When you think of great wine, which places come to mind?
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I immediately imagine the stretching hills of Tuscany, Lombardy, Alsace, Bordeaux, and Rioja. If pressed to think beyond the scope of Italy, France, and Spain, I’d probably jump to either Eastern Europe or South Africa. The former is one of Europe’s emerging wine-producing regions, while the latter is drawing on ancient Greek techniques to craft delicious wines.
I might even argue that the US is up there thanks to our Napa Valley vineyards.
But what about further south, down beyond Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil?
Over the last two decades, Argentina has become one of the world’s most prominent regions for growers and fermenters. In fact, the growth of Argentina’s wine production and exportation has been dubbed the ‘Malbec Boom’.
Here’s what it means for travelers: You can find some of the best wines in the world in Argentina’s Mendoza region, along with its capital city of Buenos Aires.
In fact, you’d be a little foolish not to sample some of its best products while in town.
Want to make a day of it? Here are the highest-rated wine-tasting tours in Buenos Aires.
Top 5 wine-tasting tours in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aire Small-Group Wine Tasting
This two-hour tour takes you deep underground to explore the best wines in Buenos Aires. I mean that literally—this tour is hosted in a subterranean wine cellar.
The tour maxes out at eight guests, which makes it ideal for anyone who wants to ask a lot of questions along the way. Best of all, the host is a certified sommelier who has a serious love of Malbecs and Torrontes.
That means you get a front-row seat to experience and learn more about the varieties that define Argentinian wine. One reviewer even dubbed it ‘Malbec heaven’.
Bodega Gamboa Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch
Want to get up close and personal with a vineyard? Don’t worry—you don’t need to take a bus, plane, or train to Argentina’s Mendoza region.
Instead, this tour takes you from Buenos Aires to a vineyard right outside the city: Bodega Gamboa.
There, you can learn about varieties like Malbec from a holistic perspective. Guests also get to sample a wide range of wines before settling down for a picnic that includes local cheeses.
It’s also a great choice for anyone who wants to escape the city for a few hours.
Introduction to Wine Culture in Buenos Aires
Want to learn all about Argentinian wine without heading into a cellar or out to a vineyard? Here’s the perfect balance.
This tour connects guests to an experienced sommelier who guides them through the local approach to wine—not just from a production standpoint, but from a social and culinary standpoint, too.
Plus, you also get to experience the ‘picada’. Although distinct in many ways, picada is similar to Spanish tapas. The picada is usually a charcuterie board that comes with cheese and meat.
Premium Empanadas Cooking Class & Wine Tasting in Palermo
If sipping on wine while snacking sounds a little too light for you, then toss a few empanadas in the mix. Cooking classes are a great way to learn more about local culture anywhere in the world—and who doesn’t love empanadas?
This class focuses first on cooking great empanadas from scratch. Once the dishes are cooked, guests get to sample what they’ve cooked while also tasting some of the city’s best Malbecs.
This is a great compromise for couples or groups that want to learn more about cooking while also getting to sample great wine.
Wine Tasting at Downtown Buenos Aires Ego Experience
Ego Experience is a highly-rated restaurant in Argentina—and it’s got its very own new wine tour experience.
Ego Experience offers guests a highly curated drinking and dining experience in which dishes and drinks are carefully paired together for an optimal meal. Also, there’s tons of fondu.
If that concept intrigues you, then look into their wine-tasting experience. Guests can pick out their own wines or let the pros design a drink-and-dish for them. If you like unique gastronomic projects, start here.
