Patagonia & Wineries

After breakfast, you’ll be taken to the domestic airport for your flight to Mendoza where your driver will transfer you to your hotel to relax for the next segment of your Argentina tour. Take the evening to enjoy a bottle from a local Mendoza winery with dinner. (B)

Today’s classic Argentina wine tours take you about 20 miles south of Mendoza to the Lujan de Cuyo wine region. You’ll taste offerings from three exceptional wineries in the Agrelo sub-appellation where Malbec reigns supreme.

Benegas Winery
This traditional winery belonged to the family of Gladys Alurralde Norton, mother of current owner Federico J. Benegas Lynch. Federico was actually born in the properties main house, where he still lives to this day. Throughout his childhood he worked every step of the way, helping his father in the winemaking process. Benegas is focused on quality and celebrating its Finca Libertad terroir. They believe in the judicious use of oak, maintaining it as a background component in the wine. Tannins should be balanced and the finish long. Their total production is only 30,000 cases. Michelle Roland says, Benegas wines have a strong personality which is the result of a very unique terroir for its quality and the combination of French and Argentine traditions. The wines are a reflection of Frederico Benegas Lynchs passion and his constant search for excellence.

Matervinis Winery
This new boutique winery is dedicated to experimental soils. Their founders, however, are not new to the winemaking world: Santiago Achaval and Roberto Chipresso former owners, founder and winemakers of acclaimed Achaval Ferrer. Today, through their new project, they aim to the exploration of the oldest geologies of Pre-Cordillera soils and their impact on wine personality and flavors. With a very limited production of wines and concentrating in high quality, these pioneers are already making a revolution in the industry.

Finca Decero Winery
Once a bare patch of dirt in the foothills of the Andes, Finca Decero is now a one-of-a-kind vineyard, where each vine is nurtured by hand and the winemaking is without compromise. Free from restraint and tradition, the creators of the winery developed an amano, or ‘by hand’, approach that is human, sustainable and sensitive to natural differences. Enjoy a fresh, seasonal lunch designed to perfectly compliment the wine you’ll be tasting. At the end of today’s Argentina tours, travel back to your hotel for a free evening. (B,L)

Please note: Wineries subject to change without notice. Many wineries are closed on Sundays and holidays.

Option 1: Boutique Wineries
This morning you will meet your driver and set out to discover small boutique wineries and those estates that make small lots of hand-crafted wines. We will again be in the famed Lujan de Cuyo wine growing region with a focus on the Maipu sub-appelation.

Maal Wines
Among these gems, Maal Wines stands out distinctly. This winery showcases unique charm as it’s been carefully constructed from repurposed materials. The entire architectural wonder is ingeniously fashioned from reclaimed shipping containers, reflecting sustainable practices. Maal Wines specializes solely in crafting fine Malbecs sourced from diverse vineyards across Mendoza. This focus on the full expression of a single varietal, Argentinas most famous, will showcase the role that terroir and process play in creating world-class wines. Maal is committed to certifying all their vineyards as organic, reflecting their dedication to premium quality and environmentally conscious methods.

Lamadrid Wines
Heading to Vistalba, Lujan de Cuyo, you’ll find Lamadrid Wines, with a historical connection dating back to the 1930s. Thoughtfully restored, the winery preserves its past with original red brick floors, wooden ceilings, and inviting internal patios, while embracing the future with their wines. Lamadrid Wines goes beyond the norm, inviting you to savor varietals like Bonarda and Cabernet Franc.

Mil Suelos – Visit and Lunch paired with wines
Step into Mil Suelos, translated as “1,000 Soils,” a tribute to visionaries Alejandro Sejanovich and Jeff Mausbach, known for encapsulating terroir essence in every bottle. Mil Suelos is dedicated to diverse appellations, a haven for terroir-focused wine creations. Small-scale, artisanal vinification define their approach, each batch exuding a unique sense of place. Beyond wines, Mil Suelos offers a culinary delight. Set in a century-old olive grove in Chachingo, Mendoza, their open-air restaurant excels at Argentina’s famous wood-fired cookery. This culinary experience is complemented by an extensive portfolio of wines crafted on-site. Indulge in a dining experience that fuses tradition, innovation, and vibrant flavors of Mendoza’s high-altitude wine country.

Please note: Wineries subject to change without notice. Many wineries are closed on Sundays and holidays.

Option 2: Mendoza Hiking + Riccitelli Vineyard
Today we will hike in the Andean foothills before enjoying a wine tasting lunch at one of Mendozas premier boutique wineries. Just one hour from the city of Mendoza is La Crucecita Village, a very picturesque village with stone houses. This is a popular hiking trail for locals with several options available to reach a bell tower standing tall upon a stone wall originally built in the 1800s. The hike features rolling terrain of moderate difficulty along a creek with excellent Andean views.

After working up an appetite we will head to Riccitelli Vineyards for a five-course lunch and wine tasting. This small family winery is an expression of the winemakers lifetime of dedication, passion, and hard work. Matias Riccitelli, the winemaker, was born in Cafayate, the northwestern wine growing region, into a family of winemakers. Matias has worked under his fathers wing, a legendary Argentine winemaker in his own right, since the age of 8. After traveling the world studying great wine traditions and cutting his teeth at other notable Argentine wineries Matias opened Richitelli in 2009. Located in Las Compuertas, the highest sub-region of the Lujan de Cuyo, in the Andean foothills, Matias is crafting some of Argentina’s most exciting wines, with scores from 92 to 97 by Tim Atkins, Richitelli’s wines have definitely reached the top 100 of Argentina. (B, L)

There will be time in the morning to see the Mendoza sights you may have missed. The city is known for its many parks so you may wish to visit the colonial center, Independence Plaza, Plaza San Martin, Cerro de la Gloria or General San Martin Park or explore unique Espana Avenue and plaza with its impressive mosaics. After lunch on your own, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your midday flight back to Buenos Aires and connecting flight to the resort town of Bariloche, Argentina to begin your Patagonia hiking adventure. Bariloche is set on the shores of scenic Lake Nahuel Huapi. The rest of the day is yours to relax and get acquainted with this pleasant mountain town and its surroundings. (B)

Today’s hike begins after breakfast. After two to three hours in this beautiful wilderness, you’ll reach the alpine zone for a well-earned rest and to enjoy a superb picnic lunch. On the remaining three to four hours of the hike, you’ll continue to be surrounded by pristine lakes and impressive peaks. You’ll return to your Bariloche hotel in time for one last pleasant evening. (B,L)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and travel to the launching beach. Today will be spent on the serene waters of Nahuel Huapi Lake. Regardless of your fitness level or previous kayaking experience, you will surely take pleasure in this full day of paddling in a heavenly setting. Pause midday for a delicious picnic lunch on the shores of the lake. Complete your trip at the renowned Llao Llao Hotel, from where you will transfer back to your hotel for a last world class dinner. (B, L)

Patagonia Hike & Kayak Option: If your group prefers, we can arrange instead to combine relaxed trekking with kayaking. Enjoy breakfast before starting out on this exciting Patagonia tour. From Lopez Bay, you will hike to Tristezas granite lookout with impressive views of the Lakes Region. Here you will enjoy a scenic lunch before hiking back. You will travel to Moreno Lake and receive a safety briefing. The rest of the afternoon will be spent paddling this beautiful lake before returning to your Bariloche hotel. (B,L)

You’ll have the morning to relax before departing for the airport to catch your flight south to El Calafate and El Chalten, the gateway town of Fitz Roy. If the weather is clear, this three to four hour drive is a beautiful part of your Patagonia tour, filled with vistas of the Fitz Roy mountain range. Upon arrival in Chalten, transfer to your hotel. (B)

After breakfast, you will start a full day of hiking a Patagonian classic: Mt. Torre, famous for its beauty but also for its climbing difficulty. This is the pinnacle of trekking Patagonia. Every year, countless expeditions attempt to reach the summit, but only a few succeed. After a half hour of hiking, you reach the viewpoint of the Fitz Roy River and Margarita waterfall. Continue for another 30 minutes until you reach the Mirador del Cerro Torre, a lookout facing the Cerro Torre and Adelas ranges. From this point, the trail descends into the valley. The trail ends on the shores of Laguna Torre, offering a stunning view of Mt. Torre surrounded by the Egger and Standhard spires and the Adelas range as a backdrop together with the glacier Torre. You will have time to enjoy the view, eat lunch, and rest before returning on the same trail to the town of El Chalten. (B, L)
Patagonia Hiking Details: 11-12 miles / Elevation gain: 1,000-1200 ft / Average time: 7 hours

Today’s segment of trekking Patagonia includes a full-day hike to the Laguna Capri base camp (Fitz Roy base camp). The hike towards Fitz Roy features spectacular views of the massif. The peak was sacred and venerated by local Tehuelche groups who believed the mists enshrouding it were volcanic ash, calling it Chalten (God of Smoke). You will begin hiking south from El Pilar, passing Laguna Piedras Blancas on the way to Laguna de los Tres, at the base of Mt. Fitz Roy. Three glaciers drain into this emerald lagoon with majestic Mt. Fitz Roy towering above. Stop en route for lunch and then resume the hike to Laguna Capri, where the image of Mt. Fitz Roy is reflected. You’ll enjoy spectacular views of the sweeping Patagonian steppe and Fitz Roy, highlights of any Patagonia tour. After a full day of hiking, return to your hotel for a good meal and night’s sleep. (B, L)
Patagonia Hiking Details: 13-14 miles / Elevation gain 2200-2300ft / Average time: 9 hours