Great cycling route along 4 wineries in Mendoza!
Mendoza is a paradise for wine enthusiasts! This renowned wine region produces 70% of Argentina’s wines, making it the country’s most famous. The high-altitude location and continental climate create ideal conditions for grape cultivation. Mendoza is particularly celebrated for its rich and flavorful Malbec wines. Other popular grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. Hop on a bike, explore the distinctive bodegas, and savor the exceptional wines!
Be sure to check out our article with top tips for Mendoza!
What is a bodega?
A bodega is the Spanish word for a place where wine can be stored. In English, it is often referred to as a winery. In the Mendoza region, there are approximately 800 bodegas that produce high-quality wines.
How to rent a bike?
In Mendoza, there are various companies that rent bikes, such as Vistalba Bikes, Mendoza Bikers, or Cuyo Bike Rental. It's best to check on Google Maps for bike rental companies close to your accommodation. Some accommodations also offer bikes for rent.
How to explore with a WinePass?
The WinePass gives you easy access to wineries where you can taste a glass of wine. You can enter during the winery's opening hours without having to take a tour. You can walk around the winery at your own pace and decide how long you'd like to stay. On the WinePass website, you can create a list of your favorite wineries and check their opening hours. Then, you’ll be directed to a calendar where you can select the day you'd like to visit the wineries. Afterward, you can add the number of people for each winery. Once that's done, you can make a payment and receive a QR code for access to the wineries. When you arrive at a winery, the security guard will ask for your QR code (and sometimes ID), and you can quickly enter. A staff member will show you to a seat, and wine will be poured for you. At some wineries, you can choose between two different wines, but others serve a specific wine for guests arriving via WinePass. The wineries also provide information about the wine you're being served. After finishing your wine, you can choose to move on to the next winery or sample another wine, though extra payment may be required for that. We found WinePass very convenient because it allows for easy and quick entry with a guaranteed spot.
Tip: The WinePass website is in Spanish. If you don't speak Spanish, it's helpful to use Google Translate.
What is a nice bike route?
We cycled a nice route along 4 different wineries in the Luján de Cuyo region. The wineries are not too far from each other, making the route easy to cycle. Depending on your accommodation, you can choose the order of the wineries. It's also important to keep the opening hours of the wineries in mind.
1. Bodega Alta Vista
Bodega Alta Vista was built in 1899 and renovated in 2003. The winery has an authentic, small-scale, and charming character. Alta Vista is one of the oldest producing vineyards in Mendoza. It was also the first producer of Single Vineyard Malbec wine in Argentina. The wines from Alta Vista are among the highest-scoring wines ever produced in Argentina.
2. Bodega Nieto Senetiner
From Alta Vista, it takes about 20 minutes by bike to reach Bodega Nieto Senetiner. This is a beautiful winery with views of the Andes. When you walk in, it feels like you've arrived at a luxurious golf club.
The history of the winery began in 1888 when a group of Italian immigrants started planting the vineyards. In 1969, the Nieto and Senetiner families bought the winery and expanded it. In 1998, the winery became part of Molinos Río de la Plata, one of the largest food and beverage companies in the country.
Nieto Senetiner's wine is aged in oak barrels, and there is a special section where sparkling wines are produced using the Charmat and Champenoise methods. Bodega Nieto Senetiner is one of the highest-rated wineries and exports wines to more than twenty countries.
3. Bodega Vistalba
From Bodega Nieto Senetiner, it's about a 10-minute bike ride to Bodega Vistalba. The winery has a large estate with expansive views over the vineyards. Vistalba was founded in 2003 by Carlos Pulenta, who built the vineyard on his family's estate in Vistalba. Today, Paula Pulenta, the fourth generation of the Pulenta family, leads the winery. They produce high-quality wines and have a strong reputation internationally.
4. Bodega Kaiken
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