We arrived at the Mendoza bus terminal at around 5 PM from Valparaiso, Chile. From there, it was a 30-minute walk to our hostel near Plaza San Martin. Being unable to get cash out at the terminal’s ATM for a taxi and without internet access to get an Uber, we ended up walking to our hotel. On the way, we passed a shop that was selling promotional SIM cards for a budget network operator called Tuenti. In this offer, the chip was free for a top-up of 50 ARS1 which included 1 GB of internet for 1 week. Since we were only planning to be in Argentina for a couple of days, this was a bargain. After we checked into our hostel and dropped off our bags, we headed into the city center to look for tours. It was around 7 PM and we found that several tour agencies had already closed. We managed to find 2 that were still open but were closing soon at 8 PM. We also found that some tours were only available on certain days, so our only options were a Bodegazo (wine) tour or a gaucho tour. We had 2 days in Mendoza, and on one of those days, we wanted to go to the Cacheuta Thermal Baths. Since they didn’t have a tour for our dates, the sales rep said we could head there on our own by public transport. With that in mind, we decided to do a wine tour the next day and go to the thermal baths by public transport on our last day. There was a half-day and full-day wine tour and we chose the full-day which cost 950 ARS each. There’s a 4 percent charge if you use a credit card so it’s better if you have cash.
Bodegazo Tour
It’s a late morning start with the tour minibus picking us up at our hostel at around 10.30 AM. After picking up other groups, we headed to our first bodega (winery) – Bodega Lopez – arriving there at around 11.15 AM. The bodega guide was finishing up with another tour, and whilst waiting, we were told we could walk around the small museum. They have several vehicles and equipment used in the fields on display. Once the bodega guide was done, we were taken on a tour starting in the storage room making our way through to the distillery and bottling rooms. Throughout the tour, the guide explains the ingredients, their processes, and the equipment they use. The tour then ends in the basement with a wine tasting. The guide shows everyone the proper way to taste the wine before getting everyone to repeat drinking rhymes before tasting. There’s a spit bucket available if you want but everyone just drinks it. Once the wine tasting is done, we go upstairs to the store for anyone who would like to purchase some wine bottles.
The next stop is a 15-minute drive away at Bodega Familia Cecchin. This is a smaller bodega where they grow their produce organically. We’re taken around quickly and then into a warehouse for the wine tasting. Again the bodega’s guide shows you how to drink the wine properly and then it’s onto the store for anyone wanting to buy. This one was a much quicker visit before heading to Bodega Vistandes for lunch. This bodega has an onsite restaurant where we have lunch. This is followed by a wine tasting in a separate building. This bodega is surrounded by vineyards with a view of the Andes in the distance. After the wine tasting and a browse through the store, we were taken to Pasrai Olive Oil Factory. The guide in this tour takes us through the factory and talks about the process of making olive oil. They also said that they make raisins and other dried fruits. The tour ends with an olive oil tasting and trying out some of their other products. We visit one more winery and end the tour in a lady’s home who makes alcoholic beverages. One of the interesting drinks there was absinthe and she prepares it the proper way by setting it on fire with some sugar. The tour bus then drops everyone off at their hotels or near the Plaza Independencia. Overall, it was an interesting experience but if you’re not too fond of wines, then the half-day tour is probably enough.
