San Juan wines
Visit the second largest Argentine wine producer and taste the varieties born in the heart of the mountain.
Can you picture yourself tasting delicious wines at the foot of the Andes? San Juan is waiting for you to make it come true. Tour this land where immigrants brought the wine growing culture. Explore the Wine Route. Walk along the Tulum, Zonda and Ullum valleys. Try delicious and organic sparkling wines. Taste a Syrah, San Juan’s emblematic variety, a wine with strong tannin and black tea, plum, berries and ground pepper tasting notes.
Discover traditional vineyards amidst mountain landscapes. Visit ancient, family-run and modern wineries. And in the capital of the province, culture opens up its doors to you at the Santiago Graffigna Museum, where you will learn the story of a pioneer wine production family in the province. Watch some old tillage objects. Let centennial giant oak barrels surprise you. Come and toast to life.
Geographic location: Province of San Juan.
How to get there: by plane, to Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Airport, in the city of San Juan. By land, by car or one of the various bus lines that reach the city bus terminal. International land access from Chile is through Paso del Agua Negra, via Ruta Nacional 150, 4,779 meters above sea level. This pass is open only in the summer months (December through March).
Area: 89,651 sq km Climate: dry and cold.
Altitude: 2,269 meters above sea level (average altitude) and 6,770 meters above sea level (maximum altitude in Cerro Mercedario).
Recommended length of stay: 4 to 6 days.
Recommended clothing and gear: take warm clothes all year round, dress in layers, take appropriate footwear to walk on wild zones, a cap, sunglasses, sunscreen and skin moisturizer.
What to do: tour the cultural circuit following the footprint of national hero Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. Visit the Valle de la Luna [Valley of the Moon] at the Ischigualasto Provincial Park. Go rafting along the Jáchal River; practice land sailing in Barreal, rock climbing in the areas of Zonda and Ullum, mountaineering at Cerro Mercedario, Colorado Valley and Cordillera de Ansilta. To enjoy the regional food, follow the wine and olive routes.
Tips: Visit El Leoncito National Park, a natural protected area where you can watch one of the clearest skies in the world. Here you can visit the two observatories located inside the park with a guided tour conducted during the day. You can also take a guided night tour to watch stars, constellations, nebulas and planets through a telescope.