Private Wine Tours in Argentina

Bienvenidos! Your Argentine adventure starts in Buenos Aires, South America’s most dynamic and glamorous city. Your chauffeur will escort you from the airport to your regal luxury hotel located at the best address in town- in the heart of Buenos Aires’ most elegant residential neighborhood, Recoleta. The 1920s was a veritable heyday for Buenos Aires, and the city was at the height of its belle époque period, characterized by tango, commerce, and refinement. It was considered to be the Paris of South America. During this period, the Duhaus were one of the wealthiest local families. In 1913, the hotel’s current plot was landscaped by Charles Thays, the city’s most celebrated landscaper.

The family then commissioned French architect León Dourge to construct a neoclassical palace, aspiring to match the grandeur of the Château du Marais near Paris and a nod to Luis Duhau’s French heritage – Completed in 1934, this magnificent property is now a luxury hotel run by Hyatt- with all the luxury bells and whistles you will appreciate.

Hit the ground running. After freshening up, meet your private guide and driver at the hotel and enjoy a private tour of the best of Buenos Aires. Marvel at the city’s architecture and visit emblematic locations such as the Plaza de Mayo with its iconic Casa Rosada, Cabildo, and Cathedral.

Continue to the most colorful Italian neighborhood in the city, La Boca, and learn all about the first Italian immigrants who came here. Take a short tour of historic San Telmo, which has a characterful market. The last stop is back where you are staying in the northern part of the city, called its “green lungs”—the parks and gardens of Palermo and Recoleta.

Before supper, you have free time in the afternoon to rest and relax and enjoy your hotel’s magnificent gardens and amenities. Tonight, you have a fun and lively experience in store at Fogón Asado. It’s an upscale fine-dining barbecue extravaganza served right in front of you in an open kitchen in an industrial chic setting.

The chef interacts with you for each dish, explaining the cut and sizzle technique. There are terrific wine pairings. Meat lovers, welcome to Nirvana! After a marvelous evening, your driver will take you back to the hotel.

Sleep in today and keep breakfast light as you have a fabulous food tour to look forward to. In the late morning, your local food guide will meet you in the lobby and sweep you away on a delicious Argentine food safari.

Kick off the tour with goodies like churros and chipá at an artisan bakery like Panadería de Anchoita. Try an Epicurean ice cream in a historic parlor -this is, effectively, little Italy. Taste seasonal dishes such as pork and almond meatballs, kale fritters with citrus aioli, smoked eggplant empanadas, and innovative cocktails in a fun neo-bodegón where creative, young chefs reinvent their grandmother’s cuisine.

Take in the whimsical murals and street art as you discover the Villa Crespo neighborhood, the Flea Market, Plaza Serrano, and its colorful area. Head to your hotel for a few hours to chillax and enjoy the grounds and art collection.

Tonight, your private driver will whisk you away to our favorite venue for tango in Buenos Aires- the fashionable Gala Tango in San Telmo. The professional show at this prestigious Porteño institution will charm and entertain you. Locals in Buenos Aires are called porteños (“people of the port”) because many of the city’s inhabitants historically arrived by boat from Europe.

On this enchanting evening, you will learn about Porteño culture and folklore (including orchestras, various dancers, musicians, and a folkloric ballet with a demonstration of ‘boleadoras’) while enjoying a gourmet dinner with Argentine wines.

After the evening’s festivities and memorable tango experience, we will organize a transfer to take you back to your hotel.

This morning, you will leave the bustling city of Buenos Aires behind and fly to enchanting Salta in the country’s northwest. This area is a stunning haven of majestic mountain landscapes, temperate valleys, tropical “cloud forests,” high-altitude Andean desert, and Spanish colonial heritage.

Vineyards stretch over 8,000 acres and flourish at remarkable altitudes here. Indeed, “high altitude” is a quintessential hallmark of Argentine viticulture. Torrontés is the star varietal, but you will also find Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Tannat, Bonarda, Barbera, and Tempranillo on the wine menu. In the coming days, you have some top-notch wine experiences in store, but today, you will switch gears with a cultural tour.

On arrival in Salta, your new driver and local guide will collect you and tempt your taste buds before embarking on a private city tour. You’ll fuel up on delicious empanadas and humitas (similar to tamales) in a no-frills, super-characterful local haunt like La Tacita, just next to the striking, colorful, 16th-century San Francisco church.

Then, your guide will take you on a fascinating tour of this colonial gem. Salta was founded in the 16th century by Spanish conquistador Hernando de Lerma, and today, it is a vibrant town and the capital of the Salta wine region. In this lovely town, you will find some of Argentina’s best examples of preserved, historic Spanish architecture.

Your tour kicks off with a stop in Plaza 9 de Julio, where you will admire the Cathedral Basilica of Salta, the elegant América Cultural Center, and the Cabildo, which looks like a movie location for Zorro with its arcades and balconies. Cabildos, usually town halls or local government buildings, are found throughout Argentina and date back to the Spanish colonial period. Spanish authorities founded them as administrative centers to execute Spanish rule.

Take in a few more stops to see interesting monuments with legends and anecdotes before taking a very short drive to visit the small town of San Lorenzo. This charming town lies at the foot of the Yungas, a subtropical, lush biosphere. The scenery, cobble-stoned town, and remarkable views are fantastic.

On your way back into Salta, where you will be staying tonight, you’ll have time to shop for unique crafts at the Artisan Market. Finally, arrive at your boutique hotel in the heart of the historic center. The evening is yours to dine at one of Salta’s fantastic restaurants like high-end El Baqueano (on the “World’s 50 Best” lists) just out of town or iconic, rustic, and sweet Doña Salta.

Over the next few days, you will enjoy an exhilarating journey through the Calchaquies Valleys, where geological marvels are at every curve. Start early today as it’s a four-hour expedition beginning with tropical forests of banana and palm trees and leading into steep high desert mountains sprinkled with donkey herds, guanacos(wild llamas), and tiny, well-preserved colonial villages. Tall cacti line the vineyards here, and the unique atmosphere takes your breath away. It feels almost like Nepal or Tibet. Make as many photo stops as you like on the way to the wine country. Stop, for instance, at the Star Trek episode-worthy “Quebrada de las Conchas” (“Shell’s Gorge”), an incredible natural wonder of rock formations located near the pretty town of Cafayate on the mythical Route 68. You’ll see the “Devil’s throat,” the “toad,” the “obelisk,” rock castles, and the “amphitheater.” Then, it’s on to lunch and wine tasting!

The team at the renowned Piatelli Vineyards estate will be waiting for you. Founded by American entrepreneur Jon Malinksi and still family-run, this fine wine estate (a sister estate to their other property in Mendoza) is known for its top bottlings as much as their kind hospitality. And you will enjoy this in situ with a relaxed lunch on the beautiful terrace overlooking vines and snow-capped mountains. Taste wines like their flagship Piattelli Torrontés and Grand Reserve Malbec, accompanying specialties like beef ribs cooked in a clay oven and goat cheese and quesillo cheese empanadas.

After lunch, visit the delightful property, and then it’s on to your next wine experience, a ten-minute drive away at Bodega San Pedro de Yacochuya. This is considered one of THE most highly esteemed Cafayate wine estates, founded by the famous Etchart wine family.

Their collaboration with French oenologist Michel Rolland has paid significant dividends, earning this boutique winery a formidable reputation in Argentina and abroad. Their signature Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon blend is one of the finest in Argentina, as you’re about to discover! It’s hard to decide which impresses you more, the views or the wines- both are splendid.

It’s a hop, skip, and a jump to your luxurious hotel, set in a 19th-century colonial-style wine resort that was the original Michel Torino winery. The house’s whitewashed walls and Spanish red roofs make it inviting, while its cozy rooms, decorated with antiques, terracotta floors, and local artwork, add to its charm. The surroundings are just dreamy, so get ready for a charming stay! You have a free evening to unwind and dine onsite Al Fresco.

Pick-up is in the late morning today, so you can sleep in, stroll around the grounds, and savor an unhurried breakfast. Then, it’s wine time! You will be visiting the boutique organic Viñas en Flor property. This family-run gem is beautiful, with over a thousand rose bushes planted at the edge of their vines and rustic chic décor. It’s a classy and stylish operation with a state-of-the-art winery.

You’ll love the stellar tasting of 8 wines from their private collection that we organize for you, served with a tasty cheese board. We will let you order a la carte at their excellent restaurant so you can choose what you like. A pumpkin risotto or slow-roasted lamb with local aromatic herbs? The choice is yours.

After lunch, we suggest a free afternoon at your luxe resort. You will want to take advantage of the facilities and spend time here. There is a beautiful swimming pool in a garden, a wellness area where you can book a massage, the famous winery 19th-century Bodega El Esteco at a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and lush gardens and patios perfect for relaxing.

The hotel can organize a wine tasting in their cellar or even something different, like horse riding this afternoon.

Following a restful afternoon, dinner will be fun and lively at the Bad Brothers Wine and Food Experience, known as the ‘Wine Lovers headquarters’ of Cafayate. It celebrates its great atmosphere, art gallery, live music, romantic dining rooms, traditional Andean cuisine with a modern twist, and super-premium “extreme altitude” wines.

One of the highlights of this fantastic trip is in store today—a premium visit and epic wine tasting at the iconic Colomé estate. Swiss engineer and vintner Donald and his wife Ursula Hess need no introduction in Napa, where he was one of the early high-quality wine pioneers, establishing the Hess Collection Winery on Mount Veeder in the 1970s.

Today, he is a global superstar in the world of wine and an avid art collector with one of the largest private art collections anywhere. Much of the art is displayed at his wineries in Napa, South Africa, and here in Salta. Donald was smitten with the area on his first visit, and in 2001, he bought the historic Colomé winery.

Founded in 1831 in Salta’s northern province, it is Argentina’s oldest continually producing winery. Donald has transformed this property into one of Argentina’s most important wine estates and the region’s unofficial ‘First Growth.’

It’s a three-hour, unforgettable drive there. You will take in outstanding scenery and pass through the rugged Las Flechas (“arrows”) gorge with its distinctive rock formations and the fabled Route 40. This is an unforgettable drive with dramatic natural beauty. You could never imagine that you could find the oasis of Estancia Colomé in this remote and enchanting area.

This gorgeous complex encompasses the historic winery, a quaint hotel, tidy lavender and cactus gardens, and a gourmet restaurant- all enclosed by their vineyards, some of the country’s highest altitude vines. Your VIP experience starts with a welcome drink upon arrival. How civilized! Carry on with a vineyard tour of their old vines, a winery tour, and an informative tasting led by Colomé’s in-house sommelier.

The region’s signature grape varieties, Malbec and Torrontés, flourish in their sustainably farmed vineyards and make hugely expressive, aromatic wines. Taste wines like their Colomé Estate Torrontés, Colomé Estate Malbec, and Colomé Auténtico Malbec, alongside wines from their oldest vineyards (1831 Malbec and 1831 Cabernet Sauvignon)- with local cheese.

A three-course lunch with wine pairings will follow onsite. This is a long and supremely pleasant meal, and you won’t have a care in the world in this peaceful place.

After lunch, you can visit the Hess Art Collection museum onsite. It naturally fits the landscape, dedicated to the renowned light and space artist James Turrell. What a perfect end to your day.

If you want to stretch your legs, there are nature walks and bird-watching options in every direction. And if you are peckish for a light supper, you can dine onsite.

Work your way back to Salta today, where you spend your last evening before flying to Mendoza. This is your last day in Northern Argentina and a longish five-hour drive. However, you will be rewarded with life-affirming vistas, striking views peppered with more delicious food and wine, and the spectacle of Andean condors flying gracefully overhead. There will be many “wow” moments in terms of scenery. Your driver will take you northeast into Cachi and Los Cordones National Park, and your first stop will be a wine estate, but of course. Bodega Puna is the perfect stop to break up the drive with an early wine-tasting lunch, served on a charming terrace amid vineyards, cacti, and mountainscapes. You’ll try one of the best desserts on this trip today- a frozen wine mousse made with Malbec and Torrontés.

The tiny hamlet of Cachi, which feels wholly trapped in time, is next. After lunch, you can grab a quick coffee or a digestivo and take photos of the charming colonial church and arcaded plaza. Continue the journey with more photo stops in the Cardones nature reserve, named after the giant “cardón” cacti you see everywhere. They are gigantic and grow to over 30 feet! The park is home to ancient Inca roads that were part of the extensive road network built by the Inca Empire, called “Qhapaq Ñan.”

You’ll travel via Las Cuesta del Obispo mountain road, which connects the Calchaquí Valley with the lusher Lerma Valley. Historically, Spanish colonizers and merchants used it while traveling between the valleys and the villages of the highlands. In the early evening, you will reach your final destination—Salta. Settle in, and the night is yours with our many suggestions for dinner in “Salta the Beautiful” (how Argentinians refer to this lovely town).

This morning, leave the rocky and wild north behind for the glamorous and prestigious Mendoza wine country. It’s under a 2-hour flight to Mendoza, and your new local driver and guide will be waiting for you on arrival. Hit the road for the wine country! Mendoza is Argentina’s largest and most important wine region, making over 75% of the production and home to countless “icon wines,” premier wine estates, and luxury inns and restaurants.

Mendoza is home to the highest peaks of the Andes, including Aconcagua, which stands at 22,832 feet and is the tallest peak in the Americas. The Andes Mountains serve as a natural barrier to the humid winds from the Pacific. These factors create ideal conditions for the cultivation of fine wines. The region’s high altitude, continental climate, diverse soils, and snow melt are crucial for producing excellent wines. Mendoza’s rich and historic winemaking tradition (much of it brought by emigrating Italian vine growers) is also a huge influence.

Mendoza has three principal sub-regions, which are then splintered into smaller appellations and areas: Luján de Cuyo (the “Land of Malbec”), Maipú (some of the oldest wine estates are here) and Uco Valley (“Valle de Uco,” characterized by its high altitude wines and where many of the “Grand Cru” vineyards are located). Your base in Mendoza wine country is in the refined, upmarket, leafy Chacras de Coria hamlet, a little gastro oasis about twenty minutes south of lovely Mendoza town.

You will stay at the SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites, a luxury inn owned by Susana Balbo, Argentina’s most famous female wine pioneer. She is credited with massively raising Argentina’s profile in the wine world, not to mention she helped break the glass ceiling for female winemakers. One of her many claims to fame is making the Torrontés grape an international household name for wine lovers. You will taste them today and have a terrific afternoon in store- a gourmet wine pairing lunch at Michelin recommended Osadía de Crear.

Founded by Susana Balbo’s daughter, Ana Lovaglio, this is a fine dining experience, and the chef will prepare a six-course tasting menu for you and paired with the estate’s wines. After lunch, head to your luxury inn. This is a slice of paradise and a sanctuary with seven sumptuous suites and incredibly personalized service. Settle in and get ensconced. Welcome to Mendoza!

The Valle de Uco is considered the crème de la crème wine region in Argentina, as genuinely exceptional (and expensive) wines are being made here at an array of award-winning premier wine estates. You are spoiled for choice in this area, but we will limit today’s offerings to three leading properties. After a rejuvenating breakfast, your insider guide will collect you.

The first visit today will be to Bemberg Estate Wines. Originally from Germany, Otto Bemberg emigrated to Argentina in the mid-19th century and, among other businesses, founded the Quilmesbrewery, which to this day is still the country’s most famous beer. More than a century later, the Bemberg family got into the fine wine business in the 1990s (in Napa Valley) and in 2010 when they invested heavily in the Peñaflor group back in Argentina.

Their beautiful property in Gualtallary, with its design winery, is a sight to behold. The high-altitude vineyards and micro terroirs here produce exquisite wines thanks to renowned Argentine winemaker Daniel Pi’s expertise.

Bemberg estate wines are known for their impeccable balance and freshness. A tutored tasting of top premium wines will be organized for you, including La Linterna Chardonnay, La Linterna Pinot Noir, La Linterna Malbec Finca El Tomillo, La Linterna Malbec Finca La Yesca, La Linterna Cabernet Sauvignon Finca las Mercedes and Ponego Gualtallary- exquisite!

At this stage, you will be ready for a great lunch: a gourmet Fête at Bodega Salentein’s highly lauded restaurant. Soak up those dreamy views of the Andes as you work through a multi-course tasting menu with their line of luxury wines. This is a three-hour affair, so sit back, relax, and indulge!

We suggest one last stop today at futuristic Andeluna, which is worth it for its setting and views. Enjoy a short tasting and devour those views while relaxing outside, overlooking the vineyards.

In the early evening, arrive back at your wine sanctuary. Free evening to dine onsite or venture out into the adorable village of Chacras de Coria, where casual eateries and wine bars are in easy walking distance of your luxury inn. Believe us, you will sleep well tonight!

Today, you will make unforgettable memories of great Argentine food and wines. Your day commences at Corazón del Sol, one of Uco Valley’s stand-out wineries. Texas-based Indian cardiologist Dr Madaiah Revana founded this cult estate. He also has two other fine wineries in his portfolio- Revana Estate in Napa Valley and Alexana Estate in Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Located in the super-select Los Chacayes district of the Uco Valley, Corazón del Sol is known for their rare single-vineyard wines and for being trailblazers in Argentina’s Rhône movement. They planted some of the first Grenache and Mourvèdre vines in the region. On arrival, a welcome wine will set the mood for you before you visit the beautiful estate and carry on with their private “Gran Reserve” experience with a flight of 4 highly expressive rare wines. Sublime.

One of the loveliest aspects of visiting the wine country in Argentina, apart from the delicious wines, of course, is the architecture. So many of the wineries are housed in veritable works of art!

Your wine-laden feast today will take place at one of the most unique venues in the country—Piedra Infinita. This is a boutique passion project owned and managed by the iconic and influential Zuccardi family (who founded their main winery in 1963 in Maipú). Situated in Paraje Altamira, a highly prized area in Uco, the estate (vineyard and winery) seems to blend into something between a wine temple and a spaceship. The plot features large stones in the vines, which, in turn, are featured on the exterior and interior of the winery.

It’s very outer planetary and atmospheric. Tour the exciting winery with your expert sommelier guide, then sit down for a gourmet lunch in their bright and airy dining room, which overlooks the vineyards. The Zuccardis are committed to a farm-to-table and zero-mile ethos, and you have a 9-course tasting menu of local delicacies presented creatively and playfully paired with fine estate wines.

Wow is the word. After a relaxed and extensive lunch, return to your hotel for a free evening.

While you could spend weeks, if not months, visiting one great winery after another in Mendoza, today is your last day here, on this vacation at least. We will make it extra special with two leisurely and luxurious experiences. First up: Viña Cobos, founded in the late 90s by the mythical American winemaker Paul Hobbs. Hobbs has seven wineries (his own and partnerships) in wildly different locations from Sonoma to Armenia to Galicia in Northern Spain, and he is essentially a superstar in the wine world. He is often referred to as the “Steve Jobs of Wine.”

After graduating from UC Davis with a master’s degree in viticulture, he worked at Opus One, Mouton Rothschild, and Simi before arriving in Argentina in the 80s and falling in love with Mendoza. He consulted with numerous wineries, including the prestigious Bodega Catena Zapata. He is credited with helping elevate the prominence and appreciation of Mendoza’s fine Malbec wines abroad, particularly in the US.

His Viña Cobos project, just a few minute’s drive from your luxury inn, is one of the properties closest to his heart, and the wines being made here are utterly fantastic. The hospitality here is as world-class as the wines, and you will embark on a high-end tasting adventure through some of the best estate wines, including Bramare Valle de Uco Chardonnay, Bramare Luján de Cuyo Malbec, Viña Cobos Vinculum Malbec, Viña Cobos Zingaretti Estate Malbec, and Viña Cobos Hobbs Estate Cab. Sauvignon. Superlative!

Delight in a convivial food and wine experience next at Bodega Durigutti. Established in 2002 by brothers Hector and Pablo Durigutti, this family-run estate continues to go from strength to strength. Apart from a wide range of original and hip wines, they also offer a sensational gastronomic experience, which you will relish today.

The concept of their Michelin-recommended 5 Suelos (Five Soils) restaurant is “Cocina de Finca” (estate kitchen), and indeed, the main ingredients come from their organic garden. They partner with local artisan food producers for everything else; you will taste the difference.

Over the next three hours, your taste buds will be tantalized by their “History” 14-course (small bites) menu with vermouth aperitif and wine pairings. The idea is a food journey from ancient times to the many waves of European immigration to Argentina and the impact and influence of each époque on the cuisine. It’s interesting, delicious, and such a peaceful setting.

The late afternoon and evening are yours at your idyllic luxury wine inn. It will be hard to leave here tomorrow!

Alas, the vacation is coming to its conclusion, but only after one last special evening in Buenos Aires. You will fly from Mendoza to Buenos Aires this morning, and your local driver will whisk you back to your palatial hotel, where you have a completely free afternoon. You can have lunch onsite (or there are many great local choices within walking distance), rest, organize luggage, go shopping for last-minute gifts, and/ or fit in some more sightseeing.

Dinner tonight is at the legendary Two Michelin-starred Relais & Chateaux Aramburu restaurant, only a few minutes walk from your hotel. Michelin coins this gastro gem as “Haut Cuisine with Argentinian soul.” It’s at the helm of executive chef Gonzalo Aramburu, one of Latin America’s most famous and respected chefs. The elegance and sophistication, the clever and inventive flavor combos, and the innovative dish presentations won’t fail to impress. Let yourself be swept away on this demure culinary adventure, the trip’s last food and wine event.

Your private driver will transfer you to the airport for your outbound flight at your preferred time.

We could include Patagonia, Iguazu Falls, and Chile if you want to extend the trip. Our tours are bespoke and just for you, so contact us and let us know your trip preferences. We are delighted to assist you.

We hope you had the trip of a lifetime on this food and wine odyssey of Argentina!