Mendoza Wine Tour by bus vitivinicola
One of the famous things to do in Mendoza is to go on a winery tour, do wine degustation and learn how the wine is made.
There are a few options that we found:
- Book a tour where everything is organized.
- Book a bike tour where everything is organized.
- Rent a car and do it by yourself, organise the road trip and book the winery
- Go on a bus tour with Bus Vitivinicola
We personally opted for the 4th option as our Mendoza Wine Tour. The first two being too pricy and over 150euro per person, the 3rd one needing to rent a car and then drive (drinking and driving is not a good mix).
Table of Contents
Bus Vitivinicola for Mendoza Wine Tour
Part of Cata internacional, they offer daily tour to the winery from various point in Mendoza. Everyday different wineries are visited. So, you will need to choose the day based on the place you want to visit:
- Monday: Maipu
- Tuesday: El Rio
- Wednesday: Lujan Sur / Uco Sur
- Thursday: Maipu
- Friday: Lujan Sur
- Saturday: El Sol
- Sunday: Valle de Uco
They offer full day tour for 1800 pesos and half day tour for 1200 pesos (per person).
You will need to book at least one day in advance to be sure to have a place on the bus. To do so, you can either go to their offices (Cata tourisme) located Avenida Las Heras 601 or contact them on WhatsApp (+54 9 261 263-9439) and after a little chat, pay by PayPal and get your e-ticket (what we did)
You do not need to book in advance lunch in one of the Winery unless you would like a vegetarian option. (apparently).
What is included in the price of Mendoza Wine Tour:
- Pick up from one of the bus stops
- Transfer from one winery to another
- Water
- Return
What is not included in Mendoza Wine Tour:
- Entrance to the winery and degustation
- Lunch
For more information, you get go directly https://www.busvitivinicola.com/
Our experience in Mendoza Wine Tour by bus vitivinicola
Introduction
We opted for the Wednesday Mendoza Wine Tour to Lujan Sur. So, we had the choice to visit the following winery: Zolo, Susanna Balto, Chandon, Terazzas de los Andes, Septima and Casarena. Out of the 6 stops we had to choose 4 of them. But that’s done on the bus.
We were staying near the bus terminal and therefor the closest station was the information center at 8:35am. We arrived some 10min earlier and waited. The bus was on time and once we border it with our e-ticket, the bus went out for a few more stop to collect people.
In the bus there is a driver and a guide. The guide spoke mainly Spanish and tried a bit of English.
He asked us which winery we would like to desire. At this time, we learnt that only Zolo, Chandon, Terazzas and Caserena had English tour.
We had booked in advance lunch at Terazzas with a vegetarian option. So, our tour was made as follow:
- Zolo
- Chandon
- Terazzas
- Caserena
Zolo
Around 10:10am we arrived at Zolo’s after having dropped off people at Susanna Balto. We entered the building and a guy was waiting us. After some explanation about the winery in Spanish and a shorter version in English, we went to visit the place.
First, we went through the hangar where lots of huge stainless barrels where. They were the 2nd fermentation of the wine.
After explaining us how is produced their wine, we stopped at one stainless container, where we all got a good glass of wine directly from the container. It was a Malbec made of 70% French oak barrel and 30% American one from 2018. At first it was cold and strong but as we were warming it up with our hands it became lighter.
A few steps later, we stopped at another stainless container and tried this time a cabernet sauvignon made of 90% French oak barrel and 10 American one.
We finished by entering another area where only wooden barrels where. And there we tried one Malbec 2015 Black tears directly from the wooden barrels that had wone the tittle of best wine.
What was great, is that the guy there was really explaining and telling us how to drink, feel and taste the wine. From its color to its taste. Also, an American oak barrel make the taste stronger.
Once all of this done, we headed toward the shops where we could either pay for the visit (350 pesos each) or we could get one bottle of the wine we tasted and have a free tour.
That was a great deal, so we bought a 700 pesos Malbec bottle.
We finished around 11h45 left and headed back to the bus that was waiting us.
Chandon
After 5min, we made it to Chandon Winery. But this time it was only for degustation of sparkling wine. Chandon Argentina is related to Moët and Chandon, one famous French Champagne producer.
At first, you can see that this winery is really different. Much bigger and with more resources. Once we entered the offices there, first you need to pay for the tour (550 pesos each). Once everybody has is access pass. The guide brought us around telling us about the history of Chandon. The guide here had a perfect English and was really passionate.
Chandon Argentina is the only Chandon in the world that is allowed to use Malbec Grapes as Mendoza is famous for its Malbec grapes. Also, they are cultivating the grapes in the mountain between 1200 and 1600m to imitate French Champagne region weather.
After a visit around their garden and some small vineyard. We went inside a cave with more explanation.
After what we tried 3 types of Sparking wine:
- Baron B (Most famous in Argentina)
- Selection
- Aperitif
All 3 were different and nice to try. Especially around their beautiful garden.
Once done, we all headed to the bus when we saw the bus guide calling us around 1:15pm.
Terrazas de Los Andes
We arrived around 1:25pm and knew that here we wouldn’t do a degustation but have lunch with wine.
The lunch place was beautiful, and we weren’t many in the restaurant as most of the group went to Septima for lunch. It apparently has a better view, but we wouldn’t change our choice as we were nicely served and had a nice garden around.
To start, we picked a table in the restaurant where we received a first glass of white wine (Reserve Chardonay). The waiter came and told us to get outside where we will be served an aperitif dish. We headed out where 2 chefs made us Cheese with Chimichurri followed by Cheese and Cactus (as we asked for vegetarian option. The other got some Sausages with Cactus).
Once all of this eaten, we went back inside to keep on with:
- Starter: Patagonia’s trout coated with chia seeds with 2 more glasses of white wine
- Main dish: Lentils steak with vegetables and corn puree with a Red Cabernet sauvignon 2015
- Dessert: Coconut ice-cream with, fruity biscuit with a kind of cocktails
It was DELICIOUS. Everything was great, the food, the service and the wine.
The end of Mendoza Wine Tour by bus vitivinicola
We ended up finishing our cocktail outside before quickly visiting their production area.
Later, the guide from the bus came and asked us if we wanted to go the 4th winery but we decided not to go to as we already had more than enough to drink. So, we stayed in the garden and chilled till 5:35pm, time at which we took the bus back to Mendoza and arrived at 7:15pm at the information center.
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert
Where to stay in Mendoza
- Budget: Lagares Hostel
- Mid-Range: Altos de Mendoza Suite
- Luxurious: Diplomatic Hotel
