Mendoza wine route: Luján, Maipú or the Uco Valley

Mendoza produces most of Argentina’s wine, but not every part of the province offers the same experience. Luján de Cuyo, Maipú and the Uco Valley are the three most visited areas, and each one has its own style, its own distance from the city and its own type of winery. Choosing well saves you hours on the road and makes sure the experience matches what you are looking for.

In this guide we tell you what each area offers, who it suits and how to combine them. If you want to arrive with everything sorted, at Planet Travel we have Mendoza packages from Uruguay that include winery visits, as well as group departures by bus with a guide from Uruguay.

The three areas at a glance

Maipú: the closest to the city, ideal for a first day, for cycling and for anyone interested in wine history.
Luján de Cuyo: the cradle of Malbec, with many of the best-known wineries and outstanding food experiences.
Uco Valley: the highest and most remote, with Andean scenery and design-led wineries. It takes a full day.

Maipú: close by, traditional and by bike

Maipú is about 12 to 15 km from downtown Mendoza, which makes it the most practical area if you are short on time. It is one of the province’s wine regions with the most history and combines family wineries with larger estates.

What to do in Maipú

Tour the wineries by bike: there are bike rentals and several wineries are just a few minutes from each other, so you can put together your own circuit.
Visit olive oil factories: Maipú is known for its olive production and many olive mills offer tastings.
Try regional products: besides wine, you will find artisan liqueurs, preserves and sweets.

Who it suits

Anyone doing their first wine route, traveling on a tight budget or wanting a relaxed day without long transfers. If you are going by bike, set off early to avoid the midday heat in summer.

Luján de Cuyo: the cradle of Malbec

Luján de Cuyo is about 20 to 30 minutes by car from the city and is the area many people directly associate with Mendoza Malbec. It has a large concentration of renowned wineries and a very strong food scene, with multi-course lunches paired with wine.

What to do in Luján de Cuyo

Lunch at a winery: it is the area’s signature plan; several wineries have restaurants overlooking the vineyards.
Comparative tastings: many wineries offer tastings of different lines or of Malbec from different plots.
Combine it with Maipú: since the two areas are next to each other, you can visit one winery in each on the same day.

Who it suits

Anyone who wants to taste benchmark Malbec and make a long lunch the highlight of the day. It is also the best option if you only have one day for wineries and want something more complete than Maipú without going far.

Uco Valley: altitude, the Andes and design-led wineries

The Uco Valley brings together the departments of Tupungato, Tunuyán and San Carlos, south of the city. It is the highest area: depending on the sector, the vineyards range from roughly 900 to 1,700 meters above sea level. That altitude, with cool nights and a wide temperature range, produces wines with good acidity and freshness.

What to do in the Uco Valley

Visit wineries with contemporary architecture: many were designed to blend into the landscape and are an attraction in themselves.
Have lunch facing the Andes: the view of the snow-capped mountains behind the vineyards is the area’s signature image.
Stay the night: there are lodges among the vineyards, a good option if you want to avoid a same-day round trip.

Who it suits

Anyone who already knows a bit about wine, is after scenery and doesn’t mind devoting the whole day to it. Since the wineries are farther apart, it is hard to visit more than two or three in one day.

How to combine them depending on how many days you have

If you have one day

Do Luján de Cuyo, or a mix of Luján and Maipú. It is close by and you get variety without spending hours on the road.

If you have two days

One day for Maipú and Luján de Cuyo, and a full day for the Uco Valley. That way you see both ends: the traditional area close to the city and the high-altitude area.

If you have three days or more

Spend one day in each area. It lets you compare styles at a relaxed pace and alternate with other excursions, such as the Alta Montaña (High Andes). If you want to plan the whole week, we have a Mendoza in a week itinerary.

When to do the wine route

Grape harvest (late February to April): it is harvest season, with lots of activity at the wineries and special events. The National Grape Harvest Festival (Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia) is held in early March. It is high season, so book in advance.
Spring (September to November): mild weather and budding vineyards, ideal for lunch outdoors.
Winter: the vines are bare and it can be too cold to eat outside, but there are fewer people.

Tips to enjoy the wineries

Always book ahead: most wineries work by appointment with limited spots, especially for lunches.
No more than three a day: two visits and a lunch already make a full day.
Arrange your transport: if you are going to taste, don’t drive. A tour, a private car service or a hired driver solves the problem.
Eat before the first tasting: morning tastings on an empty stomach hit harder than you might think.
Ask about shipping or carrying bottles: if you are going to buy wine, think about how you will take it back to Uruguay.

If you want the wine route to be part of a ready-made trip, you can see the Argentina packages and choose the one that suits you best.