Maipú
15–20 km (9–12 mi) from the city
Closest to the city, lowest, oldest. The bodegas sit near each other on flat ground, which is why the bike circuit happens here. A good first day.
Malbec and altitude
Wine
Mendoza is South America's largest wine region, and Malbec is why most people come. Here is how to make sense of it.
Why Malbec ended up here
Malbec isn't originally from Argentina. It comes from south-west France and arrived here in the 19th century, where it found a very different home.
And this is where altitude becomes important.
Many of Mendoza's vineyards sit between roughly 600 and 1,500 metres above sea level. The days are sunny, the nights can be surprisingly cold, and that big difference in temperature helps the grapes ripen slowly while keeping their acidity.
It's one of the reasons altitude is such a big part of talking about Mendoza wine. You'll often hear people mention how high a vineyard sits almost as quickly as they'll tell you which grape they're growing.
And yes, you should drink Malbec. You're in Mendoza, after all.
But don't stop there. Bonarda, Cabernet Franc and Torrontés are all worth trying too. Mendoza makes some really lovely Cabernet Franc in particular, while Torrontés is especially associated with northern Argentina.
Come for the Malbec. Stay curious about the rest.
Where to go
Three regions, three different days
Luján de Cuyo
20–30 km (12–19 mi) from the city
The historic heart of Mendoza Malbec, a little higher than Maipú. Big established names alongside small family operations.
Uco Valley
80–120 km (50–75 mi) from the city
Highest, furthest, newest. Most of the ambitious projects moved here, and so did the best views of the Andes. A full-day trip.
Go deeper
The wine guides
01 Uco Valley: Mendoza's Wine Region with the Andes at Your Table Vineyards, incredible food, modern bodegas and the Andes right behind your table. What to know before you go. 02 Mendoza Wine Tours: How to Choose One Five ways to get around the bodegas, compared honestly. No affiliate links on this page. 03 Mendoza Wine Tasting: What Actually Happens Book ahead. Then everything else on this page is detail.
Tasting prices as of July 2026
Example bodegas, and what a tasting costs
01 Santa Julia (Zuccardi): An Easy First Winery The Zuccardi family's more affordable line, in Maipú. Sensible price, close to the city — a good first stop to see how a bodega visit works. Maipú 29,000 ARS
02 Bodega Norton: Luján de Cuyo's 1895 Winery One of the oldest working bodegas in Luján de Cuyo, founded in 1895. A big, classic winery visit with a long history and a large estate. Luján de Cuyo 36,500 ARS
03 Zuccardi Piedra Infinita: The Uco Flagship The most ambitious winery in the Uco Valley. A concrete building set in stony soil under the Andes, repeatedly ranked among the world's best. Uco Valley 83,000 ARS
These are examples, not recommendations: I put them together from Google and other online sources, not from my own visits. The prices come from published rates in July 2026, in Argentine pesos. Inflation here is high, so treat them as a rough idea rather than a quote, and confirm with the bodega before you go.