The wineries of San Rafael are particularly famous for producing some of the best wines in Argentina, and attract visitors from all over the world.
Each winery in San Rafael has its own history, production and style of wine, so it is a good idea to do a little more research on them to discover in advance which one or which ones you would be interested in visiting.
The wine produced in San Rafael
The San Rafael region is located south of the province of Mendoza, and is one of the most important wine-growing areas in Argentina. Here we present some suggestions for visiting wineries. To begin, we must remember that San Rafael is located in an extensive oasis irrigated by two rivers: the Atuel and the Diamante.
Suter Wineries
It was founded at the end of the 19th century by Otto Rodolfo Suter and his wife Ana from Switzerland and is consequently one of the oldest in the area. It offers a tour of its facilities, as well as tastings of its wines. They began producing white wines but starting in 1942, they also incorporated red wines.
It currently has emblematic products such as its Varietales and Bi Varietales, the classic Suter Label Brown, the Suter Privados line, and its Champagne line.
Jean Rivier Winery
This boutique winery is known for its production of high-quality wines, especially the Malbec variety. Started by Jean Rivier, an immigrant from Switzerland, in 1956, adopting as his slogan “Vinegrowers Breeders” for vinifying his own grapes.
Faraón Winery
It offers a cultural space. It is not exactly located in San Rafael but in a nearby town: General Alvear. In this winery you can enjoy a unique experience, since in addition to tasting its wines, you can tour its vineyard by bicycle.
Bianchi Winery
This winery is one of the largest in the region and offers various wine tourism experiences such as: Tours through the vineyards on foot, by bike and by electric bike. These end with a guided tasting of the Famiglia Bianchi line in the private cellar. Tours of the winery and observation of the production of wines and sparkling wines, also with a guided tasting of the Famiglia Bianchi line in the private cellar. Picadas and wines. Creating your own cut of wine. Individual tastings.
La Abeja Winery
It is a small family winery known for its production of organic and biodynamic wines, and offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere for its visitors. Finca & Bodega La Abeja was built in 1883, by Rodolfo Iselín, a French immigrant, founder of the current city of San Rafael.
Finca El Nevado
Winery Known for its production of high-end wines, and offers a stunning view of the Andes mountain range from its vineyards. They produce Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and sweet whites.
Algodón Wine Estate Winery
Visiting it is combining an experience of architectural elegance with the high quality of its wines. With vineyards planted at high altitudes and a limited production of high-end wines, this boutique winery offers private and exclusive tours where you can taste their high-quality wines and enjoy the serenity of their natural surroundings. It also has a restaurant that exemplifies the best of traditional Argentine cuisine and a golf course.
Much more…
If you hire an organized excursion, they will surely combine a large winery with a small production one plus a visit to an olive oil producer. In addition to its wineries, the region is known for its beautiful natural landscapes, such as the Atuel Canyon, Valle Grande, and Cerro Nevado, which offer a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, rafting, kayaking, and paragliding. Other popular attractions in San Rafael include the El Sosneado Hot Springs and El Nihuil Dam, which offer beautiful panoramic views and opportunities for swimming, water sports, and fishing. Let’s start with what your city offers us.
City of San Rafael
It is a city of low buildings and very quiet. However, you will find a varied gastronomic offer, the same in the accommodation category. Regarding the gastronomy of the place we find: Chivitos and grilled ribs, although the most important thing in the Mendoza region is its wines as we mentioned at the beginning of this article. The city is located 600 meters high and a few kilometers north of the Atuel River, and on the Diamante River. Its sycamore-lined streets converge on Plaza San Martín, surrounded by cafes and the neo-romantic-style San Rafael Arcángel Cathedral. The Diamante River, which flows in the city, and the Atuel River to the south allow you to practice whitewater rafting in the summer, such as rafting, windsurfing, trekking and diving, depending on the case. The city center has a charming central square, Plaza San Martín, surrounded by cafes and restaurants. You can walk through the historic center and enjoy the colonial architecture.
Valle Grande Reservoir
It is an excellent place to enjoy water sports such as kayaking and sailing. You can also sunbathe on its beaches and enjoy the tranquility of the surroundings. It is one of the most important reservoirs in Mendoza, and a place of dazzling beauty, located at one end of the Atuel Canyon, formed by the river of the same name. It is used to dam the waters of the river, through the Valle Grande dam, which are controlled by the hydroelectric power plant of the El Nihuil reservoir, and thus keep its course level.
Atuel Canyon
The Atuel Canyon in San Rafael is an impressive place and offers various activities to enjoy its natural beauty. Here are some things you can do in Atuel Canyon: One of the most popular ways to explore Atuel Canyon is by car. We did it with an organized excursion and it was really very enjoyable because the guides make discovering the various rock formations along the route fun. There is a scenic road that runs through the canyon, allowing you to enjoy panoramic views of the rock formations and the Atuel River. Be sure to stop at the viewpoints to capture spectacular photos. Another exciting option is to take a raft ride on the Atuel River. You can hire a local guide or a tour that will take you through the canyon on an inflatable raft, allowing you to see the geological formations up close and enjoy the thrill of the whitewater. The Atuel Canyon is a paradise for photography lovers. The colorful rock formations, meandering river, and natural light offer countless opportunities to capture stunning images. If you prefer to explore on foot, there are trails that will take you through the canyon and allow you to appreciate the natural beauty up close. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and enough water. In the Atuel Canyon, you will find rock formations called “Las Tinajas”, which are natural wells created by water erosion. They are an interesting attraction to explore.
Nihuil Lake
It is at the end of Atuel Canyon route. The retaining wall of the dam is made of simple concrete and a triangular profile, with a curved plan of 275 m radius. El Nihuil offers similar activities to Valle Grande, such as sailing and fishing. In addition, you can enjoy the panoramic views from its viewpoint.
Diamond River
Together with the Athuel, the Diamante is one of the rivers that runs through San Rafael and without a doubt one of the most beautiful in the province, and along its route it forms a water basin that is used to carry water from one side to the other and to produce electrical energy. The first of the works that we observe on the Diamante River is “the Galileo Vitale”, which was built to take advantage of the waters of the Diamante River for irrigation purposes and which are distributed through a complex system of gates, in concrete channels. This beautiful work is located minutes from the city of San Rafael, exactly 27 kilometers. For fishing lovers, and just ten kilometers further from the city, is El Tigre, a small dam that collects water and then dumps it into the Los Reyunos lake or reservoir. There it is possible to enjoy fishing for large silversides and trout that were stocked. 35 kilometers away is what for many is the main reservoir of this beautiful basin: the Los Reyunos Dam. Well…everything we mentioned is part of the Diamond circuit and is worth another article.
El Sosneado Hot Springs
These are three hot spring pools that belonged to a hotel now in ruins. There are organized excursions, but we went by car. El Sosneado is located approximately 140 km from the city of San Rafael and part of the road is gravel, but the experience is worth it. The pools are still there and where you can bathe.
Snowy Hill (Cerro Nevado)
It is at 3,883 m high, offers a variety of routes and trails to explore that suit different skill levels. From easier, shorter routes to more challenging climbs for experienced hikers, there are options for everyone. One of the most rewarding rewards of hiking Cerro Nevado is the stunning panoramic views you can enjoy once you reach higher altitudes. You can appreciate mountainous landscapes, glaciers, lagoons and the natural beauty of the region. From the summit you can see Payunia, Llancanelo Lagoon and the large lake of El Nihuil.
FAQs
How to get to San Rafael?
BY BUS: from Buenos Aires it is 1:00 p.m. From the city of Mendoza it is approximately 3 hours.
BY PLANE: from Buenos Aires 1h 50 and you arrive at the San Rafael “Santiago Germanó” Airport.
San Rafael is famous because its wine but is also a very popular destination for lovers of nature and outdoor activities, so it is important to plan your activities according to your interests and the season in which you travel.