Mendoza: Best of Wine Tourism

Did you know that Mendoza, together with nine other world capitals, is part of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network? Every year, the Best of Wine Tourism awards are handed out from these cities. Golden, silver, and bronze prizes were given in order to acknowledge the best practices of wine tourism and the services around it. Do you want to know the winners of Best of Wine Tourism 2020 in Mendoza?

The winners were: The gold medal went to Casa Vigil in the Art and Culture category; Hotel Sheraton for Accommodation; Posada Rosell Boher in the Landscape and Architecture sector; Espacio Trapiche for the Restaurant category; Domaine Bousquet winery for Sustainable Practices; for Innovative Experiences, ALMAlbec’s food and wine festival; and Vinos y Placeres TV programme, for Wine Tourism Related Services. Cheers!

Geographic location: Center-West region of Argentina. 

How to get here: by plane to Francisco Gabrielli International Airport in the City of Mendoza (aka El Plumerillo). Mendoza has direct air connection with multiple domestic and international destinations. By land, it is crossed by two major routes: from North to South, Ruta Nacional 40, and from East to West, Ruta Nacional 7, which goes all the way up to Chile.

Area: 148,827 km²

Altitude: 769 meters above sea level (average altitude) and 6,962 meters above sea level (maximum altitude at the Aconcagua Mountain).

Climate: arid, warm and cold. Dry summer season with a wide temperature range and humid winters with snow. The climate is influenced by the Andes mountains, where it turns into an arid Andean-Puna climate. 

Ideal time of the year: March through June and September through December, due to its warm climate. To see the snow, the best season is June through August. 

Recommended length of stay: 3 to 5 days.

Recommended clothing: in winter (July through September), take warm clothes. In summer (December through March), a light jacket to wear at night will be enough. Also, take comfortable preferably light-colored clothes, repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or cap, and appropriate footwear according to the activity. 

What to do: Visit the vineyards and wineries in the city suburbs, the Coria farms, Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley. Get around the area by bike or on the tour bus. Enjoy eating at the exclusive local restaurants. Visit the Aconcagua Mountain base camp and the Cacheuta hot springs. 

Tips: Bear in mind that there is a wide difference in altitude between the city of Mendoza and other areas in the province. Allow for a period to adapt to the climate differences along the circuit, in case it is necessary.