Mendoza Wine Tour with Lunch

Malbec tastes better beneath the Andes. This full-day outing takes you from central Mendoza to three wineries in Luján de Cuyo, with generous tastings, a three-course lunch, and a stop at an olive oil producer. I like the mix of winery styles, and I like that a bilingual guide handles the driving and translation. The main concern is language balance: mixed Spanish and English groups can mean shorter English explanations.

The tour costs $225 per person and lasts about eight hours. That is not cheap, but the price covers transportation, a guide, winery visits, tastings, lunch, and olive oil sampling. If you want a relaxed introduction to Mendoza wine country without arranging several separate visits, it offers solid value.

Key points before you book

• Three different wineries: You may see a historic family bodega, a larger export producer, and a modern operation, depending on the day’s assigned itinerary.
• Luján de Cuyo setting: Vineyards sit at roughly 3,820 feet, with the Andes visible in the distance.
• Lunch is a real part of the day: The three-course meal may be served picnic-style in winery gardens, with wine included.
• Bilingual guiding: English and Spanish are both used, but English explanations may be shorter in mixed groups.
• Small-group format: Numbers are limited to 18 people, a manageable size for a full day of tasting.
• Olive oil adds variety: The LAUR visit breaks up the wine flights with a lesson and tasting focused on Mendoza’s other major agricultural product.

From Mendoza to Malbec country

The day begins at 8:30 a.m. at Rivadavia 234 in central Mendoza. The tour information also describes pickup from centrally located hotels, so I would confirm the exact meeting arrangement before you go. The return is to the same meeting point.

You ride in an air-conditioned minivan with a bilingual guide. That matters in Mendoza, where winery visits can be spread across the valley and driving after several tastings is a poor plan. The group can reach 18 people, so this is small enough to feel organized but not necessarily intimate.

Luján de Cuyo sits in the upper Mendoza Valley. At about 1,000 meters above sea level, the area supports chardonnay, malbec, and cabernet sauvignon. You will see vineyards set against the distant Andes, but the focus is on what is inside the bodegas: grape growing, fermentation, aging, and the choices that give each producer its own style.

The day usually has a calm rhythm. You visit a winery, taste several wines, board the minivan, and move to a different producer. The olive oil stop provides a useful change of pace, while lunch gives you time to sit down and talk with the people in your group.

Alta Vista: a polished first look at Mendoza wine

Bodega Alta Vista is connected to Count Patrick d’Aulan, whose family has more than 250 years of winemaking tradition. The winery combines that old European background with a New World setting and a technical team described as both multidisciplinary and bicultural.

A visit here generally lasts about 90 minutes. You can expect an introduction to the winery’s history and architecture, followed by an explanation of how the wines are made. The tasting gives you a first chance to compare varietals and practice the basics of looking at, smelling, and tasting wine.

Alta Vista has also been recognized by Wine Enthusiast as a nominee for New World Winery of the Year in 2016. That does not guarantee that every bottle will suit your taste, but it helps explain why this is more than a quick cellar stop.

One of the strongest features of this tour is the setting for lunch at Alta Vista on some departures. The meal has been served in a shaded outdoor area, sometimes as a well-organized picnic on the grass and sometimes at tables. The food has been described as generous and polished, with wine continuing through the meal.

If you care most about Malbec, pay attention during this stop. One recurring criticism is that the tastings do not always include as much Malbec as expected on a Mendoza tour. You will taste local wine, but the exact pours can vary.

Trivento and the scale of Argentine wine

The itinerary also includes Bodega Trivento, known as one of Argentina’s major winemaking and exporting companies. Its vineyards cover 1,657 hectares across Maipú, Luján de Cuyo, and the Uco Valley, and the company places emphasis on sustainable practices.

This stop gives you a different view from a small family bodega. The scale helps explain how Argentina supplies both local and international markets. You can learn how a larger producer manages vineyards in several parts of Mendoza and how soil, altitude, and climate affect the final wine.

Expect about 90 minutes here. The exact order of the wineries can change, and the tour notes say the itinerary is subject to change. That flexibility is normal in wine country, where reservations and seasonal operations can affect the day.

A larger winery may feel less personal than a small family operation. In return, it can offer a clearer picture of production at commercial scale. I would see this as a useful counterpoint rather than a flaw, especially if you are curious about how Argentine wine reaches shops and restaurants outside the country.

Tempus Alba and five generations of family winemaking

Tempus Alba brings the most personal family story to the day. The family’s connection to Mendoza reaches back five generations, beginning with vines planted after the arrival of earlier generations from Europe. The story is closely tied to water from the Andes, which made settlement and vineyard farming possible in this dry part of Argentina.

The scheduled visit can last up to three hours, making it the longest stop. That extended time allows for a fuller winery tour and a more careful tasting. You are not simply walking past tanks and barrels. The visit explains the family’s approach to grapes, production, and the work required to turn fruit into wine.

Past tours have included an English-speaking guide named Amir, who led groups through the winery and explained the philosophy behind its Malbec. Other departures have used guides such as Ana, Flavia, Marina, or Martin. Guide assignments change, but the important point is that the quality of the day depends partly on who handles the bilingual explanation.

Tempus Alba is a good place for both beginners and people who already know some wine. If you are new to tasting, ask questions and use the staff’s advice on how to compare varietals. If you already understand the basics, ask about bottles that are not part of the standard flight. A past visit allowed a guest to taste the Vero Malbec before buying it, although extra bottles and special pours are not part of the published price.

The winery can also be the most rewarding stop for anyone who values family ownership and local identity. It feels less like a generic wine attraction and more like an ongoing family project. The tradeoff is that a three-hour stop can feel long if your main goal is simply to sample as many wines as possible.

LAUR: a welcome break from wine

LAUR Olivícola was founded in 1906 and helped establish olive growing and olive oil production in Mendoza. In 2020, it was named the third most important olive oil factory in the world and the top producer in Argentina.

The visit lasts about 90 minutes. You learn how olive oil is made and taste the finished product. The stop gives your palate a rest from wine and adds another piece of Mendoza’s agricultural story.

I like this addition because it shows that Mendoza is not only about vineyards. Olive trees also thrive in the same dry climate, and the factory’s long history connects food production with the region’s early development.

Still, this is the most divisive stop. If the factory is not processing olives during your visit, the demonstration may feel less lively. Some people would rather use the time for another wine tasting. If you are focused only on Malbec, this stop may seem like a detour. If you enjoy food products, local history, and tasting something besides alcohol, it earns its place.

Lunch in the winery gardens

Lunch is one of the tour’s biggest strengths. The package includes a three-step meal, with vegetarian, vegan, and celiac-friendly menus available. You should request the appropriate menu when booking or confirm it before departure.

The meal may be arranged outdoors in a shaded winery setting. The picnic format is part of the charm: instead of rushing through a restaurant, you sit among the vines or gardens and let the day slow down. Some setups use tables, while others place guests on the grass with a full picnic arrangement.

Wine is served with lunch, and past menus have included several courses with matching pours. That makes the meal feel like the natural center of the experience rather than a basic sandwich break.

This is also when the social side of the tour works best. You share a table or picnic area with people from the minivan and have time to compare favorite wines and impressions. Solo visitors can fit in easily, though the day is especially pleasant if you enjoy meeting people from different countries.

The main practical point is pacing. You have already tasted at several wineries before lunch, so eat steadily and drink slowly. The guide is responsible for driving, but you still want enough energy for the final stop and the ride back to Mendoza.

How good is the bilingual guiding?

The tour is designed for English and Spanish speakers. That can work very well. Several past guides, including Ana and Martin, have been praised for explaining the region, answering questions, and keeping the group on schedule. One English-speaking participant found the guide especially helpful because every part of the day was translated.

But you should not assume that every explanation will be delivered at equal length in both languages. At some wineries, the staff may speak first in Spanish and then give a shorter English version. In a mixed group, that can leave you with the basic facts but fewer stories and details.

If English is important to you, tell the operator when booking and confirm the language arrangement. The tour still offers value for bilingual visitors and for people who can follow some Spanish. If you want a fully English wine education, a private tour would likely give you more control, though at a higher cost.

Price, group size, and overall value

At $225 per person, this tour sits in the higher-priced range for a full-day Mendoza activity. The value comes from the number of components included: an air-conditioned vehicle, a bilingual guide, three winery visits, wine tastings, olive oil tasting, and a three-course lunch.

You also avoid the cost and trouble of arranging transport between bodegas. That is important in Mendoza. The wineries are not all within an easy walk of one another, and driving after a full day of tastings is not sensible.

The group limit of 18 is another plus. It is not a private experience, but it is more controlled than a large coach tour. Guides can usually answer questions, and boarding the minivan is less cumbersome.

The price feels fair if you want a complete introduction to Luján de Cuyo in one day. It feels less attractive if you already know Mendoza’s wineries and would rather spend the whole day at two carefully chosen estates. It also loses value if the language arrangement does not match what you expected.

The tour is often booked about 39 days ahead, so popular dates can fill early. That is especially worth noting if your Mendoza stay is short.

What the day does especially well

The most praised part of the experience is the combination of good guides, attractive wineries, and a satisfying lunch. People who have worked with guides such as Amir, Ana, Flavia, Marina, and Martin have found the explanations friendly and clear, though assignments are not guaranteed.

The pacing is another strength. You get enough time at the wineries to understand what makes them different, rather than racing through a series of five-minute tastings. The olive oil stop breaks up the alcohol, and the outdoor lunch gives you a proper rest.

The tour also works well for mixed levels of wine knowledge. Beginners can learn how to taste without feeling out of place. More experienced drinkers can ask about production methods, local varieties, and bottles beyond the standard flight.

The weaknesses are specific rather than widespread. Tastings at one winery may be smaller than expected. A tasting flight may also be arranged in an odd order, such as sparkling wine after several reds. Winery staff and bottle purchases can occasionally be inconsistent, so check your receipt before leaving if you buy wine.

Who should book this Mendoza wine tour?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want to understand Mendoza’s wine country without renting a car. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors, and families with adults who are at least 18 for wine tasting.

It is also a good choice if you want variety. You see different winery sizes and styles, taste olive oil, and finish with a proper meal. The Andes views and vineyard scenery add plenty of atmosphere without turning the day into a sightseeing race.

I would hesitate if you need a fully English-language experience, dislike group tours, or want a specialist tasting centered only on premium Malbec. In those cases, confirm the language plan or choose a private option.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. If the operator does not reach its minimum number of participants, you can receive another date or a full refund.

FAQ

How long does the Mendoza wine tour last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending back at the meeting point in Mendoza.

Where does the tour begin and end?

The listed meeting point is Rivadavia 234, M5500GHF Mendoza, Argentina. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How many wineries does the tour visit?

The day includes visits to three wineries in the Luján de Cuyo wine area, although the exact itinerary may change.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A three-step lunch is included, with vegetarian, vegan, and celiac-friendly menus available.

Is wine tasting included?

Yes. Wine tastings are included during the winery visits. The published inclusions specifically describe visits and tastings at two wineries, while the broader itinerary and tour description include three winery stops, so confirm the exact tasting schedule before departure.

Is the olive oil visit included?

Yes. The tour includes a visit and tasting at an olive oil factory, such as LAUR Olivícola.

What is the minimum age for wine tasting?

You must be at least 18 years old to taste wine.

Is transportation provided?

Yes. Transportation in an air-conditioned minivan and a bilingual guide are included.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start for a full refund. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want one well-filled day in Mendoza wine country with transport, tastings, olive oil, and lunch already arranged. The varied winery visits and outdoor meal make it more useful than a simple hop between tasting rooms.

Before paying, confirm the meeting point, the English and Spanish balance, and which wineries are scheduled for your date. If those details suit you, the $225 price is reasonable for a full day without driving. If you want a private, Malbec-only experience with long English explanations, spend your money elsewhere.