Aside from football, Argentina is known for its best wine regions. Located in the Calchaqui Valley, near the border of Bolivia, it is one of the largest countries to produce wine in South America. An electrifying mix of wine culture from the rocky peaks of the Andes, rock formulations, desert scenery, and soaring mountains add a unique charm to the best wine regions in Argentina. The exceptionally gorgeous culture and terroir of this country lend to some of the unique wine regions in the world.

Argentina is home to more than 2,000 exceptional wineries, making it the 5th largest producer of wine worldwide. World-renowned wines, fascinating wineries, cooperative staff, wine education, tasting rooms, rich history, and entertaining adventure draws people’s attention from all over the world. High altitude deserts and sunny climates produce high-quality wine, particularly Malbec. From the deserts of Salta in the north to the glaciers of Patagonia in the south, this country offers the most beloved wine regions in the world. 

If you want to witness ideal and great wine regions, pack your bags and take a tour to Argentina. Here are some of the best wine regions in Argentina:

Mendoza

Home to more than 1,200 wineries, Mendoza is the best known for producing 80% of Argentina’s wine. Starting with the vineyards and wineries of Mendoza, Argentina covers 220 000 hectares of vineyards in different regions.

Resting on the foothills of the Andes, Mendoza is one of the largest and best wine regions in Argentina.

Mendoza is a hub for wine lovers with Malbec – the primary and dominant grape here. Some of the other varieties you should look for are Tempranillo, Bonardo, Torrontes, Cabernet Sauvignon, and then Chardonnay varieties.

High altitude, desert landscapes, long hour sunshine, and the winds generally lead to ideal sanitary conditions that give rise to intensely flavored grapes.

Mendoza offers hundreds of historical and fantastic wineries to discover. Explore the historic wine region Maipu and dive deep into Argentine Malbec in Lujan’s best wine restaurant. Experience the nightlife scene in one of Argentina’s largest winery Trapiche. Head to the best winery restaurants, including Ruca Malen, Casarena, and Clos de Chacras, and witness the most dramatic landscape, with impressive mountain views and spectacular winery architecture. Have a few more days to discover the wine cathedral of Salentein, the modern cement temple of Zuccardi, and the famous Catena Zapata. Stay overnight in the stunning Uco Valley. Raft down the Mendoza River and lounge in the thermal baths.

Patagonia’s Rio Negro

Further south, the Patagonia trip is more than mountains, ice, penguins, and snow. Rio Negro is an up-and-coming Argentinian wine region where the more intrepid wine tourist can visit the wine regions at the gateway in Patagonia. The mountains here are smaller, and the wine regions are located beside a river canyon where the great outdoors offers hikes and fishing. Apples and pear orchards, along the banks of the river, fascinate the visitors. Patagonian wines focus on Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Malbec.

The low altitude, strong winds, cold temperatures, low rainfall make the terroir of the region balance the rich fruit characteristics and acidity of the wine. The climate is more remarkable than most other parts of Argentina, where warm days are followed by cold nights that provide some interesting challenges to winemaking.

Explore Humberto Canale, the largest producer in the area and a historic vineyard. Bodega Chacra, Bodega Noemía de Patagonia are considered the best wineries in the country. Travel far and wide between the thick green forests and fishing lakes to reach the small plantations in Chubut; the journey is worth it.

San Juan

San Juan, in the northwest of Argentina, offers another insight into wine production regions. Located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, between Mendoza and La Rioja, it is the most productive wine region of Argentina. 

San Juan vineyards are the second-largest wine producer in Argentina, where more than three-quarters of Argentina’s wine is produced. High-quality grapes and the use of cutting-edge technology in wineries have enabled the creation of new San Juan wines that have dominated European wines and gained international acclaim.

This region is blessed with a dry climate, sunny weather, warm wind, and alluvial soils create a desirable environment for fine winemaking. San Juan’s famous winds also draw windsurfers and kite surfers to its mountain lakes.

San Juan is a significant wine-producing region in Argentina, producing increasingly high-quality wines from traditional European grape varieties. The five valleys of San Juan are the most effective wine-producing areas: Tulum, Ullum, Zonda, Pedernal, and Calingasta.

These areas are significant and have earned international acclaim for producing some of the best San Juan wines with exceptional potential for Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. The unique Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon wines from this sub-region are vibrant and elegant that bring so much attention to the wines of San Juan. 

One of the most famous and oldest wineries in the Graffigna Winery, surrounded by breathtaking mountain views in every direction, creates exceptional Graffigna Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Grigio varietals. In addition, the Santiago Graffigna Wine Museum in the city itself tells the story of one of the region’s pioneer families in the winemaking heritage.

Breathtaking mountain views, world-class wine regions with private tastings, luxury accommodations, one-of-a-kind outdoor experiences, and friendly locals draw thousands of tourists from all over the world.

Neuquén

Surrounded by volcanoes, Neuquén is one of the well-known and the most modern wine-producing region in the northern part of Patagonia. The vineyards in Neuquén stand out for delightful experiences that are fascinating for their flavors and scenery.

Fertile soil, constant winds, low altitude, and cooler temperature are ideal for producing fruity red wines like Pinot Noir and dry whites like Sauvignon Blanc. Malbec and Cabernet Franc are a few other grape species, with a perfect balance between acidity and sugar.

Get out of town and discover dinosaur bones that have been unearthed in the surrounding region of Neuquén. Head to the best wine-tasting destinations of San Patricio del Chañar, Bariloche, and Argentina’s drop-dead gorgeous lakes region.

Bodega Malma, Bodega del Fin Del Mundo, Familia Schroeder, and Bodega Patritti are the best wineries that have enjoyed importance in Argentine wine production. The magnificent landscape on one side and the beauty of vineyards on the other draw the attention of thousands of tourists from all around the world.

Salta

Salta, capital of Salta province, northwestern Argentina, is bounded by Chile to the southwest, Bolivia to the north, and Paraguay to the northeast. It lies in the irrigated multi-colored Andes Mountains behind lush green vineyards in the valley of Lerma, where visitors can find some of the country’s most fascinating and alluring wine lands.

Salta is the best wine region for the production of wine with the main wine-producing area, Cafayate. Its extreme terrain and weather – soaring mountain heights, high altitude vineyards, cold nights, and bright sunny days, create excellent conditions for wine production. Some of the other places in Salta that produce unique wines are San Pedro de Yacochuya, Colomé, Etchart, etc.

The charming town of Cafayate (southeast of Salta city), located in the heart of Calchaqui Valley, is surrounded by vineyards and is the home to Argentina’s white grape variety. There are dozens of traditional restaurants and boutique wineries to visit in Cafayate. Explore the historic winery of El Porvenir and take cooking classes in the Piattelli winery. Taste old wines in Michel Torino and witness the beautiful sunset in the local village over the vineyards of  Finca Las Nubes. For wine history and culture, visit Cafayate’s Wine Museum, and learn about grape growing and wine production in the region. Walk between the vineyards and experience Cafayate Waterfall Hike, which access your treasures with the world’s iconic vineyard attractions.

Diversified Salta’s is a tourist Centre with various museums, architectural delights, and markets in Salta. Explore the Museo Arqueologia de Alta Montana, the Iglesias de San Francisco, Cathedral Basilica de Salta, and the stunning Calchaqui valleys. While listening to the popular folk music of Salta, witness the awe-inspiring Salt flats.

Catamarca 

Catamarca is a wine-producing region in the northwest of Argentina and is one of the country’s up-and-coming wine regions. Most of the vineyards in Catamarca are planted along the banks of the Abaucan River in the productive regions of Fiambala and Tinogasta. 

Catamarca is a mountainous region with high altitudes, bright sunny days, and sandy soils full of pebbles. The texture of the wine is vibrant due to the combination of mountain climate mixed with a desert-type of environment. This key combination is well known for producing and exporting wines like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and the always-popular Malbec.

Explore this mountainous region of Argentina and the most famous of Catamarca’s wineries Finca Don Diego, for offering the finest wines in Argentina. Don’t forget to visit Bodega Alta Esperanza – the most stunning and unforgettable wine-tasting winery in Argentina.

Enjoy the stunning scenery of the valley as you sample their always-popular Cabernet Sauvignon, Torrontes, Malbec, and Syrah.

La Rioja  

La Rioja has the most extended continued history of wine production in beautiful Argentina. The first grapes were planted at La Rioja during the 16th century by Spanish missionaries from Rioja in Spain. It is believed that the first Argentinean wines were produced in La Rioja.

Situated in the western parts of Argentina, La Rioja is Argentina’s third-biggest wine producer and exporter province around the world today. La Rioja has one of the finest Argentinean wines and landscapes. Thousands of tourists are attracted by the diverse vineyards, lush rainforests, and spectacular valleys of this beautiful region.

La Rioja is located at a relatively high altitude with sandy and alluvial soil. The daytime temperatures drop by half during the night, allowing the grapes to recover from the heat, perfect for wine production.

La Rioja’s most planted variety is a white grape variety. Torrontés Riojano is the most widely planted around Argentina. Other varieties include Bonarda, and of course, Malbec.

When in La Rioja, don’t miss Bodega Domingo Molina, the oldest and family-owned wineries. Take a tour of San Carlos, Cachi, and Bodega Colomé – the highest vineyards in the world.