Last updated: April 2026
Wine tasting guide to the Uco Valley region
Uco Valley features some of Mendoza’s highest elevation vineyards. This results in wines that are higher in acidity, vivacious black fruit and beautiful savory flavors. Coupled with the best wine compared to other local subregions Maipu and Lujan de Cuyo, this is our favorite region in Mendoza.
Located 1 hr and 20 minutes from downtown Mendoza, you’ll need your own car or a hired driver to visit. We recommend staying for at least a night, but you can also make this a day trip from Lujan or Maipu.
Check our Ultimate Mendoza Wine Route when planning your trip!
While the Malbecs are featured often in this area, we are big fans of the Cabernet Francs (more robust than the Loire Valley cousins in France).
Where to taste
Rutini – Our favorite wines in the region (tied with El Enemigo). Rutini was the first to the Uco Valley, planting in 1925. While 400 hectares may seem large, the winery limits the production numbers, resulting in great quality. Don’t miss their single vineyard Malbec and Cabernet Francs.
Bodega La Azul – A thriving boutique winery located right nextdoor to Rutini. Walk up tastings are available in large groups, though you may have to wait a bit. Otherwise, you can book ahead for a private tasting. Try the “Azul Reserva” Malbec-Cabernet blend.
Bodegas SuperUco – This is a beautifully aesthetic winery with some great wines available for tasting. The Michelini brothers are keen for taking risks: Biodynamic practices, concrete eggs and oak foudres are just some of the winemaking decisions which make this winery stand out. Make a reservation for a tour and enjoy the delicious, intimate tasting.
Gimenez Riili – Located right next to SuperUco and a must-do if you’re in a tour group, as they offer “the blending game”. You and the other participants split into two teams and choose the combination of varietals to make create the best tasting blend.
Then, the winemaker will blind taste which blend is better and the winning concoction is bottled for takeaway. It may sound kitschy, but it was quite a lot of fun for all levels of wine knowledge.
Where to eat
La Azul – The wines aren’t the only thing we love about this boutique winery; they offer a fantastic lunch too. The course tasting menu is not as fancy as the others on this list, but the cuisine is tasty nonetheless.
Bodega Salentein – Very good wine pairing lunch at a reasonable price. The Salentein wines are enjoyable, but not enough to crack our top list. However, we recommend stopping in for lunch and If you have time, take the tour. The grand piano in the barrel room is pretty neat!
Domaine Bousquet – Another great lunch option while on the road. Views are spectacular as is the food. The wines from Bousquet are enjoyable but not on our top list.
Where to stay
There are many wine-themed luxury accommodations in this region, complete with activities like horseback riding, guided tours, cooking classes, hikes and more.
Gimenez Riili is our pick for it’s location (right next to SuperUco), on-site winery / restaurant, beautiful aesthetic and solid value. The hospitality is top notch as well and came in handy when booking our reservations en Español (we both speak Spanish but Argentinian Spanish is different!). Gimenez is also recommended as a wine stop, so you can kill two birds by staying here.
Other activities
There’s not much out here besides the wine. However, most hotels will have services to offer like hiking tours, horseback riding, massages, spa. We recommend just kicking your feet up after a long day of tasting and enjoying the scenery.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Uco Valley sits at 1,000–1,500 metres elevation — Mendoza’s highest and coolest sub-region. The altitude produces wines with more acidity, complexity, and aging potential than lower-elevation areas. It’s our favourite region in Mendoza for the sheer quality of the Malbec and, in particular, the Cabernet Franc, which takes on a more robust, structured character than its Loire Valley counterparts.
The Uco Valley is about 80 km (50 miles) south of Mendoza city, roughly a 1 hour 20 minute drive. A rental car or private driver is essential — unlike Maipú and Luján de Cuyo, the Uco Valley has no practical public transport to the main wineries. We recommend staying at least one night to fully appreciate the region.
Gimenez Riili is our top recommendation — well-located next to SuperUco, with an on-site winery and restaurant, beautiful design, and excellent hospitality. Several other luxury wine hotels offer full-package stays with guided tours, horseback riding, and cooking classes. Staying overnight also means you can taste without worrying about driving back to Mendoza city.
Our top picks are Rutini (one of the first to plant in the valley in 1925, exceptional single-vineyard Malbecs and Cab Francs), Bodegas SuperUco (innovative biodynamic winemaking by the Michelini brothers), and Gimenez Riili (a must if you’re in a group — their blending game is genuinely fun). Bodega La Azul next door to Rutini is also excellent for walk-up tastings.
