Iconic Concierge Winter 2022/23

Close to the Chilean border and east of Mount Aconcagua,
the highest peak in South America, Mendoza is famous for
producing most of Argentina’s wine. A bustling cosmopolitan
city of wide, tree-lined avenues, atmospheric plazas
and cosmopolitan cafes, Mendoza offers some incredible
outdoor adventures, including white water rafting, fly fishing,
horseback riding into the Andes, biking through the
vineyards for casual wine tastings, and for the more ambitious,
mountain climbing. Most visitors, however, come for
touring some of the more than 1200 wineries, world-class
restaurants and resorts with award-winning spas.
One of the eleven Great Wine Capitals, Mendoza vineyards
are planted at some of the highest altitudes in the world.
The wine region is divided into three main growing regions:
Maipú, Uco Valley, and Luján de Cuyo.
Maipu is the sub-region closest to the city of Mendoza and
can be reached in just 20 minutes. It is more compact than
other wine regions and bikes are the most popular way to
get around. Maipu has the warmest climate and produces
full-bodied wines with high levels of alcohol, fruity flavours,
and powerful tannins. The altitude ranges from 650m to
1000m above sea level. Luján de Cuyo, located about 30
minutes from Mendoza, was the first region in Argentina to
be officially recognized as an appellation in 1993. Most vineyards
are found to be planted at an altitude of about 1000m
and the most prominent grape varietals grown are Malbec,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Torrontes.
The Uco Valley, Mendoza’s newest and smallest growing
region, lies about 120km from Mendoza city and can be
reached in about 90 minutes. Here, visitors will find some
of the most spectacular views of the region. Situated in the
foothills of the Andes and among the highest of elevations,
ranging from 850–1200m, this wine-growing area is dotted
with blue lakes and rolling vineyards. On average, there are
over 300 days of sunshine per year and paired with frigid
nightly temperatures, crisp, clear and pure meltwater from
the thawing Andes Mountains and the minerals from the
sandy, gravelly and clay-rich soil, you will not only find the
world’s best Malbec but Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc
of the red varietals and Torrontes, Chardonnay and Sauvignon
Blanc of the white varietals. You can find out more
about this fascinating region in our Catena Zapata article.
How to get here
Going to Mendoza, you will usually come from either Buenos
Aires or Santiago, Chile. Should you come from Buenos
Aires, which is about 1000km away, you can reach Mendoza
in less than 2 hours by plane, or - for those who seek more of
an adventure – you can take a long-distance bus that makes
the trip every day and takes approximately 14 hours. Should
you come from Santiago, you can reach Argentina’s wine
region in just 30 minutes by plane, or opt for what is often
described as one of the best bus rides in the world. On
board one of the many luxurious buses, the 600km journey
through the Andes will offer some breathtaking views and
will take around 6 to 7 hours.
Winery tours
The most popular way to discover Mendoza’s vineyards is
on an organized tour. Guided by a local wine expert, you’ll
have the chance to visit some of the best wineries and learn
about making and tasting different varieties. You can also
book a private tour and pick the wineries of your choice and
create your own itinerary.
Where to stay
The choice is yours: If you want to wake up to sunrise over
rows and rows of beautiful vineyards, you have to stay at
one of the many winery hotels and resorts. However, if you
like to head out for a walk in the evening, exploring interesting
shops, cafes and amazing restaurants in walking distance,
stay in the center of downtown Mendoza.
Our recommendation - the Park Hyatt Mendoza.
Hotels/ Resorts
Park Hyatt Mendoza
Cavas Wine Lodge
Vines Resort and Spa
Alpasión Lodge
MAY WE RECOMMEND ...
Restaurants
Casa Vigil/ El Enemigo (Maipú)
Azafran (Mendoza City)
Siete Fuegos (Uco Valley)
Piedra Infinita/Zuccardi (Uco Valley)
Things to Do
Helicopter Tours: helitronador.com
Horseback Riding
Tour Aconcagua Park
Paragliding | River Rafting
40 ICONIC CONCIERGE