Tour of 3 wineries in Maipú with lunch + olive groves

Three wineries, one long Mendoza lunch. This seven-hour outing gives you a useful taste of traditional Maipú winemaking, with guided visits, tastings, and a meal paired with local wine. I especially like that lunch is part of the plan rather than an extra cost, and that the day includes three different winery stops instead of one rushed visit. The main caution is comfort: one guest found the vehicle too small for four people, while another praised the comfortable car and door-to-door service.

I also like the practical hotel pickup from central Mendoza and the chance to taste Mendoza alfajores at the final winery. Keep your expectations flexible, since the wineries can change if a scheduled property cannot be confirmed, and the driver may speak Spanish even when the winery visits are arranged in English.

Key Points To Know Before Booking

• Three winery visits in Maipú: Expect a guided tour and wine tasting at each property, with possible stops at Viña El Cerno, Corbel, Don Arturo, Vistandes, Cecchin, or another winery of similar quality.
• Lunch with wine pairings: The final stop includes a two-hour visit with lunch, wine tasting, and food tasting at Esencia 1870.
• Central Mendoza hotel pickup: Pickup and return are included from listed city-center hotels and hostels, with other addresses handled by arrangement.
• English support is available: Winery visits and tastings can be adapted to English, but the driver speaks Spanish.
• A full seven-hour day: Travel between stops takes time, so this is best for you if you want a relaxed winery day rather than a quick tasting.
• Good value at $120: Three tastings, transportation, and a wine-paired lunch make the price easier to justify than a simple half-day tasting.

Why Maipú Makes Sense For A Winery Day

Maipú is one of Mendoza’s main wine areas, and this tour keeps you there for most of the day. That matters because you spend less time crossing the province and more time visiting wineries, tasting wine, and sitting down to eat.

The tour is built around traditional producers rather than a single large attraction. Depending on the day, you might visit Viña El Cerno, Corbel, Don Arturo, Vistandes, or Cecchin. Since the final selection depends on confirmation, you should think of the wineries as a rotating group rather than a guaranteed fixed list.

That flexibility has one benefit: the operator can replace a winery with another property offering a similar wine tourism experience. The tradeoff is that you cannot plan the day around one particular cellar or label.

The olive groves add another local touch. Maipú is known for both wine and olive production, and the experience is presented as a way to see that side of the region as well. The schedule does not give a separate time block for an olive grove, so I would not book this expecting a long standalone olive-oil tour.

The Morning Pickup From Central Mendoza

The day starts with pickup from one of eight listed accommodations, including Gorilla Hostel, Hotel Crillón Mendoza, Park Hyatt Mendoza, Villaggio Hotel Boutique, Hostel Central, Soltigua Apart Hotel Mendoza, Sheraton Mendoza Hotel, and Amérian Executive Mendoza Hotel.

You need to wait at the hotel reception, not in your room. That small instruction matters on a timed group outing, since a delayed pickup can push every winery visit later.

If your accommodation is not listed, you can send the address and arrange a pickup. The included transfer is a real part of the value here. Mendoza’s winery areas are not always convenient to reach on your own, and driving after several tastings is not a sensible plan.

The route includes about 45 minutes of van travel before the winery visits, followed by shorter 30-minute and 15-minute transfers. The return leg is listed as roughly 75 minutes, so bring water and avoid treating the van as an afterthought. The day has a fair amount of sitting between stops.

Vehicle comfort may vary. One account praised a friendly, professional driver and a comfortable vehicle with door-to-door service. Another found the car uncomfortable when four people shared a small vehicle. If you are sensitive to cramped seating, ask about the vehicle when confirming your booking.

First Winery: A Traditional Introduction To Mendoza Wine

The first winery visit in Maipú lasts about one hour. You receive a guided tour and a wine tasting, with the focus on traditional production methods and the region’s main varietals.

This is a good opening stop because it gives you a foundation for the rest of the day. You can learn how the winery works before tasting at the next two properties, making it easier to compare styles rather than treating every glass as an isolated sample.

The available information does not identify which winery will always be first. It may be Viña El Cerno, Corbel, Don Arturo, Vistandes, Cecchin, or another confirmed property. That uncertainty is worth accepting if your priority is the overall Maipú experience rather than a particular producer.

The tasting may include a small bite or tapa. That is a useful touch, especially early in the day, although you should not expect a full meal at this stage. The main lunch arrives later at the third winery.

Second Winery: Compare Methods And Flavors

After another transfer, the second winery also allows about one hour for a guided visit and tasting. This stop gives the day a welcome rhythm: learn, taste, travel, then repeat.

Three wineries are more useful than one if you pay attention to the differences. You can compare the way each property presents its wine, the varietals offered, and the feel of a traditional winery visit. The tour is not only about drinking. It is also about seeing how Mendoza’s wine culture is explained from one producer to the next.

You may find that the second visit feels more relaxed because you already understand the basic structure. Ask questions if the English support is available, but keep in mind that the driver speaks Spanish. The winery visits and tastings can be adapted to English, though the language experience may not be identical at every part of the day.

The schedule allows one hour here, which is enough for a focused visit but not so long that the tour becomes repetitive. If you want hours to wander independently through one property, this is not that kind of outing.

The Third Winery And The Best Meal Of The Day

The final stop is the centerpiece. The schedule allows two hours at the last winery for a guided visit, tasting, lunch, and food tasting. Lunch is at Esencia 1870, while the wine lineup may come from the winery hosting the visit.

The meal is paired with different wine varietals, which makes it more than a simple restaurant break. Pairing helps you notice how wine changes with food, and it gives the day a proper finish instead of leaving you hungry after several tastings.

The menu is not specified, so I would not book this expecting a particular dish. The description calls it a gourmet lunch with dishes selected to match the wines. That is enough to expect a planned meal, but not enough to promise a certain number of courses or ingredients.

The final stop also includes Mendoza alfajores. These filled sweets are a familiar Argentine treat, and tasting them at a winery gives you one more local flavor beyond wine. It is a small detail, but a pleasant one, especially if you enjoy food stops that are not limited to the main meal.

Service speed may be the only concern here. One account found the lunch very good but felt the service was slow. Since the final stop has two hours built in, the schedule can absorb some delay, but a leisurely meal may still push the return later than expected.

What The $120 Price Really Includes

At $120 per person, this is not the cheapest way to taste Mendoza wine. It is also not just a transportation service with one sample glass. You are paying for three guided winery visits, wine tastings at each stop, hotel transfers, and lunch paired with wine.

That package makes the price reasonable for you if you want a full day arranged in advance. Booking separate taxis, winery appointments, tastings, and lunch could take more effort and may not create a smooth route.

The value is strongest for visitors without a car, anyone who prefers not to drive after tastings, and first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to Maipú. It is less compelling if you already have a rental car, know which wineries you want, and prefer to spend half a day at one property.

The phrase all inclusive should be read in context. The listed inclusions cover the three winery visits, wine tastings, lunch with wine pairings, and city-center transfers. The supplied details do not say that extras such as additional bottles, souvenirs, or unlisted food are included.

English, Spanish, And The Style Of Guiding

The activity offers Spanish and English support. Visits and tastings can be adapted to English, which is useful for understanding the winery explanations and wine terminology.

The driver speaks Spanish, however. That distinction is important. You may have English during the actual winery visits but Spanish during some transport or coordination. If you need constant English narration from pickup through return, ask about the language arrangement before booking.

The driver service has received strong praise for being friendly, professional, and providing door-to-door transportation. That is especially valuable on a seven-hour day with several timed stops.

Do not expect a private guide dedicated only to you unless that is specifically confirmed. The available information describes a live guide and shared transfers, but it does not provide a guaranteed group size. The small-vehicle complaint suggests that vehicle capacity can vary, so clarification is sensible if space matters to you.

Practical Comfort And Access Notes

This experience is not suitable for wheelchair users. Some winery bathrooms may also require a long walk, and access may not be consistent at every stop.

One account noted that some bathrooms were not open and were not easy to reach. That is a practical reason to use facilities when they are available rather than waiting until the final stop.

Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking around winery grounds and production areas. The tour includes guided visits, not just seated tastings, though the supplied details do not specify the exact surfaces or distances.

Dress for a long day that moves between a vehicle, winery buildings, tasting rooms, and lunch. Mendoza can be sunny, but the tour details do not provide a weather plan, so checking the forecast before you go is wise.

The day begins and ends at central accommodation points. Return drop-offs include the same general list of properties: Gorilla Hostel, Hotel Crillón Mendoza, Villaggio Hotel Boutique, Hostel Central, Amérian Executive Mendoza Hotel, Park Hyatt Mendoza, Soltigua Apart Hotel Mendoza, and Sheraton Mendoza Hotel.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most

I would choose this tour if you want a simple, full-day introduction to Mendoza wine without building the route yourself. It suits first-time visitors, couples, small groups, and anyone who wants transportation handled from the center of Mendoza.

It also works well for people who care about food as much as wine. The final lunch, pairings, and alfajores give the day more range than a tasting-only route.

You may want another option if you have mobility limitations, need a large vehicle, or want an intimate private experience at one specific winery. The changing winery lineup also makes it a less precise choice for wine collectors who have a fixed list of producers in mind.

The 4.9 rating from 16 ratings points to a very strong overall experience, but the two useful cautions remain: vehicle size can vary, and lunch service may be slow. Those are not deal breakers for most people, but they are worth knowing before you commit seven hours.

Booking Advice For A Smoother Day

Confirm the pickup point and wait at reception before the agreed time. If you are staying somewhere outside the listed hotels, send the address early so the transfer can be coordinated.

Ask which wineries are currently confirmed if a particular property matters to you. The operator may substitute another winery of similar quality if one cannot be secured, so flexibility is part of the deal.

If English is important, confirm how much of the day will be conducted in English. The tastings can be adapted, but the driver speaks Spanish.

Finally, keep the afternoon open. The planned duration is seven hours, and the return drive is listed at about 75 minutes. A slow lunch or a delayed winery visit could make the day run on its own relaxed Mendoza schedule.

Should You Book This Maipú Winery Tour?

Book it if you want three winery tastings, a proper wine-paired lunch, and central hotel transportation in one package. At $120, the combination is a fair buy for a first visit to Mendoza, particularly if you do not want to drive or manage reservations.

Skip it if you need wheelchair access, insist on one named winery, or dislike shared transport with uncertain vehicle space. For everyone else, the mix of traditional wineries, lunch at Esencia 1870, local alfajores, and a full Maipú route offers a practical and food-friendly way to spend a day in Mendoza wine country.

FAQ

How long does the Maipú winery tour last?

The tour lasts seven hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for the date you want.

How many wineries will I visit?

You will visit three wineries in Maipú. Possible properties include Viña El Cerno, Corbel, Don Arturo, Vistandes, and Cecchin, though the final wineries can change if confirmation is unavailable.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Yes. Lunch is included at the final winery, with dishes paired with different wine varietals.

Where is lunch served?

Lunch is at Esencia 1870, which is also the final stop listed for the winery visit, tasting, and food tasting.

Are hotel transfers included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from listed accommodations in central Mendoza. If your accommodation is not listed, you can provide the address to arrange a transfer.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The visits and tastings can be adapted to English. The driver speaks Spanish.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. Some winery bathrooms may also involve considerable walking and may not always be open.