amphitheatre, Devil's Throat, and Castles formations are 30 minutes north of town and free to visit.

Day 9 — Return to Mendoza, Maipú Bicycle Tour

Fly back from Salta to Mendoza (1.5 hours). The afternoon and Day 10 are spent in Maipú — Mendoza's most accessible wine sub-region, 15km southeast of the city, famous for organised bicycle wine tours. Rent bikes (US$12/day) from Mr. Hugo or Maipu Bikes near the main square and follow the circuit of 12 wineries within 10km of each other.

Priority stops on the bicycle circuit: Familia Zuccardi (different from Valle de Uco — this is the original family winery with free cycling maps), Di Tomasso for their Torrontés and Chardonnay, and La Rural wine museum (Museo Nacional del Vino) — the most comprehensive wine history exhibit in South America, housed in a 1885 bodega. Entry is US$8.

Day 10 — Final Day, Return Flight

Most international connections leave Mendoza midday or evening for Buenos Aires. Spend the morning at Vines of Mendoza, where their Crush programme allows you to blend your own barrel sample (90-minute session, US$45). Alternatively, the Mercado Central in Mendoza city has excellent empanadas and local produce for last-minute provisions.

Budget Breakdown (Mid-Range, 10 Days)

• Accommodation: US$60–120/night (US$600–1,200 total)
• Wine tastings: US$15–35 per estate, 2–3 estates/day (US$300–700 total)
• Meals: US$25–55/day (US$250–550 total)
• Domestic flights (2 sectors): US$160–260
• Car rental/transfers: US$200–350 for 10 days
• Total: approx US$1,510–3,060 per person

Practical Tips

• Altitude: Mendoza is 750m; Cafayate is 1,683m. Headaches are common on arrival — rest, hydrate, avoid alcohol on day 1.
• Currency: Carry USD cash for the informal exchange rate (30–50% better than official).
• Language: Spanish-only at most wineries outside Mendoza city. Learn básico wine vocabulary.
• Booking: Catena Zapata, Achaval-Ferrer, Cheval des Andes, and Francis Mallmann all require advance reservations.
• Full regional guide: Argentina wine guide