Spanish missionaries planted the roots for Argentina’s wine industry over 400 years ago, but the elegant styling revealed over the past few decades is imparting the country with a prominent reputation among oenophiles worldwide.
A visit to Argentina will reach beyond the best-known labels of malbec, minting you as an expert on the vast range of Argentine varietals and revealing a bouquet of distinctive flavors that can only be tasted straight off the vine. We delve into three unsurpassed wine regions, where you’ll learn to detect the frost of cool nights in the terroir of Patagonia or the sweetness of searing sunlight that plumps the grapes in Salta.
THE PLEASURES OF PATAGONIA
Your private jet departs for the south to explore Patagonia, a tranquil region decorated with glacial lakes and fragrant pines. Touch down in Bariloche, folded into the eastern slopes of the Andes mountains at the mouth of Patagonia, ArgentinaRio Negro, for a warm welcome at the renowned Llao Llao Hotel and Resort, Golf – Spa. Your two-bedroom Moreno Lake Cabin is a detached oasis that seems to unfurl from the foot of Mount Tronador. Set sail on a private yacht, skimming the waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi as you sip a local malbec, one of the cold-climate wines famously produced in the valleys of this region. The flavors of Patagonia continue to emerge during an indulgent dinner at Cassis, where lemon verbena — grown in the onsite garden — pairs beautifully with lamb noisettes and a tasting of ruby red pinot noir and perfectly acidic sauvignon blanc. Return to the restaurant for an exclusive cooking lesson with the husband-and-wife owners, Ernesto and Mariana. Your kitchen classroom overflows with the rich aromas of simmering seasonal ingredients and locally sourced game, and a special visit to Ernesto’s private cellar reveals a trove of Rio Negro varietals, including the exceptional gravity-decanted wines from nearby vineyards Bodega Secreto Patagonico and Bodega Noemia de Patagonia.
MENDOZA’S MÉLANGE
Work your way up to the province of Mendoza, cradled in the central foothills of the Andes where high plains string together the three bountiful wine regions of Lujan de Cuyo, Valle de Uco and Maipu. Under radiant blue skies, the practice of high-altitude winemaking has spawned more than 1,500 wineries and cemented Mendoza’s reputation as one of the world’s foremost wine regions, with an annual Grape Harvest Festival to unite vintners and aficionados. The area’s prized malbecs are certainly worth celebrating — you’ll sample this favorite full-bodied red on a guided tasting that follows Mendoza’s Wine Road, accompanied by an oenology expert to provide insight beyond the cellar door. After swirling your glass at wineries like Bodega O. Fournier, where the roster of award-winning wines scrolls on almost as endlessly as the 2,800 barrels below ground, head to the town of Mendoza. Here you can experience the beautifying benefits of the region’s favorite fruit with a Grape Body Masque or Wine Facial at Park Hyatt Mendoza’s Kaua Club and Spa. Further indulge with a dinner at local favorite, Francis Mallmann 1884. Chef Orlando Díaz Masa’s rustic menu of clay oven-cooked potatoes and parrilla-grilled prime beef are an impressive opener for the 12,000-bottle reserve which ranges from rare vintages, to Bodega Escorihuel blends that grow just steps away.
THE SECRETS OF SALTA
This rugged province comprised of salt flats and mountain roads in Argentina’s northwest is home to sun-drenched vineyards that crest red rock formations. With vines first planted in the 16th century, a unique warm-weather microclimate creates growing conditions ideal for torrontés, a varietal that has brought the Cafayate Argentine Wineregion recognition despite equally extraordinary syrahs and tannats. Take an active approach to vineyard visits as you bike through Las Yungas Biosphere Reserve, where sugar cane and cotton plants carpet the subtropical forest and over 200 bird species dart overhead. Ascend almost 6,000 feet to Bodega Nanni and meet the fourth-generation winemakers who pour you a glass of the aromatic torrontés in a tile-roofed tasting room. A visit to nearby Cabras de Cafayate makes a perfect pairing: greet the goats who roam this working farm and sample a range of smoked, soft and semi-hard cheeses produced by the herd. Follow cacti-dotted roads to an indigenous village for a performance of traditional Andean music before arriving in the province’s eponymous town of Salta for a sunset stroll. An expert guide accompanies you on the colonial streets lined with neo-classical buildings and shares the secrets of “La Linda,” the beautiful city. Then, depart for the tropical Iguazú Falls, a juncture of rivers, gorges and a spectacular half-moon waterfall that mists the lush rainforest of this UNESCO World Heritage site. The sound of rushing water underscores a panoramic vista and provides a fitting final view of Argentina’s diverse and uncanny natural wonders.
Contact us today to start planning your wine-tasting tour through Argentina. We’ll arrange an unforgettable introduction in Buenos Aires and imbue your exploration further afield with insider experiences and expert guides — ensuring every encounter is brimming with authentic tastes.
Of course you don’t just have to take a luxury wine tour of Argentina, we have plenty of Argentina escorted tours that mix wine tasting along with all the major sites and sounds that this region has to offer.
Types of Wine that come from Argentina:
Red Grapes Varietals: Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Petit Sirah, Pinto Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo & Zinfandel
White Grape Varietals: Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo & Viognier
