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[title]Mendoza, Argentina's leading wine-producing province, is also one of the "Great Wine Capitals," which is why it hosts a large number of wineries offering top-tier gastronomic (and other) experiences.
The majority of these wineries are located in the area closest to the city, known as the "First Zone," with Luján de Cuyo at the forefront. Here, the "wine route" can be explored using the Wine Bus, following the hop-on-hop-off style seen in major cities around the world.
Below, we present our curated selection of the best winery restaurants in this Mendoza region, offering a plethora of experiences for wine and food lovers.
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Durigutti Family Winemaker has been recognized among the best vineyards in the world, largely thanks to the 5 Suelos – Cocina de Finca restaurant, led by Patricia Courtois. It is an integrated venture that combines viticulture, tourism, and gastronomy, located in the heart of Las Compuertas at Finca Victoria. This 40-hectare space is dedicated to sustainable agriculture with organic certification.
While it offers both à la carte and tasting menus, most visitors come for the "History Menu," a 14-course experience that follows a chronological timeline, focusing on the culinary journey rather than the intensity of the wines. Each course is carefully thought out, starting with a tartar served on a leaf, accompanied by a naturally made wine fermented in amphorae, evoking Greco-Roman antiquity.
The menu varies, featuring different whites and reds, including a house vermouth to recall the country's golden decade (1910). It culminates with a grappa from Las Compuertas, all accompanied by the attentive explanations of sommelier Martin Krawczyk Pardo.
Another ideal winery for lunch is Susana Balbo Wines, home to Osadía de Crear, one of its two restaurants, where visitors can enjoy gourmet offerings specially designed by the renowned chef Hernán Gipponi. The 3- and 5-course menus offer different concepts paired with wines from the winery. Visitors can also choose from various tastings or experiences, such as becoming winemakers or chefs for a day, while children can enjoy outdoor activities in the winery’s gardens.
El Fogón de Lagarde is undoubtedly one of the restaurants that helped establish Mendoza as a major gastronomic destination. Dining next to the centenary vineyard under the shade of ancient trees is a unique experience. The restaurant's cuisine is based on a combination of various fire-cooking techniques—grill, embers, spit, flame, and ovens—using local ingredients.
This success inspired owner Sofía Pescarmona to open Zonda, a more private space also overlooking the vineyard. It features an open kitchen and offers a "farm-to-table" journey, with products selected according to the season and conveying the essence of Mendoza's culture.
Catena Zapata is the country's most iconic winery. Recently reopened for tourism, it also features an exclusive restaurant, Angélica. The winery remains the most sought-after by consumers due to the acclaim for its wines and its winemakers (Alejandro Vigil and Laura Catena), whose recognition knows no bounds. The Agrelo pyramid is one of the most visited sites, and exploring the circular barrel cellar and tasting in its glass-walled tasting room is an unforgettable experience for any wine lover.
At Angélica, they only offer a ten-course lunch menu with vegan and gluten-free options. Chef Iván Azar designs the menu to be paired in various ways, always with house wines. From there, through impressive windows, one can see the vineyards and, in the distance, the famous pyramid housing this iconic winery.
The small Rosell Boher winery is known for its sparkling wines, in addition to its still wines, and for the Rosell Boher Lodge, a unique place in the heart of Agrelo. In April, Matías Aldasoro joined as the gastronomic director. The renowned chef, who worked for many years with the Zuccardi family, enjoys collaborating with local suppliers to obtain the best seasonal products through Fair Trade, while also supporting sustainable development.
His goal is to reflect all his experience in the restaurant's dishes. In addition to wine pairings, they offer a special menu paired solely with sparkling wines, as well as four-course vegetarian and plant-based options. It is one of the few places in the area that also opens at night.
Also in Agrelo, Piccolo Banfi Winery attracts a large audience wishing to continue enjoying wines while taking a break from meat dishes. Here, you’ll find Pizza Paradiso by Donato de Santis, the famous Italian chef. The pizzas are available in Neapolitan or Roman style.
Sunset is one of the most beautiful moments to continue enjoying Mendoza wines, which is why Kaiken created a different proposal in the gardens and by the vineyards, in the heart of Vistalba. The gastronomic experience has a name and surname: Ramos Generales, the restaurant created by the renowned Francis Mallmann. It offers a relaxed outdoor space to enjoy a different and casual proposal, in contact with nature and accompanied by the best house wines.
Nearby, and immersed in Mendoza’s best landscape with unique views of the Andes and vineyards, every corner of Bodega Nieto Senetiner conveys a bit of history and allows visitors to be embraced by the atmosphere. Located in one of Mendoza's earliest wine-producing regions, it is open year-round for guided tours, tastings, and lunches.
In the galleries of the Vistalba restaurant, flavors, aromas, and sounds are part of a unique landscape. The cuisine is managed by the Azuca group, with chef Sebastián Weigandt, who offers visitors a menu filled with love and passion for food and cultural dishes that have always been with us. Under the concept of "comfort foods," Sebastián focuses on offering a "homestyle" dining option, with homemade dishes prepared with the highest quality ingredients.
Celmira Escudero is the Executive Chef at Bodega Renacer's restaurant, which has been awarded as the best in Mendoza. Her proposal offers visitors a 360º experience: food and wines paired with incredible views of the Andes, excellent service, and a natural setting. Her menu is based on fresh, seasonal ingredients that reflect an honest, close-to-home cuisine with a commitment to sustainability. All this, combined with high-end dishes, creates unique flavors and memorable experiences.
In the same region of Luján de Cuyo, but in the Agrelo department, one of the most traditional areas with many of the most renowned wineries, Finca La Anita offers both a traditional and an international menu, depending on the day. The former includes a traditional Argentine barbecue with seasonal meats and vegetables, while the latter is à la carte, featuring dishes such as quinoa risotto, braised pork, smoked beef, and spinach malfattis, all designed to be paired with the house wines.
Ruca Malen has reopened its restaurant with a bold new concept by young chef Mariano Gallego, inspired by Agustina Hanna's wines, where each line is a chapter of a story, and the menu’s dishes follow the same sequence.
Thus, Chapter One Chardonnay is paired with an appetizer, Chapter Two Blancs Blend with pumpkin, shrimp, and cilantro, while the Pinot Noir comes with spinach, egg, and beans. Chapter Three, paired with the main course—a beef with side dishes—is served with two Malbecs, Infuso and Centenario.
Bodega Séptima also offers a relaxed and unique proposal, inviting visitors to discover the unparalleled landscapes of the Andes, just as the sun sets behind the Cordón del Plata, offering a natural spectacle where the surroundings' colors transform into night. At the Restaurante María, the experience is completed with an excellent gastronomic offering, the best wines from the winery, and live DJ performances.
El Observatorio is the restaurant at Bodega Dante Robino, "a planet floating among the Andes," where good food and good drink are for everyone. It’s a universe of simple recipes with delicious twists, where wine is the star, but there’s also room for other beverages. Chef Juan Ventureyra offers an innovative proposal, moving away from traditional tasting menus and pairings to create a universe of delightful and straightforward flavors, where the only time that matters is the one enjoyed in good company, with a glass in hand.
From the beginning of the project, the Martino Wines family wanted to highlight what they enjoy most: good wines, excellent cuisine, and sharing it in an intimate setting with friends. The seasonal gastronomic offering includes a four- and seven-course menu based on fresh, regional, and seasonal products, featuring trout, sweetbreads, beef, duck, cauliflower, fresh Mendoza citrus, and chocolates, crafted by chef Lucas Olcese. Each dish is paired with a wine from the winery. The restaurant is located on the same property as the 1901 winery, just 20 minutes from the city of Mendoza.
Another new winery on Route 86 is Lomas del Malbec, which is very accessible. It has a 400-hectare estate with over 250 hectares planted with organic Malbec. It is also home to La Jamonería de Miguel Martín, which offers a Mediterranean cuisine ideal for pairing with the house’s Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, and sparkling wines. Additionally, there are the Villas del Malbec, 30 lodges amid the vineyards with views of the hills and mountains.
