maipu wine bike tour

Ultimate Guide to Maipu, Mendoza: Wineries, restaurants & More

Mendoza is the wine capital of Argentina. It’s home to 3 high altitude wine regions: Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo, and the Uco Valley.

Maipu is the closest region to Mendoza and, hence, the most popular.

I spent a few days exploring Maipu, where I drank some of the best wines and ate the most delicious food.

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Maipu, Mendoza.

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Where is Maipu, Mendoza

The wine region of Maipu is 13 km southeast of Mendoza. It’s a quick 20-minute drive from the Mendoza bus terminal and easily accessible via public transport or Uber.

However, the town itself isn’t much to write home about, and I felt it lacked character compared to its neighbor, Lujan de Cuyo.

But don’t let that deter you from visiting Maipu! Because you don’t come here to explore the town. You come here for the wine.

And the wine? It did not disappoint!

The best time to visit Maipu wineries

Maipu, as with all the Mendoza wineries , is an all-year-round travel destination.

The summer months from December to February bring with them long, gorgeous days. But it’s high season in Mendoza, so booking wine tastings and tours in advance is essential.

The winter months from June to August are considered off-season, but this is a great time to avoid the crowds. I planned my trip for June, and while it was cold, I was able to visit most wineries without making reservations. However, I was still surprised to see how busy it was, even during the week.

Spring (September to November) is considered the best time to visit Maipu, as the vineyards start to bloom with lush greenery.

Maipu wines

Located at 850 m above sea level, Maipu is one of Argentina’s oldest wine regions.

It sits at a slightly lower altitude than the other grape-growing regions in Mendoza yet still offers favorable conditions for grape cultivation.

Malbecs are the most famous grape variety in the area. They’re known for their rich, full-bodied, and fruity characteristics. And I can confidently say that after my trip to Mendoza, Malbec is my new favorite wine!

Cabernet Sauvignon is another popular grape grown in Maipu.

How to visit the wineries of Maipu

Wine tasting in Argentina isn’t the most budget-friendly activity. However, I found Maipu to be the cheapest and easiest wine region to visit.

This is one of the reasons it’s so popular with backpackers.

The best way to explore Maipu Mendoza is by bike. The Maipu Bodegas (or wineries) are close to one another, and you can easily cycle between them.

A wine tasting will cost between 1800 ARS and 3200 ARS for three glasses.

Maipu Wine Bike Tour

I did this group wine bike tour . It’s on a multi-bike, which was so much fun.

We visited three vineyards in Maipu, as well as an olive farm. The highlight was peddling through the quiet streets, sipping delicious Malbecs while feasting on the most incredible cheese platter.

Book here to avoid disappointment, as there are only ten spots available.

Maipu bike rental

On my second day in Maipu, I rented my own bike and did a self-guided wine tour.

This was a completely different experience, and I enjoyed the freedom of planning my own winery route.

I booked through Maipu Bikes Rental and highly recommend them. Mr. Hugo’s is nearby and also came with great reviews. Costs are 3,500 ARS per bike.

Note: Some wineries in Maipu are along a busy industrial road. This means you won’t be cycling among vineyards. Instead, you’ll cycle in the bike lane, but there will be cars and even trucks on the road alongside you. But when you arrive at the wineries, you’ll be rewarded with the most delicious wines.

Maipu wine tours

If cycling isn’t your thing, or you don’t trust yourself on a bike after a few glasses of wine, I highly recommend booking this private tour of Maipu winner region.

Maipu wineries to visit

You might come across Bodegas when looking for the best Maipu wineries.

This is because Bodega is the Spanish word for winery, and the two words are often used interchangeably.

The one thing to note about Maipu is that most wineries don’t offer unspoiled mountain views. If this is what you’re after, I recommend visiting the Uco Valley as well.

CarinaE Wines

Carinae Wines was the first stop on our wine bike tour.

It’s a boutique winery with an intimate feel. The beautiful outdoor seating perched under the trees is the perfect place to do a tasting of their delicious reds.

Tempus Alba

Tempus Alba is a bigger winery with a modern feel. They offer an impressive selection of reds and have an onsite restaurant overlooking the vineyards.

The Malbec Reserve from Tempus Alba was one of the best wines I drank in Mendoza.

Bodega Vino Cerno

Opposite Tempus Alba lies Bodega Vino Cerno. It’s a small winery with a great selection of wines.

Bodega Vino Cerno was one of my favorite wineries in Maipu, thanks to the rustic tasting area and authentic atmosphere.

I also had the empanadas here, and they were terrific!

Bodega Mevi

Aaaah. Bodega Mevi! Here’s where you’ll find some of the best vineyard views.

We cycled into the property and were immediately surrounded by stunning vineyards. The wines are equally impressive.

Bodega La Rural: Museo del Vino San Felipe

Bodega La Rural is not only an incredible winery but also an impressive wine museum.

It features many tools and artifacts used in the production of wine, collected over hundreds of years.

This cellar door was one of the most unique ones we visited. It’s set in a dark room surrounded by massive wine barrels.

Bodega Trapiche

Bodega Trapiche is a gorgeous winery waiting to be explored.

It’s one of the oldest wineries in Argentina. Trapiche is pretty big compared to the other Maipu wineries, but it’s worth visiting.

We skipped the wine tour and instead purchased glasses of wine and opted for a self-guided walk through the stunning grounds. Trapiche also offers a lunch and wine pairing.

Other Maipu wineries

Unfortunately, I couldn’t visit all the bodegas in Maipu.

Here are a few others we wanted to visit, but they were closed or required bookings.

• Bodega Domiciano: They have set tasting times, and a booking is needed
• La Iride: We had a bottle of their Malbec at dinner, and it was delicious
• Bodega Alandes

Where to eat in Maipu

Truth be told, I wasn’t impressed with the restaurants in the center of Maipu town. Which says a lot as I absolutely love Argentinian food.

Instead, plan your itinerary so that you eat at the Maipu wineries or one of the restaurants close to the wineries. This is where I had the best food!

Casa de Campo

Love, love, love! We were supposed to have a quick lunch here but ended up spending 3 hours feasting on the most incredible degustation menu and delicious wines.

Casa Vigil at Bodega El Enemigo

The restaurant at Bodega El Enemigo is known to offer the most spectacular degustation menu.

It’s next-level fine dining with a 7-course menu. Bookings need to be made weeks (even months) in advance. It’s that good!

La Melesca Resto

This is a small restaurant close to Tempus Alba. The setting is beautiful, and the food is delicious.

Al Rescoldo

If you’re going to eat in Maipu town, the best restaurant is Al Rescoldo. Everyone told us about it! Unfortunately, they are often fully booked, and reservations must be made a few days in advance.

Where to stay in Maipu

Below are a few great accommodation options in Maipu. Read my  Mendoza accommodation guide here   for more details on other areas to stay in wine country.

Luxury: Posada Verde Oliva is a boutique hotel within walking distance of Bodega La Rural. It’s set on an olive farm with vineyards on your doorstep.

Mid-range: Posada Mawida is a family-run lodge in the heart of the Maipu wine region. You’ll have beautiful views of the Andes mountains from the property, and there’s even a pool with picturesque vineyards as the backdrop.

Budget: I stayed at La Palmera , and it’s a fantastic option for budget travelers. The owners were the friendliest people I met in Argentina! It’s located in the center of Maipu town and is close walking distance to shops and restaurants.

Top tip: If you don’t have your own transport, I recommend staying in Maipu town center. You can easily catch the local bus from here, as well as Uber.

Is it worth visiting Maipu, Mendoza

The city of Maipu as a whole has an industrial feel. It’s not picturesque!

I didn’t feel like I was in wine country when I arrived.

But the moment you leave the center of town and get closer to the wineries, their entire atmosphere and setting changes.

I loved exploring the Maipu bodegas (wineries) by bike; it was one of the highlights of my Argentina trip .

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Do you have any questions about Maipu, Mendoza? Drop me a question in the comments section below!

Hi, I'm Carryn. I’m an adventure travel blogger trying to figure out my way through life by traveling and exploring. Join me as I share my travel guides and tips for life abroad. Find out more about me here .

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Mendoza | Discover Maipu Wine Region by Bike

Maipu is not only the most accessible and affordable of Mendoza’s wine regions but it also has a cluster of amazing wineries within biking distance. Maipu Bikes is without a doubt the best way to explore the area. You can spend a full day tasting wine in picturesque vineyards and still not sample it all. So we’ve compiled this overview of Maipu to help you make the most of your day, including when to go, what to bring, what wineries to hit up and where to eat while soaking up all that wine.

When to Cycle through Maipu

The beauty of Mendoza’s wine regions is that they’re enjoyable year round. While winter (July-August) brings cooler temperatures it’s actually quite nice for biking with the right layers. Summer (December-February) can be quite hot mid-day. Spring and Fall are optimal but also busy season. We visited in June and were comfortable in pants and a tank top mid-day with a sweater for the morning and evening.

Maipu Bikes operates 7 days a week but we would recommend visiting Monday-Friday as Trapiche and the patio at Tempus Alba are closed on Saturday and our favourite winery on the route is closed Sundays.

If it’s raining make sure to call Maipu bikes before heading out the door – they may not be running.

Related // Visit the neighbouring Lujan de Cuyo region without a guide

Getting from Mendoza to Maipu

From Mendoza the journey to Maipu is quite simple. You can take public transit or a taxi, both fairly quick and affordable. We opted for Uber because it was the cheapest and easiest, which was nice given the early start. Be sure to grab breakfast in town as a base for day drinking.

Taxi/Uber | From Mendoza city centre it will run you roughly 300 ARS ($5 USD). For Uber, give yourself a bit of extra time as they aren’t as frequent as you might be used to and may take up to 15 minutes to arrive.

By Bus | Load up a Mendoza Red Bus card at almost any convenience store in town. Take the 811, 816, 817 or 920 South (get on along Rioja Street) for around 25 minutes and get off at YPF Gas Station in Coquimbito.

Renting with Maipu Bikes

There are a few rental options in Maipu but Maipu Bikes has the region nailed. Great service, reliable bikes, and the cherry on top with Maipu Bikes is the 5-6pm happy hour on their patio. You will certainly have had your fill of wine by then but it’s a great place to end and hang out with your fellow wine enthusiasts you’ve seen around town all day. 

• Arrive Early – They open at 10am and even if you made a reservation in advance online you should arrive as early as you can to get the most out of your day.
• Winery Bookings – Since the region is set up for bike tours it’s not necessary to book in advance. Trapiche is the exception so if you are looking to do a tour have the team at Maipu Bikes call and coordinate one for you. That said, we’d recommend having lunch at Trapiche as well so best to call the day before and book it yourself.
• Cost – 500 ARS ($9 USD) will get you the bike for the day, a map , helpful staff tips and all-you-can-drink happy hour. 

The Perfect Maipu Biking Itinerary

The beauty of Maipu Bikes is that you can do what suits you. So to help plan your route, below is our idea of a perfect day in Maipu. We’ve also included lots of alternate options should your tastes differ. If you are on two wheels by 10:30am you should have time for 3 wineries and lunch, depending on how fast you are and how many winery tours you do. If you stick to tastings and don’t doddle you can squeeze in a fourth and still be back for happy hour.

Stop 1 – Bodega Viña El Cerno

Getting the farthest winery out of the way while you’re sober is reason enough to start with El Cerno . But beyond that it was actually our favourite winery in Maipu. The charming daughter of the winemaker gave us an educational tour of the organic winery while sharing its history since opening in 1997. Family and storytelling unites the experience from label design to the product itself. After your tour you can select the specific wine(s) you want to taste and enjoy under the vines on their garden patio.

Pricing – The tour for two and a shared tasting of three wines (pace yourself!) came to ARS 320 ($5 USD).

Itinerary alternate #1 – Not up for wine at 10am? Make a stop at Entre Olivos on your way to Bodega Vina El Cerno and enjoy an olive and olive oil tasting to start your day. 

Stop 2 – Lunch at Trapiche

The tasting menu and pairing offered at Espacio Trapiche (about 100 metres up the street from the main Bodega) is a coveted experience in Maipu. We highly recommend booking this a day or two in advance. If you can’t get a reservation you can always enjoy a quick wine tasting after lunch (except on Saturdays). There are a few more lunch options below.

Pricing – The tour and tasting is ARS 300 each. Don’t forget to book in advance. The lunch tasting menu pricing varies by season so call ahead.

Itinerary alternate #2 – If you can’t get a spot at Trapiche or are visiting Maipu on a Saturday the trek up to Casa de Campo is the best lunch option. They have exquisite food, friendly service and also offer a tasting menu (430 ARS). And beforehand you can hit up Tempus Alba (across from El Cerno) for a wine tasting on their beautiful terrace.

Budget Lunch – Mevi is another option for a low-cost lunch but while the patio overlooking the vines is gorgeous, the quality of the food doesn’t hold up. If you’re on a tight budget you’d be better off packing a picnic lunch to have between wineries.

Stop 3 – La Rural Wine Museum

What better way to round out your day of tasting than with a little history lesson on wine. La Rural offers a self-guided tour through their museum with vintage equipment and educational materials along the way. It’s a throwback to the OG wine-making process that is interestingly similar to the current shift back to basics with organic and biodynamic wineries. The tour and tasting that follows is free if you purchase a bottle of wine. We fell in love with their Rutini line at Azafran in Mendoza and were more than happy to take one with us. 

Itinerary alternate #3 – If you wrap up at La Rural before 4:30pm you may have time to pop up to boutique winery Domiciano to do a tasting. The educational tour of their property is also only thirty minutes if you can squeeze it in.

Wine nerd fun fact – Terms like ‘organic’ and ‘biodynamic’ are popping up on wine labels more and more these days but can be confusing. While regulations differ by region, ‘organic’ tends to be a government regulated farming method meaning that the grapes are grown without the use of chemicals like pesticides and no sulfites added (though natural sulfites will be present). Biodynamic is less regulated but generally means organic+ in that they also don’t manipulate the juice with yeast or acidity adjustments during wine-making. 

Stop 4 – Maipu Bikes Happy Hour

Cheers to a day of sampling wines with a few more glasses of wine! Grab a seat and strike up a conversation with your neighbour. Your glass will never go empty. Before you know it your stomach will remind you it’s been hours since lunch.

Secret Stop 5 – Dinner at Coquimbito Beer Club

Drinking from 11am to 7pm will no doubt leave you famished and a little foggy. Head up the street to Coquimbito Beer Club with your newfound friends. Order the choripán. It’s amazing. There’s also craft beer on tap and cocktails that provide a necessary break after a day of wine. 

What is Choripán? Glad you asked. It’s the absolute perfect Argentine sausage made from mixed beef and pork, butterflied, grilled to succulent perfection and served on a fluffy homemade roll. Often served with chimichurri and spicy salsa, you can find traditional and more modern takes all over Argentina. Spoiler alert – the absolute best choripán in Argentina is in Buenos Aires.

Maipu | What to bring for a day of cycling through wineries

• Small Backpack – Ideally big enough for a bottle (or three) of wine and easy to keep on your back while biking. Some bikes have front baskets but it’s not advised to carry valuables inside as they’re easy to steal.
• Comfortable shoes and pants or shorts – Your instincts may tell you to dress up for winery visits but you want to be comfortable when biking. Save the heels and skirts for another day. 
• A sweater or jacket – The temperature drops when the sun goes down so unless you’re in visiting mid-summer you’ll want a light sweater or jacket for happy hour.
• Reusable water bottle – Easily refilled at Maipu Bikes and wineries along the way. It’s essential to stay hydrated while you’re drinking and cycling in the sun.
• Sunscreen + hat – Speaking of sun, protect yourself. The last thing you want to add to your hangover the next day is a sunburn. Apply early and often as you’re liable to forget.
• Cash – Some of the wineries along the way don’t accept credit and you don’t want to be caught without cash if the only ATM in town is down or out.

Stay Safe Biking in Maipu

• Ask for a Helmet – Most people turn them down so they aren’t always handed out, but safety first. Especially after a glass or three.
• Don’t keep phones or other valuables in your basket – They are an easy target for thieves.
• Enjoy in Moderation – Start slow with tastings, they add up quick. Save happy hour (which is free) for increasing your intake once your bike is safely returned.
• Get travel insurance – This should be a given but be sure you have a health plan that covers you before you set out on your adventure. If the worst happens, you want to be covered. We love World Nomads because it covers health and theft which were two major concerns for us. Full disclosure, if you sign up via this link the cost to you is the same but we get a percentage for referring you. Thanks!

Where to Stay in Maipu

Maipu is so accessible from Mendoza that we opted to commute from our AirBNB in the city. Use this referral link to get a discount when you book through AirBNB.

Posada Verde Oliva – Stumbling distance from Maipu Bikes is this former winemaker’s home turned B&B. Posada Verde Oliva sits amidst an olive orchard and boasts a pool for those hot summer days and a stone fireplace for cool nights. We have it on good authority that the hosts are incredibly welcoming and accommodating. 

Where to Next?

Spend some time in Mendoza before or after biking through Maipu with this handy travel guide to the city .

Haven’t had enough wine? Head to Chile to explore the famous Central Valley or the rapidly growing Casablanca region.

Or if you want to get closer to the Andes head farther South to Bariloche where you can explore lakes and mountains abound. Even farther South is our favourite town in Patagonia, El Chaltén .

Head North to discover the European charm of Salta , and some of the best empanadas you’ll ever have.

Let us know how your day winery hopping in Maipu goes.

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The bike option sounds like the best, burning calories and enjoying the scenery. I wonder how deep the ditches are! LOL

Full-Day Mendoza Bike and Wine Tour with 3 Winery Visits and Lunch

We offer 24 hr free cancellation on most of our tours, winery visits and hotels. For more detail please see the individual cancellation policies on the tour, winery or hotel page.

Tour Overview

Cycle your way through Mendoza's wine region and taste some of the best Argentine wine around! 

Place yourself in the hands of an expert guide who will show you the very best places to taste Mendoza's finest wines. Cycle through the city of Maipu and enjoy the stunning landscapes and natural surroundings. 

Along the way make 3 stops at different Mendozan wineries where Malbec will be the main attraction. You will also be treated to a tasting of assorted cheeses and cold cuts.

In each winery learn everything you wanted to know about vine growing and their production methods. Compare each and discover how Mendoza has become such a famous wine producing area. 

Enjoy a delicious lunch along the way at one of the wineries. 

This wine tasting bike tour gives you the chance to discover all of the hidden gems of this wine region whilst indulging in fine wine tastings. Don’t go to Mendoza and miss the best it has to offer; get on your bike and truly explore it. 

What’s included

• Bike rental
• 3 winery visits
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Wine tastings
• Any personal expenses
• Food and drink not mentioned

Meeting point

Your centrally located accommodation in Mendoza.

Cancellation Policy

Fully refundable up until 1 week before departure time.

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Self Guided Mendoza Wine Bike Tour

By: Author Sarah McAlister

When you think of Mendoza in Argentina , the first thing that probably comes to mind is wine. So of course, sampling a glass or nine is a must when there. And one of the best ways to do this is to take a self guided Mendoza wine bike tour.

Being one of the most famous wine regions in the world, naturally Mendoza has a lot of wineries and vineyards. But because they are so spaced out, all around Mendoza province, many are only accessible by either hiring a car, a driver or taking an organised tour.

However there is a small cluster of Mendoza wineries, close to Mendoza city centre, based around a rural district called Coquimbito in the Maipú Department of Mendoza Province.

And these Maipú wineries are perfectly accessible by bike.

Mendoza Wine Bike Tour

We had an absolutely cracking day whizzing around on our bikes. Sampling the different wines and learning about the individual wine making processes at the various Mendoza vineyards around Coquimbito in Maipú.

Our day biking Maipú wineries literally couldn’t have gone better. So we’re going to give you the exact itinerary of where we went, what we did, what we ate and what we spent.

Maipú Wineries Bike Hire

So there’s three different places you can hire bikes from for cycling around the Maipú wineries; Mr Hugo’s Bikes, Orange Bikes and Maipu Bikes. We went with Maipu Bikes and can’t recommend them enough.

The guys were just an absolute pleasure to deal with. And also super efficient at getting us away on our bikes to do what we came to do.

They speak English and Spanish. Plus they have an awesome happy hour at the end of each day (5pm – 6pm) where you can sample as much as you like of the owner Christian’s homemade wine. It’s good too!

The cost is $8000 ARS ($9 USD / £7 GBP) each to hire the bikes for the day. The shop is open 10am – 6pm, Monday – Saturday. Closed on Sundays.

You can reserve a bike or contact them through their website .

To make the most of your day, you should be there at Maipu Bikes for 10am. When taking a self guided Mendoza wine bike tour, time means wine. Don’t waste it!

You have to pay in cash at Maipu Bikes, but you can pay by card at all of the Mendoza wineries we’ll be mentioning in this blog post.

Oh and if you want to go on a tour of the Trapiche winery you will need to book it in advance, you can’t just rock up. You can do it while hiring the bikes at Maipu Bikes, they will make the call & give you a voucher so you just pay them along with your bike money.

The cost is $9000 ARS ($10 USD / £8 GBP) per person for a tour and 3 tastings.

I’m not sure about the other Mendoza wine bike tour hire places, although I’m sure they all have similar arrangements with the Maipú wineries.

If you want one, you’ll get a helmet with your bike tour Mendoza. Plus a map of where all the Maipú vineyards are and the routes to get to them.

By the way we weren’t working with Maipu Bikes, we just really dug their service. I’m sure the other Mendoza wine bike tour rental places are great too. And we also heard that Mr Hugo’s bikes were slightly cheaper.

How To Get To Coquimbito by Bus

The good thing is that whichever self guided Mendoza wine bike tour company you choose to go with they are all in the same place in Coqiumbito.

Literally on the same street – Calle Uriburu.

There are a few different ways to get there. We went by bus and it was super easy. So I’ll give you the heads up on that first, as it is how we would recommend getting to the Maipú wineries bike rentals.

First you are going to need to pick yourself up a Red Bus card. They sell them all over Mendoza city, you’ll see the signs in front of the kioskos. You have to get one – you cannot pay in cash on the buses in Mendoza.

But if there’s more than one of you, just get one and top it up accordingly. You don’t need one each.

Then the prices are slightly different depending whether you get on an express or a regular bus.

A one way express bus journey to Coquimbito will set you back $700 ($0.80 USD / £0.60 GBP). This will get there in

Comparatively a one way bus journey to Coquimbito on the regular service costs $550 ($0.60 USD / £0.50 GBP).

So you’ll need $110 -1400 ARS on each on your Red Bus card to get to the Mendoza Wine Bike Tour rentals places and back.

Do double check at the time though with the kiosko, or wherever you are staying, because prices in Argentina go up and down like I don’t know what.

Also – bear in mind that the Red Bus cards are completely different to the Sube cards they have in Buenos Aires and other cities in Argentina. They are not compatible.

Okay, now you’re sorted with that, there’s a few different buses you can take to get from Mendoza to Coquimbito. The good news is they all go from the same stretch of road in the city centre. And that’s Rioja street between Garibaldi and Catamarca streets.

The bus numbers are ‘811 Coquimbito’, ‘816 Expreso Diferencial’, ‘817 Coquimbito’, and ‘920 Expreso’. They don’t all go from the same stand but you can kind of straddle between two and watch for them coming down the street.

We took the 920 Expreso because that was the one that came first.

I don’t know if he’s always there, but there was also a chap from Maipu Bikes knocking about on Calle Rioja with leaflets, giving people information about which buses to jump on.

When you get on the bus you can either show the driver the address on a leaflet, if you have one, or simply just say ‘bicicletas y bodegas por favor’. It’s pretty much the only place tourists will be going so they’ll likely tell you where to get off too.

The journey takes around 25-30 minutes on an express bus or 45-50 minutes on a regular bus.

We had the corresponding area downloaded on Maps.Me so we could see for ourselves too. Either way look out for the YPF gas station in Coquimbito – that’s your queue to get off and get your wine on.

By the way there’s quite a lot of outdated information on line with details of the G10 171/172/173 bus numbers – these belonged to the old bus transport system in Mendoza.

Others Ways To Get To Coquimbito

By taxi or Uber tell the driver to take you to the ‘Coquimbito bicicletas y bodegas’ or alternatively the address of Maipu Bikes is Calle Urquiza 2439, Flor de Ceibo, Coquimbito. You should expect to pay around $7000-8000 ARS ($8-$9 USD/ £6-7 GBP).

There is also a tram-bus combo route that you can take if you fancy that. You’ll need to take the Metrotranvia de Mendoza until the last stop, Estación Gutiérrez. And then jump on the ‘812 Maipu’ on Calle Uriburu, getting off at the YPF gas station in Coquimbito.

As I say we went on the bus, which was straightforward so I can’t personally attest to tram-bus combo. It is supposed to be much cheaper but can also take up to 80 minutes. Just take the bus.

Mendoza Wineries by Bike Safety

It’s a funny little town in a way, Coquimbito, because from the main road, Urquiza, it looks very industrial and a little rundown. And all the Mendoza wine bike tour stops run of the main artery. But once you turn off onto the side streets it feel like you’ve been magically transported into the countryside.

Calle Urquiza is busy and quite fast. But there are specific bicycle paths so it’s safe enough even for inexperienced cyclists. Just do remember which side of the road the traffic is coming from as it may well be different to home and hence the opposite of your reflexes.

There aren’t cycle lanes on the side roads but they are much quieter so you’ll be right.

Mendoza Wine Bike Tour Itinerary

Okay now let’s get into the nitty gritty of why you’re here.

As I said above I think we picked a pretty perfect self guided Mendoza wine bike tour route, so I’m going to give you the exact rundown, plus costs, of that first. And then some alternative options just in case that doesn’t float your boat.

First up we opted to visit the Mendoza winery furthest away on cycling map given to us by Maipu Bikes. This is called MEVI and it’s a delightful way to start off your Mendoza wine bike tour.

To get there you’ll head south over the roundabout, over the railway tracks and turn left onto Perito Moreno. It’s a flat 6km ride and shouldn’t take more than half an hour.

As you turn into the driveway you’ll be greeted by the vines. Carry on a little further around and you’ll see the bike stand where you can park up.

It’s labelled as a modern boutique winery and I’d agree. They don’t do any vineyard tours here but that’s okay, that’s not the reason you’re going here. You’re after the views, the wine and the cheese.

You see, they have a restaurant onsite and even though it will be a little early for lunch , we recommend ordering yourself a cheese and salami board to pair with your wine tasting. If you’re in a group there’s plenty for two and enough for three or four at a push.

You should also take the ‘reserva’ tastings rather than the young ‘varietal’ wines because they isn’t much difference price wise and they are much better. Or better still if there’s two of you, order a tasting of both so you can try both the young and mature wines to compare.

The best spots to sit are on the back balcony with the vineyard and mountain backdrop, but the front balcony seats aren’t half bad too.

MEVI opens at 10:30am so you should be getting there not long after it’s opened. It closes at 5pm and isn’t open on Sundays.

A tasting of three varietal wines costs $90 ARS ($2 USD / £1.60 GBP) compared to $130 ARS ($2.90 USD / $2.30 GBP) for three reserva wine tastings.

The cheese board cost us $320 ($7 USD/ £6 GBP) and we also took away a bottle of our favourite tasting – Syrah Reserva – for $270 ARS ($6 USD / £5 GBP).

So in total at MEVI we spent $850 ARS ($19 USD / £15 GBP) for the two of us. If you’re on a tight budget you could just try the young varietal wines and keep your cost to $90 each.

If you’re paying on card, they only take VISA here, not mastercard.

Viña El Cerno

Next we dipped into this little gem of a vineyard, Viña El Cerno . An old artisan winery, the extra special thing about this stop on the Mendoza wine bike tour is that it makes organic wine.

Keep an eye on the time because in order to follow our exact itinerary you’ll need to be here for no later than 12pm. It’s literally a few minutes down the road from MEVI though, you’ll pass it on your way there.

There is an option to do a tour and tasting for $210 ARS ($4.70 USD / £3.70 GBP), we just opted for the tasting because we needed to skedaddle along to the next Mendoza wine tasting session and lunch. The cost of tasting three wines here is $120 ARS ($2.70 USD / £2.10 GBP).

It’s open from 10:30am – 4pm, Monday to Saturday. Closed on Sundays.

Tempus Alba

Also described as a modern boutique winery, Tempus Alba is a little grander than MEVI. It’s terrace up top overlooking the Maipú vineyards is absolutely stunning. This is where you should take lunch. Along with your wine tastings, of course.

Wine tasting wise, they have a quite a lot of both varietal and reserva wines to choose from. As there were six different ones, we just opted for the varietal wines tasting here and tried them all between the two of us.

Food wise, they have a lots of options on their menu including starters, mains and deserts. I had a chicken casserole type dish and James has cannelloni. Unfortunately we didn’t have room for desert. This was my only regret of the day because I’d heard such good things about the pears in Malbec! If you go and get this please tell me what it was like!

The only bad thing that I will say about Tempus Alba is that the service is a bit slap dash. You have to be on them a little to get served in a timely manner and onto the next winery tour for 3pm.

There is a self guided tour here too but it’s nothing more than a few different areas of the winery with some signposts explaining different processes. Still it’s interesting enough and the explanations are in both English and Spanish. We ate first just in case we didn’t have time, but we did.

In total at Tempus Alba we spent a total of $910 ($21 USD / £16 GBP) for two main courses and two varietal tasters. The cost is $130 ARS ($3 USD / £2.25 GBP) for three varietal wine tasting or $180 ARS ($4 USD / £3 GBP) for 2 varietals and a blend reserva tasting.

Again if you’re after keeping your costs as low as possible, you obviously don’t have to eat here. You could bring a picnic, eat it on route somewhere on your Mendoza wine bike tour and just try the $130 tasting option.

Tempus Alba is open Monday to Friday, 10:30am – 5pm. It is closed Saturday and Sunday.

Still trying to choose your backpack? Look no further! The Osprey Farpoint 70 Travel Backpack is perfect for big trips. It’s lightweight but durable, incredibly comfortable, super spacious and even has a detachable daypack.

Okay now onto the big guns and the fourth stop on our Mendoza wine bike tour route, the mighty Trapiche . They produce 10 million litres of the good stuff each year so if you’ve drank Argentinian wine before, it will likely be from this vineyard.

If you’ve hired your bike through Maipu bikes you’ll already have a pre-booked time slot and voucher. We booked our Trapiche winery tour for 3pm, because that’s what fitted with our Mendoza wineries biking itinerary. But I’m sure they have other times if you are not going to follow it.

The Trapiche wine estate is humongous, it’s a seriously big operation. It’s only a slice of it too as they have more vineyards elsewhere around the province. And recently a new project in Buenos Aires!

The tours are available in English. And a sommelier will take you around so show the various parts of the winemaking process and answer any questions you have.

It’s pretty interesting because you get to see the old equipment from when they used to make wine by foot. Right through to the new innovative equipment where the wine is aged in these concrete egg like structures.

Plus the old train tracks that used to transport it all. Unfortunately the government shut the rail system in Argentina following an economic crash in the 1970’s and it hasn’t been able to be reopened since.

Then you’re onto the best part, the wine tasting. You get to try three different wines. When we were there they gave us a young white, a red blend (from the concrete eggs) and an older red reserva.

As I mentioned above the cost of the tour and tasting is $385 ARS ($8.50 USD / £7 GBP). We really liked the concrete egg wine so we bought a bottle of that from the gift shop at $290 ($6.50 USD/ £5 GBP). By the way ‘concrete egg wine’ is not what its called, I just made that up.

You need to be swift afterwards, because if you’re following this Mendoza wine bike tour itinerary you need to be somewhere else for 4:30pm.

Trapiche is open Monday to Saturday. Closed on Sundays.

This was our last stop on our Mendoza vineyards biking route and it’s at the other end of Calle Urquiza, back past Maipu Bikes rental shop.

The unusual thing about this old family run vineyard is that they pick their grapes at night. The reason? So temperatures are lower to prevent the grapes from immediately starting to ferment in the heat.

As I said above, you’ll be grabbing the 4:30pm tour and tasting session. The last one of the day. Don’t worry if you are a tad late. None of the tours we went on started right on time.

And plenty of people turned up during/after the tour – obviously that’s not ideal as you’ll be missing bits.

The cost to visit Domiciano bodega is $200 ARS ($4.50 USD / £3.50 GBP), which includes an English spoken tour and 3 wines tastings. For $300 ARS (£6.50 USD / £5.50 GBP) you can upgrade to premium wine tastings. We chose one of each so we could taste them all.

They also do a sweet tasting option for those who like their wine with a spoonful of sugar.

There are also tours available at other times; 9:30am, 10:30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm and 3pm.

And Domiciano is open Monday – Saturday. Closed on Sundays.

Alternative Routes

The beauty of exploring Mendoza vineyards by bike is that your day is completely self guided. So if you don’t fancy following the same Mendoza wine bike tour route as us, you can just make your own up.

We headed south first, but you could head north up the main road of Urquiza instead first.

Although if you’re aim is to try and fit in more than five Maipú wineries in one day, you’ll have to be super quick. It’s not impossible – some people do. It’s just personally I think it would mean rushing around too much and would take some of the enjoyment out of your Mendoza Argentina wine tour.

Here’s some different self guided Mendoza wine bike tour route options.

This is the oldest winery on the Mendoza vineyards bike circuit and it has an onsite museum.  

A ticket into this Mendoza winery is $270 ARS ($6 USD / $4.70 GBP) and it includes a tasting of two wines. At the end you can either exchange your ticket for more wine tasting or a bottle to take away with you.

The tours at La Rural bodega run at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 3pm and 4pm. It’s closed on Sundays.

Tierre de Lobo

If you fancy a change from the wine, you can try a tour and tasting at this distillery which makes Vodka, Gin, Pisco and liquors.

Tierre de Lobo open Monday to Saturday but only from 3pm to 5pm. A tour and tasting session costs $220 ARS ($5 USD / £4 GBP).

Entre Olivos

Another alternative to the Maipú wineries, this stop is instead an olive oil, jam and liquor maker.

Tasting sessions start from $100 ARS ($2.20 USD / £1.75 GBP). It’s open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 5:30pm.

Casa de Campo

An alternative to eating at the MEVI or Tempus Alba wineries, this restaurant at the north end of the bike tour Mendoza circuit was recommended to us by Maipu Bikes.

It’s open 12pm – 5pm, Monday – Saturday and main meals start at around $350 ARS ($ 8 USD / £6 GBP).

What To Take With You

On average Mendoza has less than 40 days of rain per year, it’s one of the reasons that makes it so great for growing grapes. So we that being said you probably don’t need to take a raincoat with you.

However what you will need is plenty of sunscreen and a hat. We were there in May and it was still pretty hot.

And even though your main objective of the day should be to try as much wine as you can, be sure to take a refillable water filter bottle so you can stay hydrated too.

It can get cooler later in day, especially depending on how long you decide to stay at Maipu Bikes happy hour(s), so a light jacket might come in handy.

Oh and a rucksack to carry any bottles of wine you purchase. Some bikes have baskets, but some of the side roads off Calle Uriburu are a little bumpy so it’s not the best spot to keep them.

Obviously wear comfortable clothes for cycling around all day. And that’s pretty much it, you’ll be all set.

We always travel with a filter water bottle. Not only does it stop us getting ill, but it means we’re not killing the planet or wasting money on plastic bottles. The GRAYL Geopress is hands down the best on the market & makes water from virtually any source safe to drink.

Where To Eat in Mendoza

If you’re looking for somewhere great to eat after your booze induced cycling day, we have a few suggestions for Mendoza restaurants that we personally recommend.

Fuerte y Fonda $$

The food here is absolutely lovely and the service is impeccable. The mains are huge & served for two people. They come with a small starter to share and two deserts included.

There is also a large selection of starter dishes for if you’re not so hungry or dining for one. And Fuerte y Fonda have a big wine selection to boot.

Address: Montevideo 675

Anna Bistró $$

A relaxed restaurant with a really cool vibe. Try and nab one of the tables on the outside patio area, it’s lush. And don’t worry there’s heating out there. The menu is extensive. But Anna Bistró have a few great value dishes of the day which include deserts which we recommend.

Address: Av. Juan B. Justo 136

Azafran $$$

If you fancy pushing the boat out, this restaurant is touted as the best of the best in Mendoza. It has a cracking ambiance. But it’s pretty fancy mind! Originally just a deli selling local meats, Azafran expanded to serve top nosh with a gigantic wine selection.

It’s seriously popular and best to make a reservation.

Address: Av. Sarmiento 765

Where To Stay In Mendoza

Affordable luxury: amérian executive hotel mendoza.

Located opposite Plaza Italia, just a few blocks from Mendoza city centre, guests can enjoy stunning views over the whole city from the 17th floor roof top terrace. And what’s more is there’s an outdoor pool and sauna.

The spacious rooms have a TV, WiFi, air conditioning, minibar and bathrooms with bath, shower and hairdryer. A great buffet breakfast is also included in the price.

Mid-Range: Apartamentos Mendoza

This Mendoza self-catering accommodation is such a great deal. Centrally located you will be close to everything you need. Large windows make the place light and airy, plus there’s also a small garden.

Each apartment has a TV, WiFi, air conditioning, seating area and kitchenette with an oven and refrigerator. Bathrooms feature a shower, bath and a hairdryer. Oh & there’s private parking included too.

Cheap & Cheerful: Hostel Estacion Mendoza

Just 200 yards from Mendoza City centre and 650 yards from the main bus station, this hostel has a great location. There’s a fully equipped shared kitchen and basic breakfast included. There’s also a game and TV room.

But the real draw of this Mendoza hostel is the garden with outdoor swimming pool. You can choose from rooms with private or shared bathroom facilities and lockers and WiFi are provided.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Even though technically, if you’re boozing it up, you won’t be covered if you have an accident while on your self guided Mendoza wine bike tour, you should still take out a quality travel insurance for all the other days.

World Nomads is our preferred choice for great cover and a no bullshit approach, grab yourself a quick quote below:

Good Reads About Argentina:

If you are travelling around more of North Argentina, you Amy also find these blog posts helpful:

• How To See Purmamarca Rainbow Mountains
• Visiting The Humahuaca 14 Coloured Mountains
• Trip Guide To The Salinas Grandes (Salt Flats)

Pin Me For Later…

Yorkshire born & bred, Sarah is a professional blogger who loves to travel. Pushing her boundaries with new adventures is her jam, so you likely won’t find her in one place for too long. Also a serious Marmite addict. 

Sunday 8th of January 2023

Thankyou so much for this! We are going to Mendoza in 10 days time and we will be doing exactly what you have recommended.

Sarah McAlister

Tuesday 7th of February 2023

It's such a good time!

Monday 10th of February 2020

Hi Sarah and James,

Found you article some time ago. Going on the tour tomorrow. Walking around Mendoza city I noticed buses have the Sube sign on the windshield. At my hostel they confirmed that as of Monday 3 Feb the Sube card can be used in Mendoza as well.

James McAlister

Sunday 16th of February 2020

Hey Leon, hope you enjoyed the tour and drank lots of good wine ;-)

Thanks so much for the info on the Sube cards, really appreciate it. We'll update the post to include this information for our other readers.

Monday 8th of July 2019

Thank you for including the prices of the wineries! Super helpful :)

Thursday 11th of July 2019

You're welcome, glad you found it helpful!

Friday 24th of May 2019

Wow! Super affordable wine tastings! I like a good deal so you have inspired me to visit Argentina!

Sunday 26th of May 2019

Hey Dan, Great stuff! We couldn't recommend it more highly.

Argentina has a few regions and Mendoza isn't even the most affordable either. It's well worth checking out Cafayate as well as Mendoza for great affordable wines if that's your thing :-)

LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

Wine bike tour mendoza review: cycling amongst the vines.

Published by

lotuseaters.travel

WINE BIKE TOUR MENDOZA: OUR DAY OF CYCLING AMONGST THE VINES.

We love nothing more than visiting wineries and the opportunity to cycle and enjoy some wine was something we could not pass up on our recent visit to Mendoza.

If you’re visiting Mendoza, we can’t recommend booking a wine bike tour enough. Find out more below about how to book yours and what to expect from a wine bike tour in Mendoza.

Wine bike tour Mendoza: Why do it?

Mendoza has to be one of most outstanding and scenic places in the world to drink wine. Where sun-kissed vineyards sit next to the towering Andes mountains to create an other worldly experience. But of course, you’ve come to Mendoza to drink wine!

Taking a wine bike tour is the best way to experience a few vineyards in a day. Logistically, cycling is a great option. Argentina has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to drink driving.

With most of the vineyards being spread out over great distances, you will need a way to get around between them and driving isn’t the best way, unless you’re spitting out the wine you taste!

The other great thing about taking a self-guided wine bike of Mendoza is that the tour company can help you plan the best route and pick the vineyards to visit. They will even make reservations for you.

Find out more about our experience of taking a self-guided wine tour in Mendoza below.

Where to do in a wine bike tour in Mendoza?

Mendoza has three wine regions, the Uco Valley, Maipu and Lujan de Cuyo. Of the three areas, Maipu is most well set up for wine bike tours.

There are a number of companies offering self-guided wine bike tours in Maipu. The one we used was Wine & Ride (more on our experience below.) However, there is one company that we are aware of that offers wine bike tours in the Lujan de Cuyo/ Chacras de Coria area – Baccus Biking.

If you’re staying in Mendoza city, it’s best to either take a bus to Maipu or you can arrange a fully guided wine tour which includes transport from Mendoza.

A great wine bike tour in Mendoza: Our experience with Wine & Ride Maipu

We arrived in Maipu at around midday with no reservation for bikes. I contacted Wine & Ride on Whatsapp, and they immediately responded to confirm that they had two bikes ready and waiting for us.

Having parked up the car, we arrived at Wine & Ride to a warm welcome.

One of the friendly members of staff sat us down to talk through the options. We had expected to just pay to hire the bikes and be on our way heading for the vines. But, it was way better than that!

After being shown a map, they explained that we could choose a couple of wineries to cycle to. We also took up the option to get lunch in one of the wineries.

Our friendly tour guide called ahead to the wineries for us and booked everything. He then returned and drew us a paper map ,complete with allocated timing and sent us an electronic map to follow on our phones.

We were given the Whatsapp number for Wine & Ride and told we could contact for any medical or bicycle assistance. After paying, our bikes were waiting for us outside – already adjusted to our height.

There were lockers inside the shop to leave valuables, toilets and water to buy. Soon enough, we were being waved off and being told to stay hydrated and enjoy our day!

How much does a self guided wine tour in Mendoza cost?

The cost of bicycle hire in Maipu ranges from around 7,000 to 8,000 Argentinean pesos. At time of writing, Feb 2024, this is about £7 or £8.

On top of this, we paid around 8,000 pesos for each wine tasting and tour and 13,000 for a three course lunch with three glasses of wine.

As a bonus, Wine & Ride included three freebies for us – an olive oil tasting, an ice cream tasting and a glass of wine at a wine bar in town.

All in all, a day out for approximately £35 per person.

Fully guided wine tours are a little more expensive, at around £130 per person, but this includes transport from Mendoza and of course, a tour guide.

What is the cycling like on a wine bicycle tour in Maipu?

The furthest winery that we cycled to from Maipu was 12km away. All in all, we cycled 22km during our tour. The terrain was incredibly flat and easy to cycle. It helped that the bikes were in good condition.

Around Maipu and in the town, there are cycle lanes making it really easy and safe. Once into the countryside, we had to cycle on the road but only a few cars passed us.

Make sure you get a helmet for safety, cycle on the right of the road (and cycle path) and pay attention to road signs.

What are the wineries like in Maipu

During our day in Maipu, we visited three wineries. All three were quite different experiences and complimentary to visit in one day.

The first we visited, Essencia, was founded in 1870 and is one of the oldest vineyards in the area. Here we enjoyed a lovely three course lunch, with white, red wine and fizz and a wander around the vines.

The second was Bodegas Vistandes , a much more modern winery. We enjoyed a tasting of four different red wines, including a splendid Malbec Reserva.

Finally, we visited Trivento Winery , a large and modern winery with a lake and pleasant seating.

There were plenty of others in the area to choose from however. If time had allowed we would have loved to visit more! All the wineries we visited were welcoming, friendly and enjoyable experiences.

Where to stay in Mendoza?

Depending on the type of wine holiday that you’re looking for and how long you have in Mendoza, you may wish to choose one base for your entire trip, or to move around. With three distinct areas to choose from, it can be difficult to decide.

We’ve put together a guide to the best places to stay in Mendoza depending on the type of experience that you want to have.

FIND OUR GUIDE TO WHERE TO STAY IN MENDOZA HERE.

Where to next in Argentina?

You can find our guides to travelling in Argentina below:

• Buenos Aires – a three day itinerary
• Best things to do in Palermo, Buenos Aires
• Dining at Don Julio restaurant in Buenos Aires
• Where to stay in Buenos Aires
• Where to stay in Mendoza
• Our experience of staying in a wine hotel in Mendoza
• Wine cycling in Mendoza – a top experience
• Best hikes in Bariloche
• Best hikes & things to do in El Chalten
• Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier – a guide
• Driving in Argentina: A guide

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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[…] there are many wineries that you can get to by bike, bus or on foot. You can also take a bus to Maipu for a cycle & wine experience. More on all of this […]

[…] especially in the towns around Mendoza city, such as Maipu. Here, we hired bikes from the well organized Wine & Ride team, and sucked the vines dry until our hearts were […]

[…] Wine bicycle trip in Maipu (Mendoza) […]

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Cycling around the Wineries

As we started touring around the former Giol Winery , one of the classic attractions in Maipú , we could observe that a group of tourists was on a guided tour on board several mountain bikes following a guide. As we saw this, we immediately understood why it is usual to see groups of cyclists all around the paths and roads in Maipú. They were seeing and wandering around wineries, olive plantations and any tourist undertaking ready to open their gates to visitors. Our friend Edgardo used to be a mountain guide and is now one of the local entrepreneurs who takes groups of tourists from all over the world (whatever language they may speak) around the various wine and olive tours year round, always by bike. His small company, called “Maipú Aventuras”, gives visitors the chance to pedal around the most representative wineries in Maipú and learn about the history of wine in Argentina, including the small family winegrowing and winemaking businesses that open their gates to this new way of tourism.

Cycling around the wineries

Groups of cyclists

Pedal around the most representative wineries

Another attraction in the wineries

After listening to the proposal Edgardo had prepared for us, we agreed to meet very early the following morning in order to share this singular adventure along with a group of tourists. Very punctually, we waited for the members of the excursion at 1000, Ozamis Street. The starting point was former Giol winery. In addition to being the first winery on the tour, it has a history rich in anecdotes and glories that all visitors should hear about. We crossed the street and pedaled into the Wine and Grape Harvest Museum in the City of Maipú, another milestone in this metropolis that can give evidence of why wine is so important in this country. We alternated pedaling and resting as we learned about the history of the foundation of Maipú and its wineries, as well as about everything related to the production of organic wine and olive oil. “Tasting sessions are incredible. They let us learn about the flavors of every location and their differences”, one of the tourists explained as we enjoyed a glass of organic wine in a family estate. After relaxing for a while, we got on our bikes again but this time to visit an olive growing boutique , where we were lucky enough to learn about the process of growing olives and extracting oil and other by-products from them: a procedure completely novel for us. Edgardo had prepared a real feast for lunch. “We are going to visit a very special place where we can have lunch by the vines that have made this area famous worldwide. There is nothing like eating there”, he said. As we heard him, the cyclists started to pedal non-stop towards that venue, owned by one of the most popular families in Maipú, the Cecchins. It is hard to put into words what we experienced there. After parking our bikes, we sat under the shade of an ancient tree where several tables had been laid to taste the different dishes and typical local appetizers. Olives, olive oil and of course diverse varieties or organic wine followed one another along with the starters and the main courses. This sublime moment came to an end with a set of simply unbelievable desserts. After a well-deserved rest, we cycled back to the starting point at a much lower speed but with the certainty that at the end of the tour, a real prize would be waiting after this adventure: draft beer at La Báscula, another paradise in Maipú.

Contact of the excursion or tour

Maipu Aventuras

Ozamis 1040 Antigua Bodega Giol, Maipú, Mendoza, Agentina

Things to do in Maipú

Maipú, Cradle of Olive Trees

Tourism in Mendoza

Wine and Grape Harvest Museum

Take the Wine Bus from Maipú

New and Traditional: the Wineries at Maipú

City Tour in Maipú

Giol Winery or the Former Largest Winery in the World

Learning about Maipú’s Cuisine

Arena Maipú: Las Vegas in Argentina

View more tours and activities

Hotels and accommodations in Maipú

Naranja Lima

Finca el Rincón de Lunlunta

Casona Baquero

Club de Campo

Canciller House Maipu

Club de Pesca y Caza

Finca La Olivia

Posada del Vino

Villa Regina

Viña de Vieytes

Solares de Maipú

Valle Lunlunta

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Mendoza & maipu valley bike tour.

Join Fresh Eire Adventures for a bike tour in Mendoza to experience Argentina. Cycle the Valle de Uco & Maipu Valley and taste the unique wines of the land. Mendoza has it all; fabulous weather, wonderful inns, world-class wines (Malbec is the specialty), splendid bodegas, delicious food and more.

Dates Mendoza | Prices Mendoza | Included Mendoza | Extras Mendoza

We meet on our first day at either your hotel, or at Mendoza International Airport and transfer to our first hotel, in the downtown part of Mendoza.  After check in, we will take a short walking tour of the city, taking in lunch in an authentic restaurant and stop off for our first wine tasting (an introduction) with a local expert. We won’t be biking today but instead you’ll have time to either visit the local Mercado Artesanal Tradicional or take an afternoon siesta before we meet up for a welcome cocktail at our gorgeous hotel. Tonight we dine in true Argentine style at a local Asado.

After breakfast on our second day, we will be fitted to our bikes and head out to the Maipu Valley, home to the best vineyards in the region.  We won’t get to visit them all, unfortunately, but over the next few days we’ll make a hit-list of the very best! 

We will meet a variety of wine makers; from the very large producers to the smaller, independent operators who specialize in organic production and traditional methods. 

And of course, we’ll get to sample them all!  If you are keen to add to your cellar then you’ll be surprised at how affordable it is to ship a few cases home.  We’ll have a picnic lunch today. Tonight we’ll have our second dinner together at a local Italian restaurant.

On our third day, after breakfast together, the group will separate and you’ll have a choice of activities (pre-chosen at time of booking).  Here you can choose from:

• Whitewater rafting
• Horseback riding
• Crash course in Spanish language with a tutor
• Mountain biking
• Hot Springs at Cacheuta
• Spa Day at 5* resort (including 2 treatments)
• Day trip to Villaviciente
• Paragliding in the Andes
• 70km bike ride
• Hiking trip to the Andes

Lunch today, as every day, is included as part of your activity.  Because we will all return to Mendoza at different times, tonight can be your “free night,” so you will have dinner at a restaurant of your choice.  After dinner, and depending on energy levels, we will all meet up around 10 pm (after dinner) and explore the many bars along Ave. Aristides Villanueva. This can be a late night and an opportunity to see Mendoza come alive!

On our fourth day we can have a late breakfast so you get to lie in bed for an extra 2 hours! Today we visit Bodegas on the Andean side of Mendoza.  We will depart by bike around 10.30 am and we will explore the vineyards and meet with a local producer who welcomes us onto his property, with lunch, for an overnight stay in a rustic setting where his family have been producing wines for three generations.

After lunch, you will be able to take a siesta in your traditional, yet sumptuous, bedroom.  We will get to explore the property by horseback just before sunset. Tonight we will have a traditional Parrilla dinner (don't worry, non meat-eaters will be taken care of!) on the terrace, and you might be serenaded by a local musician!

After breakfast, on our fifth day, we will ride back to Mendoza and have lunch in one of my favorite restaurants on Ave. Aristides Villanueva before visiting the local art gallery in the afternoon and meeting with a local expert who brings to life the history of this beautiful country and the challenges Argentines face on a daily basis.  Tonight (& tomorrow night) we stay back in the city of Mendoza at different hotels.  We have dinner tonight at slightly earlier time of 8 pm.

On our final day, following another delicious breakfast, we’ll get back on our bikes one final time and head back out to the Maipu Valley.  Today we’ll visit an artisan liqueur producer, a choclatier as well as three more wine producers including my favorite of the week – the grand Trapiche winery.  We will return to Mendoza with ample time for some shopping in the late afternoon before meeting up for a final cocktail together before dinner.

After our final breakfast together we will transfer you to the airport for either your journey home or to continue your adventure.

Dates Mendoza

Any start dates available upon request (subject to availability)

Prices Mendoza

• Classic: US $4,995 pps. Single supplement US$800
• Deluxe: US $6,395 pps. Single supplement US$1200

NOTE: Harvest Festival dates are at a premium of $1500 pps

NOTE: Christmas and New Year (mid December - mid January) are at a premium of $1500 pps

Private departures on dates of your choice with a minimum of 4 rooms / 8 guests are available from $4,695pps (Classic) and $5,995pps (Deluxe). Please contact us for information.

Included Mendoza

• Use of hybrid bike and helmet. More about our bikes
• 5 exquisite dinners & wine
• 6 gourmet lunches & wines
• Admissions to all included attractions & tastings
• Baggage transfers
• Tips for hotels/restaurants
• Use of local cellphone
• Healthy snacks, water, full guiding services, support vehicle.
• 6 nights accommodation - 5 nights B&B in 3 & 4 star hotels (Classic) or 4 & 5 star hotels (Deluxe); 1 night in a luxury Bodega, with continental breakfast

Extras Mendoza

• Upgrade to a carbon road bike or e-bike at extra cost. More about our bikes
• Self-guided extension packages available in Santiago de Chile or Buenos Aires (3 nights from as low as $1299 pps).
• Gratuities for guides
• Your flights to and from Mendoza, Argentina.
• Calls made/received on provided cellphone exceeding $20 ARG.
• Travel insurance
• Vaccinations

Air Travel Mendoza

• Mendoza has a small but wonderfully efficient international airport. From your home country it is advisable to travel into either Buenos Aires (Argentina) or Santiago (Chile) and take then take a flight to Mendoza. LAN is our preferred operator on both of these routes and we highly recommend them. Other operators exist but they have a dubious punctuality record.
• If availing of an extension (see below) then we advise you to explore the Open Jaw airfares many airlines offer (eg. fly into one airport and out of another) so that you can maximize your time on vacation and not double back on yourself.
• Some airlines offer a Pass system offering excellent value for money. LAN, for example, offers a Pass that includes up to five flights within South America (restrictions apply) - this is only available however to passengers who fly to South America from their home country on a LAN flight. This is worth further investigation if you intend to take more than three flights in Argentina or Chile (or indeed further afield).

Extensions Mendoza

Extensions can be arranged either before or after the trip which include excellent accommodations and detailed itineraries. We have bi-lingual guides available in Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires. These guides are also available for basic "meet and greet" services if you'd prefer to undertake some independent travel. Iguazu Falls are also spectacular and can easily be seen as part of an overnight trip from Buenos Aires.

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Exploring the Maipú Wineries by Bike: Self-Guided Itinerary

Table of Contents

Touring the Maipú Wineries by Bike

Maipú is a small town southeast of Mendoza city , famous for its amazing wineries . What better way to earn a drink than cycling your way through the vineyards in the Mendoza sun? The light workout certainly made me feel better about drinking wine at 10:30 am on a Tuesday!

Exploring the Maipú wineries by bike was one of our favorite things to do in Mendoza, and we can’t recommend doing this tour enough. The amazing views, wines, and super hospitable wineries make this a must-do activity when visiting Mendoza .

In addition to a detailed itinerary, we’ll go over how to get there, how much each tasting costs, and our tips for a successful self-guided bike tour of the Maipú wineries!

Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase.

Timeline of Your Perfect Day in Maipú

• 9 am : Take bus from Mendoza city to Maipú
• 10 am : Rent bikes from Maipú Bikes
• 10:30 am : Bike 30 minutes to Mevi
• 11 am : Wine Tasting at Mevi
• 11:55 am : Bike 5 minutes to Viña El Cerno
• 12 pm : Wine Tasting at Viña El Cerno
• 12:40 pm : Head across the street to Tempus Alba and do the 10 minute self-guided tour
• 12:50 pm : Wine tasting and lunch at Tempus Alba
• 2:00 pm : 45-60 minute bike ride to La Rural (with stops for photos – we recommend taking the long route and biking past Trapiche for some amazing views!)
• 3 pm : Tour of La Rural Museum and Wine Tasting
• 4 pm : 12 minute bike ride to Domiciano
• 4:15 pm : 30 minute tour and tasting at Domiciano
• 5 pm : Head back to Maipú bikes
• 5:15 – 6 pm : Free happy hour at Maipú Bikes!

Tips for a Great Self-Guided Bike Tour of Maipú

• Go on a weekday if possible! The wineries are much busier on weekends so you might not be able to do tastings or tours.
• We highly recommend renting bikes with Maipú Bikes , as they give discounts for most of the wineries, and provide a free happy hour at the end of the day!
• If you’re going with a big group, it’s worth reserving bikes online in advance to make the pick-up process smoother
• Bring a water bottle!
• Bring a backpack for the bottles of wine you might buy – you’ll at least need one for the bottle of wine that comes with your ticket into La Rural!
• The main road has a bike lane and the other streets were also safe.
• You can rent a helmet – safety first!
• Get to Maipú Bikes as close to 10 am as possible if you’re planning on doing all five wineries!
• You can tour two olive orchards but we left these out
• If you’re on a budget, bring snacks for lunch!
• In total we spent 51 USD per person , but you don’t have to go to all the wineries! La Rural “makes” you buy a bottle with your entry ticket and food at the wineries can be pricey!

If you don’t want to do a self-guided tour, consider booking this tour of two wineries and eat a gourmet lunch!

Detailed Itinerary for Touring the Maipú Wineries by Bike

We want to help you get a good idea of what you’ll spend on this bike tour in case you’re on a budget, so we’ll be showing what we spent at each winery in this section. We’re displaying all of our costs in USD, though we paid in Argentine Pesos. We did this because of the insane inflation going on in Argentina , which causes the value of the peso to fluctuate a ton.

Read about how to get the best exchange rate when you’re traveling in Argentina!

Getting to Maipú Bikes at 10 am

The #920 bus will take you from downtown Mendoza to Maipú Bikes and costs around 20 cents. Google Maps will also present alternative routes. While the routes are accurate, the schedules are usually delayed, so plan appropriately!

To use the buses in Mendoza, you need a SUBE card. Find places to buy and recharge your SUBE card using this map . Worst case scenario, you can pay someone on the bus to use their SUBE card, but this is not a guaranteed option. Make sure to wave down the bus so it stops, and scan your SUBE to pay. When it’s almost time to get off, press the button on the railings near the rear door to alert the driver to stop at the next stop.

Once you get to Maipu Bikes, the owner will sit down with you and help you plan out a route. He was super helpful and provided us with a map of the area and all the wineries he recommended hitting. You don’t need to rent bikes in advance (especially if you’re only a couple of people), but it never hurts! You’ll pay the same price whether you rent online or in person, so do whatever you want for this! To reserve bikes in advance, do so on the Maipu Bikes website .

Cost: $8 per bike per day

Bike 30 minutes to Mevi Winery

Wine Tasting at Mevi Winery 11 – 11:55 am

Mevi Winery has the best views of any winery we’ve ever visited. The backdrop to tasting delicious wines simply could not be better. If you’re traveling with 2 or more people, we recommend getting the varietal and the reserva tasting so that you can share 6 wines instead of getting the same 3 types of wine.

Cost: $5 for varietal tasting and $8 for reserve tasting = $6.50 per person

Bike 10 minutes to Viña El Cerno

Wine Tasting at Viña El Cerno 12 pm – 12:40 pm

While Viña El Cerno didn’t boast the same views as Mevi, they had a cool hipster-type vibe going on. The tables are near massive industrial machines (maybe grape crushers, I have no idea) and they are the only winery with 100% organic and vegan wines. We also loved them because they gave us a ton of water!

Cost: $5 per person

Head across the street to Tempus Alba

Lunch, Tasting and Self-Guided Tour at Tempus Alba: 12:40 – 2 pm

Tempus Alba was the busiest winery we went to – it seems to be the hot spot for a lunch break. You can either do your tasting and eat at the food truck area or on the second-story deck – the deck overlooks the vineyard so we definitely recommend hanging out up there! There is also a quick 10-minute self-guided tour here which you can do before or after the tasting. If you plan on eating at the restaurant on the weekends, you should make a reservation by texting +542615275118

Cost: $5 for the tasting and $11 for lunch per person

Bike 1 hour to La Rural . We took a detour and went right on Pres. Bartolome Mitre road, then left on C. Nueva Mayorga, which had a beautiful view of the Trapiche vineyards with the snow-capped mountains in the background. This would take closer to 30 minutes if you went the fastest route.

Self-Guided Tour and Tasting at La Rural: 3 – 4 pm

Bodega La Rural has a super interesting museum full of all sorts of tools used to make the oak barrels that wine is aged in. While you do pay $10 for entry to the museum and the tasting, your ticket also serves as a voucher for buying one or more bottles of wine. If any of the bottles are more expensive than $10, you just pay the difference! Take advantage of their water coolers and refill your water bottles!

Cost: $10 per person for tasting and the bottles

Bike 12 minutes to Domiciano

Guided Tour and Tasting at Domiciano: 4:30 – 5 pm

Bodega Domiciano has a beautiful outdoor seating area. While their main vineyard is in Uco Valley, they have a small vineyard and production area that you can explore on a guided tour, which is followed by a tasting. They harvest their grapes at nights so for temperature purposes which we thought was really interesting!

Cost: $5.5 for the tasting

Bike 15 minutes back to Maipú Bikes

Free Happy Hour at Maipú Bikes Until 6 pm

What better way to end a day of drinking wine than with more wine? Cristian, the owner of Maipú Bikes, provides unlimited drinks of his own home-produced wine accompanied by music and other people who also just finished their bike tours.

Other Options for Touring Maipú

In addition to this guided tour , you have a few other options for enjoying Maipú.

Trapiche is the largest winery in Maipú, but the tour and tasting is more expensive (25 USD per person) and takes longer than visiting the other wineries. You also need a reservation to visit this winery – you can make your reservations for Trapiche here!

If you fancy olive oil tasting, check out La Melesca and Entre Olivos . You get a 15% discount at Entre Olivos if you rent your bikes through Maipú Bikes!

Alandes is one of the many other wineries in Maipú, you can make your reservations by texting +542616137503.

Where to Stay in Mendoza

The best area of Mendoza to stay in is the city center , close to Plaza Independencia. Mendoza is a super cheap place to stay – we got a really nice apartment close to the center and only paid 20 USD per night!

Mendoza Accommodations

View More →

Keep Exploring the Mendoza Province…

• The Absolute Best Things to do in Mendoza City and its Surroundings

Our Favorite Travel Resources

Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays. Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights. Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars. Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours. International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities. eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally. Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!

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Maipú guide | Mendoza wine route

Updated March 2021

Best wineries in Maipu Mendoza

Maipu is the oldest of Mendoza’s three main grape growing regions and known for their big bold Malbecs and Cabernet Sauvignons. Located just 15 minutes by car southeast from the main Mendoza city center, Maipu is a good first stop when exploring the Mendoza wine region.

Vines are spread across large, flat plaines, filled with big name producers like Zuccardi, Rutini and Trapiche. Maipu may not be our favorite compared to Lujan de Cuyo or the Uco Valley, but it’s still worth a visit.

Read our wine tasting guide to Maipu Mendoza below to learn how to navigate the area and don’t miss our Ultimate Mendoza Wine Route when planning your trip!

Where to taste

As with other regions like Burgundy and Stellenbosch , the best way to tour Maipu is via bicycle. Pick one up at Maipu Bikes and set your course for the day.

Bodegas Lopez – founded in 1898 by the Spanish Immigrant Jose Lopez Rivas, this is one of Mendoza’s oldest and most iconic wineries. The winery offers free tastings and tours, but if you want to try any of the higher end labels, it’ll cost about $10-20.

Did you know? Wines labeled “Reserva” must be aged for at least 12 months for red wines or 6 months for white and rosé wines.

Carinae Vineyards – a rare, small batch producer started by a sweet couple from France. Carinae offers traditional varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah but also sparkling wine made in the Charmat process.

Tempus Alba – Not a boutique operation (few are in the Maipu region), but the tasting room is beautiful and the wines are pretty tasty. This spot reminds us of some of the wineries in Valle de Guadalupe Mexico . The Bordeaux blends are tasty and they offer library tastings for some of the older vintages.

Where to eat

Casa El Enemigo – Incredible tasting menu paired with their own wine sourced from Lujan de Cuyo and The Uco Valley. The food is delicious, the price is reasonable and the wines are some of the best in the area–thus making this our favorite restaurant in Mendoza . Open for lunch only (until 5pm) and reservations are required.

Casa de Campo – Argentina’s version of a barbecue is called Asado (grilled meat) and much like the Braai from South Africa, Asado is deeply engrained in the culture. You can find delicious, genuine Asado at Casa de Campo paired nicely with an extensive local wine list (including some aged gems). Casa de Campo is only open only for lunch (until 6pm) and reservations are usually not required.

Josephina – You may have noticed that most of Maipu’s restaurants are closed after lunch. That’s because most local Argentinians eat a big lunch, take an afternoon snooze (siesta) and cook with their families for dinner. If cooking isn’t your thing, head to Avenue Colon in the downtown area of Mendoza for a street packed with restaurants and bars. Josephina was our favorite fine dining in the area serving fresh delicacies outside of the traditional asado varietals. Josephina is closed on Monday and reservations are recommended.

Where to stay

To get a proper local’s experience, we opted to stay in an Airbnb near the center of Maipu . We were hosted by an amazing couple named Ivan and Nora, both artists and native Argentinians. They welcomed us into their home with open arms, taught us about the local culture and provided our first asado experience!

Other activities

Giddy up! If learning about the asado culture wasn’t enough, check out Cabalgatas Rancho Viejo for some local horseback riding, Ranchero style. The friendly folks at Cabalgatas have a variety of training and trail riding options to please any style of rider.

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The 4 Best Mendoza Winery Tour Experiences: A Complete Guide to Tastings, Restaurants, Wineries, Bike & Wine & more

Mendoza, Argentina is one of the global capitals for wine production, known for growing and vinting wine that competes with the best from France, Italy, Spain, California, and more. The difference between Mendoza and the other wine capitals is accessibility.

While in Napa and Tuscany, you will taste amazing wines and gourmet food, the experience comes with a high price tag for the experience. The tour, car rentals, accommodation, and more will potentially set you back thousands of dollars for a few day trip.

On the other hand…

Mendoza, Argentina delivers that same, delicious, world class wine, Michelin star restaurants, and knowledgeably narrated guided tours through vineyards, wine cellars, and passionately described tastings for a fraction of the cost – think, $30 for an entire day’s tour plus another $35 for a case of really good wine.

Better yet, in Mendoza and Maipu (the sister city that produces the wine) you have the option of being driven on a guided tour between wineries, rent a bike and cycling lazily between wineries, joining a Hop On Hop Off bus or even just walking.

No matter what your situation, the Mendoza wine experience is well worth the trip and detour during your Argentina and overall South America travels .

In this complete guide to the Mendoza wine experience, we’ll give you an overview of the best options for touring the Mendoza wine country – with a guided tour, by bike, on foot, and by public bus – as well as details and essentials you need to know to plan a great, wine themed stay in Mendoza, and plan how you explore the best wine South America has to offer.

After you’ve soaked up all knowledge on the Mendoza wine experience, be sure to check out our Mendoza travel guide .

This article contains affiliate links

Why you need to visit Mendoza for the Wine experience

• Bike & Wine in Maipu Bike & Wine in Lujan de Cuyo
• Hop on Hop Off Semi-Guided Tour

Mendoza City Center

• Maipu wine country
• Lajon de Cuyo & Vistalba wine country
• Valle de Uco wine country
• Getting to Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo, Vistalba, and Valle de Uco and your winery of choice

Where to stay

Michelin star restaurants in mendoza, maipu, and lujan de cuyo.

If you’ve done guided wine tours, or even self-guided tours through Napa Valley, Italy, and France, then you’ll find the Mendoza and Maipu wine experience is far more accessible, affordable, and adventurous than wine tours through the other legendary wine capitals of the world. While I still recommend Napa if you have a chance, and it’d be foolish to skip a chance to wander French or Italian vineyars, I recommend Mendoza even more for how it fits into the South American experience.

The Top Reasons Why You Need to Include the Mendoza Wine Experience in Your South America Experience

• The Mendoza wine tours experience fits well into the Argentina and South America travel adventure, in both vibe and itinerary, as it feels Latin American, and sits on the route from Buenos Aires to Patagonia
• The vibe of carefree travel and solo travel experiences is stronger in Mendoza than in any other wine epicenter, as budget backpackers and solo travelers share tastings with wine connoisseurs
• Mendoza is the cheapest wine epicenter in the world to soak up the wine education and tasting experience, with a tour costing $30, a Michelin star meal costing the same, and tasting costing $.30 to $7
• Maipu and Mendoza’s densely packed wineries and wine bodegas mean you’re not riding more than 10 mins between wineries, and its even possible to bike or walk between wineries
• The nature of the travel – surrounded by warm and curious Argentinians and Chileans and more adventurous travelers – nearly guarantees you’re not sharing the experience with uptight snobs, just travelers and down to earth wine lovers. Local and foreign.

The Mendoza Wine Tour Options: Guided, by Bike, Hop on Hop off, and more

• Guided Mendoza wine tasting tour to 2 to 3 wineries by private bus, with hotel pick up and drop off
• Hop on Hop off Bus Wine Tour
• Bike and wine tour through Maipu (self-guided) to 4 to 7 wineries
• Bike and wine tour through Lajon Cuyo (self-guided) to 5 wineries
• Bike and wine tour through Vistabla (self-guided) to 5 wineries

Click each option above to jump to each mini guide below on how to make the tour happen for you

The Areas of Mendoza You Need to Know

• Mendoza City Center : Your base for the experience
• Maipu : Vineyards and wine, easily accessible by public transport
• Lajon de Cuyo & Vistalba : Old vine wineries next to the Mendoza river and Andean foothills
• Uco Valley : New vines and new wines, in the cooler mountain highlands

Mendoza, the capital of Mendoza province, is a “big little city” of just over 1,100,000 people. Though you won’t find any wineries in Mendoza city itself, this is where you should stay during your trip as it has the best and most accessible accommodation, and restaurants, bars, parks, and trails for your times between tastings. Convenient transportation departs to Maipu, Lajon de Cuyo, and Vistalba frequently.

Beyond wine, Mendoza is a hub for adventure sports and experiences such as trekking, mountain biking, and even summitting Mount Aconcagua – the tallest mountain outside of Asia.

After your wine tours, head to Aristides Villanueva street or Sarmiento street to start experiencing the best of Mendoza.

Read our full Mendoza guide for what to do outside of tasting and exploring

Maipu is one of the most popular and well known wine town regions within Mendoza, largely because it is so easily accessible by train, bus, or rideshare. Additionally, several options, from biking between wineries, walking, or taking a cheap ($.30) public bus make this one of the most accessible areas to tour.

Plenty of amazing wineries, cheap tastings, and well priced restaurants make this an optimal choice for travelers on a budget.

As well, the defined bike and wine route with wineries expecting bicyclers without a reservation make this a great area for an impromptu visit.

Maipu is 25 minutes away from Mendoza city center by electric train or rideshare, and 1 hour away by public bus

Bike & Wine Options: Mr. Hugo Bicycle Rental, Maipu Bikes

Learn more about the Mendoza city experience beyond the wine in our Complete Guide to Mendoza

Jump to the Maipu tour options

Lajon de Cuyo & Vistalba

While Maipu has large, expansive vineyards, Lajon de Cuy and Vistalba host smaller producers and the attention to details that comes with it. Additionally, Lajon de Cuyo sits closer to the foothills of the mountains and Mendoza Lake, which makes for more picturesque back drops and beautiful landscapes.

With a denser landscape of wineries, wine and biking as well as quickly bouncing between wineries on a hop on hop off tour or guided tour are easy and enjoyable in both the northern area of Lajon de Cuyo and the southern part of Vistalba.

Bike & Wine Options: Baccas Bikes , Vistalba Bikes

Jump to the Lajon de Cuyo and Vistalba wine discovery options

Valle de Uco: One hour south of Mendoza, but worth it

Located a one hour drive south of Mendoza City Center by car, the “newer” wine region of the Uco Valley sits at a higher altitude with a cooler climate, and a “new blood” wine culture. As beautiful and interesting as this area is, there is no public transport from Mendoza – so you will have to hire a car or tour or book accommodation in Uco Valley for the night.

So, where should you go?

Budget travelers, solo travelers, and those who wish to use public transportation for their tour will find it easier to get around Maipu.

Those who plan on biking or taking tours may find the views much more beautiful in Lajon de Cuyo and Vistalba.

Last, wine connoisseurs who want to experience the “new breed” of wineries in Mendoza should consider adding Valle de Uco to their itinerary on a different, additional day.

For all visitors, if at all possible, I recommend doing two days – one full day in Maipu, and one full day in Lajon de Cuyo, doing a biking experience in one and a guided tour in the other. Be sure to plan lunch at a bodega in each place.

Important notes to keep in mind as you plan your Mendoza wine tour experience

• Note that many wineries are closed on Sundays and Saturdays, so contact them before going and plan your tours for Monday to Friday
• The wineries that can be reached by bike generally do not require reservations for tours. For the others, contact in advance before arriving
• Many of the best wines made in Mendoza aren’t exported, so, drink plenty of those and buy a bottle too
• Malbec is king around Mendoza primarily by intention and due to marketing but Cabernets from Mendoza tend to be soft and even better so try many. Tempranillo or Viognier and sparkling wines are done extremely well too
• Message your bike rental location beforehand and reserve your bike if biking
• Download the “MendoTran” app to find when trains and public buses come and go
• Do multiple tours, such as a guided tour by bus first, then a bike and wine, then Uber between wineries, as all options are fun and deliver worthwhile, unique experiences
• Use Uber to get into and out of Maipu, Vistalba, and Lajon de Cajo, as it is a cheap (~$6 to ~$7) great option that allows you to save time. Uber will offer quicker pickups than Cabify.
• Remember to bring cash to keep things simple, as it will be needed, and not all places allow paying by card

The Best Options for Mendoza Wine Tours

The important information: there is no wrong way to experience wine in Mendoza.

Though the different styles of wine tours – from guided via shuttle bus, to private driver, to biking between wineries – may seem suited only by budget or adventure taste, in actuality, each approach has its own benefits.

In my opinion, the best way to experience Maipu’s wine scene is with one guided tour, one bike and wine tour, and then one train ride in and walking/Ubering between the last few wineries you’d love to see.

Guided tour by bus to 2 to 3 wineries, with hotel/hostel pickup

The standard Mendoza wine tour, popular with international travelers, backpackers, and Argentines visiting on the weekend is the standard guided wine tour to by shuttle bus.

The standard wine tour is great in that there is much heavier emphasis on touring the vineyards and the wine production areas for fermentation, processing, and bottling, as well as the wineries’ individual ethos.

If you’ve never actually toured a wine production facility and had the process explained, I highly recommend doing the tour. Learning how the actual desert of Mendoza can produce such tasty grapes, and how fickle and artful the process of turning those grapes into wine can be is an interesting and educational experience that helps you appreciate wine – especially Mendoza wine – even more.

How the guided wine tour in Mendoza works

On guide Mendoza wine tours, expect a very informative tour with 2 to 3 wineries and (likely) an olive oil tasting as well. The experience will lean towards interactive and very education with fairly small tastings by default, but comes with the opportunity to buy amazing wines insanely cheap. For example, I purchased a 1 year oaked Cabernet from 2018 for only $6 because of the tour, which more than balanced outside the small pour for the tasting.

The guided wine tour tends to be a ~5 to 6 hours long starting with pickup at your hotel or hostel at 2:30PM and drop-off at around 8PM. Most hotels and hostels will advertise the tour and arrange it, but the will actually be managed and run by a third party. Your hostel or hotel will book to call and arrange pickup and you will end up on a tour with guests from many other hotels – which actually adds to the fun.

I personally recommend booking the guided tour via Get Your Guide simply because you will be guaranteed a guide in English or Spanish, depending on your preference. On the day we went for the guided tour, our hostel staff mistakenly put us on a Spanish only tour which we found out a little too late (on the ride out). The tour was still fantastic, but may be difficult to enjoy if you don’t speak Spanish.

One of the best parts of the guided wine tours was hearing the varying histories, ethos, and production approaches of the different wineries. For example, one owner is 75 years old and insists on using traditional corks and roses as a “pesticide” because it is what his Spanish grandfather trained him on as a child. Another winery specializes in a specific type of grape and wine because their family built the winery on an underground river after much research.

I’ve visited Napa and Italy for wine experiences multiple times, and these experiences in Mendoza were by far more informative, casual, welcoming, and (seemingly) unpretentiously passion filled.

Cost of doing a guided wine tour in Mendoza

No matter who you book through (hostel, hotel, or Get Your Guide), a 2 to 3 winery tour will cost $27 to $30 USD.

Again, I recommend booking through Get Your Guide as the price is the same, and you’ll be guaranteed an English speaking tour, if you request it.

Click here to book your Mendoza Wine Tour via Get Your Guide

Tips and Recommendations for wine tours in Mendoza

• Pack snacks and water: You won’t be fed during the trip, so some cheese, crackers, and salami, as well as your own water on demand, will make the experience much more pleasant
• Be open to buying a bottle (or 6) of wine: Prices are insanely cheap for the quality of wine you get, and each winery has wines they only sell at the vineyard, or only in one shop in Mendoza
• Definitely go back on your own and try a few more wineries and consider coming back to try one of the restaurants, or, ask to leave the tour early and Uber to one of the Michelin star restaurants

Renting a bicycle and biking between 4 to 7 wineries and ending with Argentine barbecue

For those travelers up for a very unique self-guided tour, the experience of exploring wineries, tasting tens of wine, and learning how wine is made by simply biking between wineries is a fun, flexible option.

Maipu, Vistalba, and Lajon de Cuyo are so densely packed with welcoming wineries that you could easily bike between them…so many travelers do. Thanks to the option of an Uber ride or Cabify in, and several bike rental locations, “Bike & Wine” is one of the best approaches to experiencing Mendoza’s beautiful views, vineyards, and wines.

How the bike and wine experience works in

Simply arrive in your wine town of the day – Maipu or Lajon de Cuyo – by Uber, train, or public bus, and make your way over to your bicycle rental location of choice.

Maipu: Maipu Bikes , Mr. Hugo’s Bicycle Rental

Near Maipu Train Station ( Estacion Gutierrez ): Wine and Ride

Lajon de Cuyo: Vistalba Bikes , Baccus Wine Tours by Bike

Once you arrive, you’ll take 5 minutes to pay, get acquainted with the owners as well as the route you will follow through Maipu, Lajon de Cuyo, or Vistalba. However, be sure to save our list of wineries and routes by bike in each area.

From the start, you will simply ride alongside the road, on specially made bike lanes, to the wineries you choose. At each winery you will have the option of a paid tasting, which ranges from $.30 to $5 for the very exclusive wines. Additionally, several of the wineries, like Trapiche, offer some amazing lunch options at the restaurants located on site .

Though the route has 7 potential wineries in Maipu and 9 in Lajon de Cuyo that you can visit, people rarely make it that far, and 3 to 5 wineries is the average for a single ride.

Cost of doing the Bicycle and Wine Tour

(All costs are in USD to help you better plan for your experience)

• Getting to Maipu, Lajon de Cuyo, or Vistalba from Mendoza: $6 (Uber)
• Getting to Maipu from Mendoza by public transportation: $.20 (train), $.30 (bus)
• Bike rental: $10
• Tastings: $.30 to $2 for a small tasting of most wines, $1.50 to $13 for a really full glass

Now, let’s review the options, wineries, and routes for each of the bike and wine paths…

Bike & Wine Option 1: Maipu Main Biking Self-Guided Wine Tour Path

For those that choose the bike and wine tour from Mr. Hugo Bikes or Maipu Bike and wine, you will generally follow this path of wineries through Maipu. Many different bike rental shops recommend this same path, which is actually wonderful because you’ll share the path with other friendly travelers that are happy to chat and enhance your tasting experience

Start: Maipu Bikes or Mr. Hugos Bike and Wine

• Bogeda La Rural – Museo del vino rural
• Bodega Domiciano
• Trapiche (pricey restaurant but excellent wine)
• Tempus Alba (excellent)
• Vina El Cerno
• Mevi Bodega
• Bodega Vistandes
• Bodega El CarinaE (Restaurant with Asado to end the day)

Map of the Maipu Bike & Wine Route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/M1eoiVEVxXRKqmfk6

I love this route, but, don’t feel bad if you don’t finish all of the wineries. Most of the wineries on this list offer great tours of their vineyards, grounds, and processing areas, as well as let you pay for as many tastings as you want. The downside (which is actually an upside) is you can spend half the day at a single one of these wineries.

Bike and Wine in Lujan de Cuyo and Vistalba

On the other side of Ruta 40 and closer to the Mendoza river and the Andean foothills lies another town and culture of wineries, situated densely enough with bike rental options that bike and wine is possible hear to.

Keep in mind that the train does not run to Maipu, so you’ll have to take Uber in or public transport.

The upside is that there are so many wineries and Michelin star restaurants in the area of Lujan de Cuyo and Vistalba that you could easily do two full days of tastings, winery tours, and eating.

For the Lujan de Cuyo bike and wine routes, 9 main wineries make a path with Vistalba bikes situated perfectly in between. This means you can start at Vistalba bikes and either do a 4 winery self-guided tour by bike to the north, or a 5 winery self-guided tour by bike to the south.

Bike & Wine Option 2: Lujan de Cuyo Northern Wine Route: 4 More Great Wineries

Start: Vistalba Bikes

• Bodega Vistalba
• Bodega Gieco
• Clos de Chacras
• Alta Vista Wines
• Bodega Benegas

Dinner or return back to Vistabalba Bikes

Northern Lujan de Cuyo Bike and Wine route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xh5j6cgKjacaDiu1A

Bike & Wine Option 3: Southern Vista Alba Bike and Wine Route: 4 More Great Wineries, on the other side of the Mendoza River

• Bodega Kaiken
• Bodega Ruca Malen
• Viña Cobos
• Bodegas Norton

Return to Vistalba Bikes and head to a Michelin level dinner

Southern Lujan de Cuyo Route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/znDKbzJdUQ5Rc7CX9

Hop on Hop Off Semi-Guided Tour through either Lujan de Cuyo, Maipu, or Uco Valley

For those that want a little freedom while exploring the wine country, don’t want to drive themselves, and don’t want to Uber, Hop On Hop Off buses throughout the Mendoza wine regions are the best option.

The Hop On Hop Off buses have multiple pickup locations at which they pickup passengers once in the morning and once in the afternoon as well as drop off once at night.

Hop On Hop Off Passes can be purchases in half day or full day passes online or from the Cata International bus company at the bus terminal.

Information: https://busvitivinicola.com/fact-sheet/Fact-Sheet_EN.pdf

More info: https://www.argentina4u.com/en/best-seller-tours/hop-on-hop-off-wine-tour.html/

Other Amazing Wineries in Mendoza to Consider

Mendoza is renowned for its wine, wineries, and food good reason. No matter how long you stay, there will always be somewhere new to experience. By area, these are the additional highlight wineries that most visitors rave about and recommend. If you have a few more days, then consider visiting one, or a few, of these as well.

Lujan de Cuyo

• Riccitelli Wines

Vistalba Wineries

• Bodega Matervini
• Bodega Archival Ferrer

Maipu Wineries

Uco Valley Wineries

• Domaine Bousquet

Buying wine during the wine tours: Do it!

Most people think buying wine in Argentina at any shop in Buenos Aires to take home is a fantastic idea. Actually, it isn’t. While the quality of Argentine wine is great considering the average bottle price in Argentina of $3 to $8, the same bottle of wine in the US is usually only $20 to $30. It seems like a deal, but when you airline hassle and extra fees of getting the wines home, not just any bottle of wine is worth the headache.

However…

The same doesn’t apply in Mendoza, when purchasing at the wineries.

Each winery that you’ll tour in Mendoza has amazing wines available, including limited runs. Whereas the wine in the wine shops in Buenos Aires are good, the best wines you’ll find in Mendoza will be small batch and reserve production, so small that they are only sold on the estate or in Mendoza, and for a fraction of the price they’re sold for in wine shops around Argentina.

Even the best wines offered for sale while we toured Maipu and around Mendoza only $6.50 per bottle, and $5 if you purchased a box of 6. However, these were oak aged, reserve, and limited run wines vinted in small batches that would cost much more than $25 a bottle in the US. So, if you plan to buy wine to take home, take a tour and buy it in Mendoza.

Getting to Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo, Vistalba, and Valle de Uco

To start the wine experience, you’ll need to get to your chosen location first. For each area, your options are:

• Uber or Cabify rideshare ride in

Guided tour by collective (shuttle bus)

Hop on hop off.

• Train from Mendoza (to Maipu only)

Public bus (to Maipu, Lujan de Cuyo, and Vistalba only)

Uber or cabify to anywhere.

Throughout Mendoza and the nearby wine towns, Uber and Cabify are my favorite options for getting around. Generally here, rideshare rides rarely take more than 5 minutes to pickup, and rides cost between $5 and $7 to get from Mendoza to your destination (Maipu or Lujan de Cuyo) and cost ~$1 and $2 to get between winers. The trip to Uco Valley will set you back $30 to $45.

Within the wine cities, Uber generally picks up faster, but download both apps just in case

Cool Hack: $90 for Cabify Bodega, and a private driver from Mendoza for 8 hours

If you’re with a group and want to cram the most into a rich experience, consider “Cabify Bodega.”

Cabify Bodega is a package option within the Cabify app that, for a flat fee of $90, arranges a private driver for the entire day that will pick you up and drop you off in Mendoza. Along the way, the driver will take you to as many wineries as you want for up to 8 hours

If you book a tour, via Get Your Guide or the like, your shuttle bus will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel or hostel, included in the price – so no need to worry about transportation at all

The Hop on Hop off wine experience, available through Vitivinicola allows you to hop on the bus from Mendoza at one set time each morning (for full day tours) and afternoon (for half day tours) and join a single evening drop off. Within Maipu and Lujan de Cuyo, the Hop on Hop off bus circulates through the wineries, allowing you to move around as you please.

Consult the tour brochure here to see the route times

You can purchase tickets online or at the Cata office in the bus terminal

Public Train from Mendoza (to Maipu only)

The public electric train departs Mendoza City Center continuously daily, allowing you to leave and return anytime you’d like for 300 pesos ($.30) each way. The ride is only 25 minutes each way.

Keep in mind, you will still have to take a public bus or a $2 Uber to the bike and wine locations, or your wine bodega of choice.

Note that the train only runs to Maipu.

The main train station in Mendoza is here but there are 19 other stops between Mendoza Central Station and Gutierrez Station (the final stop, in Maipu).

The public bus system is the cheapest and most flexible option for getting from Mendoza to Maipu or Lujan de Cuyo, as there are several buses running and they drop off at all of the major spots and wineries.

To find a pickup and drop off spot, I highly recommend using Google Maps’ directions function for public transportation. Locals will recommend the MendoTran site and app which is good and accurate about the time to arrival for buses, but the routing function did not work for me.

For most visitors, the best location to stay is in Mendoza City Center, as close as possible to Aristides Villanueva street. This location is perfect because it puts you walking distance from the main drag of Aristides Villanueva, with restaurants, bars, and breweries, Sarmiento walking street, with a similar setup that is more family friendly, and the parks of Plaza Independencia and Parque General San Martin.

For hotels, the Sheraton Mendoza is the best option in terms of quality and location if your budget doesn’t matter

For the traveler crowd and couples that still wants comfort, Mora Hostel is the perfect choice , as it offers private rooms, a solid breakfast, a wonderful courtyard, and all the comforts of home.

For the backpacker crowd, both Gorilla Hostel and Jacque Mate are as good as it gets with good facilities, and the perfect location next to the main drag of bars, restaurants, and entertainment.

Where to eat around Mendoza

The Mendoza is about the wine experience, and food & wine should be a single experience. Plan your eating for in town in Mendoza, which isn’t anything impressive, and at the bodegas, which is delicious, world class, and even Michelin star rated.

For the classier and reputed restaurants, be sure to make reservations. We missed out on the restaurant we hoped to eat at because reservations were booked out for a week.

• Casa Vigil (Maipu)
• Azafran (Mendoza City Center)
• Brindillas (Lujan de Cuyo)
• Zonda Cocina de Paisaje (Lujan de Cuyo)
• Ricciteli Bistro (Lujan de Cuyo) (Michelin Green Star)

Michelin Listed Restaurants

• 1884 Francis Mallman
• Espacio Trapiche
• Fogon Cocina de Vinedo
• Osadio de Crear
• 5 Suelos – Cocina de Finca

Find the full, updated list of Michelin star and listed restaurants in Mendoza here

Where to eat around Mendoza City Center

• Anywhere on Aristides Villanueva street or Sarmiento walking street for beer and touristy, upscale eats
• Shrimp Empenadas at Harry’s
• Great beer and burgers at Berlina

Check our Mendoza guide for Mendoza City Center Suggestions

Other Recommended Recommended Restaurants from the Vitivinicola Hop On Hop Off Tours

• Bodega Santa Julia, Restaurante Casa del Visitante by Chef Cristian Manzane
• Bodega Penedo Borges, Restó Penedo Borges by Chef Matías Castejón
• Bodega Tierras Altas, Restaurante Juana María by Cocinera Andrea Prieto
• Bodega Gimenez Riili, Restaurante Garden & Restó by Chef Andrés Otemin
• Bodega Norton, Restó La Vid by Chef Santiago Maestre
• Bodega Foster Lorca, Restó Foster Lorca by Chef Matías Castejón
• Bodega Terrazas de los Andes, Restó Casa Terrazas by Chef Noelia Scquizziao
• Bodega Belasco de Baquedano, Restó Navarra by Chef Andrés Isura
• Bodega Monteviejo, Restaurante Espacio Monteviejo by Chef Nadia Haron
• Bodega Domaine Bousquet, Restó Gaia by Chef Adrían Baggio

Visit the Hop On Hop Off homepage to learn more about these restaurants and how they may fit into a chosen Hop On Hop Off tour

More info for the Hop On Hop Off Tour

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carlos is a nomad, slow traveler, and writer dedicated to helping others live abroad and travel better by using his 7+ years of experience living abroad and background as a management consultant and financial advisor to help other nomad and expats plot better paths for an international lifestyle. Click here to learn more about Carlos's story.

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Visiting mendoza’s wine regions: maipu, lujan de cuyo & uco valley.

If you are keen to head out to visit Mendoza’s wine regions, you’ll need to get the lowdown on how to get there and explore first. There are a few ways to get out and visit wineries from the city. If you choose to stay outside of Mendoza – in Lujan de Cuyo , Maipu or the Uco Valley – then chances are your hotel will be a walk or bike ride from the closest winery, but staying in Mendoza city you’ll need to either brave the bus, bike, car or take a taxi to get where you want to go. Here’s the inside scoop with all the ways to explore Mendoza’s beloved bodegas.

Visiting Mendoza’s wineries by bus

Public buses are by far the cheapest way to go, although their span is rather limited. You can access a few wineries by public bus which are within walking distance from others: try the 850 line from the bus terminal to Agrelo and stop off at sparkling wine house Chandon (Km 29 on Ruta 15, Agrelo) where you can do a tasting of their bubbly and eat a sparkling wine paired lunch in their pretty restaurant. Next door you can visit Dolium (Km 30 on Ruta 15) a smaller winery with underground architecture where you can try wines with the winemakers or the owner.

Or head to Mayor Drumond in Lujan on the same bus or the 1.19 bus where you can visit three wineries all within a stone’s throw of each other: the larger winery Luigi Bosca with its long history and good variety of wines (San Martin 2044); historic and quaint Lagarde with a handsome, old vineyard and a good restaurant (San Martin 1745); and the original garangista in Mendoza and a real gem of a character Carmelo Patti (San Martin 2614) who’ll take you through his small winery and show you his press clippings with adorable pride. You’ll probably spend around $70 USD on the bus, a decent lunch and two wine tastings.

Another bus option is the Bus Vitivinicola . With subsidies from the government and wineries involved, the bus costs $25 to $35 USD (depending on your route) and takes you door to door on a circular route between 5 or 6 wineries ensuring that you can get three visits in on the rather long day.

Recommended wineries on the route are: fabulous lunch at Terrazas de los Andes , learning about llamas and tank tastings at Tapiz , or a step back in history with Clos de Chacras . This works out at around $130 USD per person with the bus, a decent lunch and two wine tastings.

Visiting Mendoza’s wineries by bike

The classic backpackers tour of Mendoza’s wine scene is by peddling your way between wineries in Maipu. But be warned – although the ride is flat and easy, it is hot and the trucks and lorries swinging around you at supersonic speeds can be quite a hair-raising experience… At least until a few glasses of wine take the edge off.

Practically a rights of passage for budget travellers in Mendoza, getting on a bus to Maipu (take the 171, 172 or 173 from Catamarca and Rioja streets) is the first stage to the bike shop where on Urquiza street you’ll find a few different places touting their two wheelers (try Mr Hugo ). Each bike company will give you a map, but peddling between bodegas is not that hard with plenty of signs and other merry cyclists leading the way. Stop by at Familia Di Tommaso for a spot of history, Carinae for some of the best wine en route, Tempus Alba for a nice lunch in the sunshine and try La Rural for the impressive wine museum. After a couple stops you’ll be quite merry on the experience and the tourist police have a tendency to follow foreigner’s bikes to make sure they manage to trundle their way back to safety later in the evening.

The whole experience will set you back around $60 USD with tastings and a bite to eat.

Visiting Mendoza’s wineries by car

If you are particularly fussy about which wineries you want to see, then having your own wheels is the way to go. However if you aren’t too worried about meeting your hit list of wineries, then stick to a chauffeured car or a wine tour – you’ll have much more fun. Navigating the roads and finding wineries isn’t as easy as it first seems and signage isn’t great in Mendoza.

If you are determined to get your own wheels though, you’ll want to pick a wine region to tour for the day. You can try to visit more than one wine region in the same day but distances are long and it makes much more sense to pick one region.

Picking a wine region to explore…

Visiting luján de cuyo .

One of the biggest wine production regions in Argentina, Luján de Cuyo what locals call the ‘home of Malbec’. A large area that hosts a suburban sprawl as well as countless empty plains only populated by vines. You can reach Luján within about a 30 minute drive from the city but some wineries are almost an hour away. Recommendations include  Pulenta Estate for its fun blind aroma guessing game and its fabulous Cabernet Franc; Ruca Malen for its top winery restaurant where you can tuck into five wine paired courses; and Catena Zapata as one of the biggest household names for Argentine wine (although book ahead as the scheduled tours book up quick). There are at least 30 wineries in Lujan that are worth your time, check out our other recommendations in our Luján de Cuyo winery guide .

Visiting Valle de Uco

The Uco Valley is the word on every wino’s lips not only for its supreme quality high altitude wines but also for the awesome scenery: jaw-dropping mountains frame the vast vineyards and infinite blue skies – it is any oenophile’s idea of heaven. The wineries are top notch too with some of the biggest investments and ergo the most impressive architecture. Reining high in the architecture race is dutch owned Salentein  with its cathedral to wine, art gallery and sculpture garden, closely followed by avant-garde O Fournier that resembles a Star Trek creation and hosts a stellar restaurant. You’ll find excellent winery lunches at wineries including Andeluna, Diamandes and Zuccardi. Or you can try more humble, down to earth wineries like family-run Gimenez Riili or the small cube shaped winery La Azul. There are less wineries in the Uco Valley worth visiting than in Luján de Cuyo (around a dozen) but the spectacular valley is certainly worth the extra hour in the car. Read our guide to Uco Valley wineries online now .

Amanda Barnes

Amanda Barnes is a British journalist who has been living in the Southern Hemisphere since 2009, has tried over 500 Malbecs, eaten over 600 Chilean oysters and still has a functioning liver and kidneys (as far as she knows).

Vendimia & Visiting Mendoza’s Harvest Festival

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