There are a large number of wineries to visit in the vicinity of the capital of Mendoza
One of those privileged areas is the Uco Valley surrounded by the high peaks of the Andes.
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Uco Valley
It is an ideal passage to be visited thanks to the diversity of activities that can be carried out: adventure, religious, cultural, rural tourism, contact with nature and wine routes, a very present and excellent quality activity in the region. It is a valley located north of the Tunuyán River with a total area of 17,370 km² and altitudes ranging between 900 and 1,700 m above sea level.
Some historical data
The Uco Valley area was the habitat of various indigenous peoples who arrived through Chile and Peru in the mid-16th century. Many of the names of the region come from indigenous languages, including “Uco”, the name of the chief of the Huarpes (“men of this land”).
During the 17th century the Jesuits settled in Tupungato and founded the Curato de Uco, from where they began their evangelizing missions. At the beginning of the 19th century, the native peoples were still part of the valley, and participated in a famous consultation in which General San Martín met with the native peoples. The presence of San Martín in the area marks a milestone, and a monument commemorates him in the protected natural area of El Manzano Historico, in Tunuyán.
Valley fruit growing
Although the most notable production is the vine, since the end of the 19th century the area has grown around the fruit growing activity, with an outstanding production of apples and cherries.
Supported by the wine industry, in recent years the region has also had significant growth thanks to tourism, thanks to the beautiful landscapes, friendly climate, excursions of all kinds and, above all, due to a thriving hotel offer associated with the wineries and wine tourism.
The wines of the Uco Valley
It is a very fertile area, with not very abundant rains and almost daily frosts during the winter. A strong identity given by the Andes, ideal conditions for high-quality wines and a generation of talented winemakers give prestige to this Argentine region that has gained enormous momentum since the 90s.
The Uco Valley has a large number of wineries and vineyards, which you can visit and taste a wide variety of high-quality wines, and at the same time, learn about the wine production process.
The tour can be done on your own or through a specialized tour company.
Salentein Winery
It is an impressive winery surrounded by the majestic Andes mountains and has architecture that combines modernity with tradition.
The winery is renowned for its production of high-quality wines, especially Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, and offers guided tours and wine tastings for visitors. In addition, it has a restaurant, a contemporary art museum and a chapel, making it a popular tourist destination in the region. The Salentein winery has a wide variety of wines, from the youngest and freshest to the most complex and aged in oak barrels. In addition, the winery uses cutting-edge winemaking techniques and special care in the selection of grapes to guarantee the quality and consistency of its wines.
Andeluna Winery
This winery is located in a privileged location, in the foothills of the Andes, at an altitude of 1,300 meters above sea level.
The winery has modern facilities for the production of high-quality wines, with state-of-the-art technology and a team of highly trained winemakers. In addition, the winery has its own vineyards located on the same estate, which allows them to have total control over the production process, from growing the grapes to bottling the wine. Bodega Andeluna’s wines are recognized for their quality and elegance, with a wide range of varieties that include Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, among others. In addition, the winery offers guided tours of its facilities, wine tastings and special events, making it one of the main tourist attractions in the region.
Atamisque Winery
It is recognized for its production of high quality wines and for its modern and elegant architecture.
This winery has a large area of its own vineyards, where they grow varieties such as Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. In addition, they use sustainable viticulture techniques and respect for the environment throughout the production process. In terms of architecture, the winery has a main building with a modern and avant-garde design, with large windows that allow a stunning view of the vineyards and nearby mountains. They also have a tasting room and a gourmet restaurant, where you can enjoy the wines and cuisine of the region.
Zuccardi Winery
It is a family winery that has been recognized on several occasions for its quality and sustainability.
They specialize in the production of Malbec and Bonarda, and their wine “Concreto Malbec” is highly valued by experts. It was founded in 1963 by Alberto Zuccardi and has been run by three generations of the Zuccardi family. The winery has several farms in different areas of Mendoza, which allows them to produce a wide range of high-quality wines. In addition to wine production, the winery also has a restaurant called “Casa del Visitante” where visitors can enjoy typical Argentine food along with the winery’s wines. The winery stands out for its focus on sustainable agriculture and precision viticulture. They have also pioneered the use of drip irrigation techniques in Mendoza, allowing them to grow high-quality grapes in a region known for its arid climate.
All of these wineries produce high quality wines and have a great reputation within the region. Other wineries in the area are:
Giménez Riili Winery
Black Stone Winery
Sophenia Winery
O. Fournier Winery
La Azul Winery
FAQs
When to visit the wine route?
Between February and April, during the harvest season, everything simply revolves around the wine. Therefore, this is the ideal time. We have been immediately after the harvest festival and the lower costs and we still enjoy many promotions.
There are many other excellent wineries in the Uco Valley, so we recommend exploring the region and discovering which ones are your favorites. This is intended to be just a list to learn more. If you go on an excursion, you generally visit three different wineries with different profiles. Our best experiences were consulting the website of each winery.