Best wineries in Mendoza: the award winners, by region, and what's new

The most awarded wineries in Mendoza are Catena Zapata and Zuccardi Valle de Uco: both reached No. 1 in the World's Best Vineyards and now sit in the ranking's Hall of Fame. In the 2025 edition, six Mendoza wineries made the world's top 50, with Durigutti at No. 11, Salentein at No. 12 and El Enemigo at No. 17. The most famous ones need about 3 months' notice to book.

That's the short answer. The long one is that "best" depends on who's drinking. I spend my life listening to people who came back from Mendoza with the ranking list ticked off and without a single wine they truly loved.

Which are the most awarded wineries in Mendoza?

These are the ones that show up most in the rankings and in the questions I get:

• Catena Zapata (Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo): the pyramid in the middle of the vineyard. It was World's Best Vineyard No. 1 in 2023 and later entered the Hall of Fame. Its restaurant, Angélica Cocina Maestra, holds a Michelin star.
• Zuccardi Valle de Uco (Paraje Altamira, San Carlos): world No. 1 in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and the first winery inducted into the Hall of Fame. Piedra Infinita is the family's signature vineyard.
• El Enemigo (Chachingo, Maipú): No. 17 in 2025. Next door is Casa Vigil, whose restaurant also holds a Michelin star.
• Durigutti Family Winemakers (Las Compuertas, Luján de Cuyo): No. 11 in 2025, Argentina's best placing that year.
• Bodegas Salentein (Uco Valley): No. 12 in 2025.
• Riccitelli, Kaiken and Viña Cobos: the other Mendoza names in the 2025 top 50 (No. 29, 36 and 49).
• Trapiche (Maipú): one of the oldest wineries in the country, founded in 1883.
• Bemberg (Gualtallary, Uco Valley): not in the visitor rankings, but one of the most exclusive visits I know. By appointment only, Monday to Friday, always private. I explain how it works in Bemberg: the winery where every visit is private (in Portuguese).

A ranking measures the visit, not your palate. A famous winery is a well-known winery. The best one for you is a different conversation.

For scale: by my count, Mendoza has around 1,200 wineries, counting the ones that welcome visitors and the small ones that don't open to the public. About 896 are registered with the INV, and more than 230 are open to visitors, according to Los Andes in March 2026. The list above is a fraction.

Maipú, Luján de Cuyo or the Uco Valley: where are the best wineries?

In all three. And that's the number one mistake in the itineraries I see: thinking you can do all three on the same day.

Approximate driving times from downtown Mendoza (check them on Google Maps):

• Maipú: about 30 minutes. Historic wineries like Trapiche, and El Enemigo in Chachingo.
• Luján de Cuyo, Agrelo area: about 45 minutes. Catena Zapata, Durigutti and many of the wineries you've seen in photos.
• Northern Uco Valley (Tupungato, Gualtallary): about 1 h 30.
• Southern Uco Valley (San Carlos): about 1 h 45. Zuccardi and Salentein are in the Uco Valley.

The rule that fixes almost everything: one region per day, two wineries per day, three at most if they're neighbors. I explain why in Maipú, Luján and the Uco Valley are not neighborhoods (in Portuguese). And to sleep among the vines, see wine hotels in Mendoza.

What's new at Mendoza's wineries in 2026?

What I'm following that's already part of my itineraries:

• Zuccardi in Maipú (Santa Julia): the Zuccardi family's original winery is in Maipú. It's Santa Julia, one of the first wineries in Mendoza to open to visitors and a pioneer of wine tourism in the province. Zuelo olive oils and the family's restaurants are there too.
• New stars: in the 2026 Michelin Guide, published in July, Mendoza gained three new stars. One is La VidA, inside winemaker Susana Balbo's house in Chacras de Coria. Another is Cal, at Sitio La Estocada in the Uco Valley. I cover all of them in Mendoza Michelin restaurants.
• Doña Paula (Luján de Cuyo): the guided tasting ends with a virtual reality experience about the winery's world, according to Mercado magazine. It's one of the visits I recommend most if you want something different.
• Bemberg (Gualtallary): for me, the big news of the year. Visits are by appointment only and always private: the slot is yours or your group's alone. Full story in Bemberg's private visit (in Portuguese).

What I see is this: more and more, lunch decides the winery, not the other way round.

How far in advance should you book Mendoza's most famous wineries?

For Catena Zapata, El Enemigo and Zuccardi Piedra Infinita, I work with about 3 months. Sometimes a slot opens up later, but planning around that is a gamble.

Catena has a quirk: its booking calendar opens every 2 months. If your dates fall in a period that hasn't opened yet, you can't book. Yet. I go into detail in Booking Catena Zapata: the calendar that opens every two months (in Portuguese).

And note: at Catena, the visit and the Angélica restaurant are separate bookings. For a Michelin-starred restaurant, 1 month's notice is usually enough.

Do you need to rent a car to visit Mendoza's wineries?

No. You can't get to Catena without a vehicle, and almost every winery needs one. Either you rent a car or you go with a driver.

A rental car has an obvious problem: the visit ends with a tasting. That's why I prefer a driver. A driver for the day includes private round-trip transport, a Spanish-speaking driver and water on board. The price depends on the service and is quoted to measure. I give you that on the video call.

Which wineries are worth it for you?

Which ones are worth it for you depends on your palate; that's what I do on the call.

I'm Beto, a private travel advisor in Mendoza. I'm not a travel agency or a tour operator: I don't sell packages and I take no commission from wineries. You book directly, at the real price.

• Initial Chat (USD 89): one video call, a realistic itinerary and wineries matched to your taste, with direct contacts.
• Tu Amigo Plan (USD 297): three calls, and on the last one you book live, with me alongside you.
• Premium Amigo (USD 597): I make the bookings in your name, wineries and drivers.

See the details in pricing or tell me about your trip in the form below.

FAQ

What is the best winery in Mendoza?
By awards, Catena Zapata and Zuccardi Valle de Uco, both in the World's Best Vineyards Hall of Fame. For you, it depends on what you like to drink and how many days you have.

How many wineries can you visit in a day?
Two, with lunch at one of them. Three only if they're neighbors. More than that means rushing and cutting tastings short.

Do you need to book Mendoza wineries in advance?
Yes. The famous ones need about 3 months. Catena has no walk-in visits.

How much does a winery visit cost?
It depends on the winery, the experience you choose and how you get there. It's quoted to measure, and I give you that on the video call.

Sources

• La Nación — World's Best Vineyards: the 7 Argentine wineries in the world's top 50 (21/11/2025)
• iProfesional — The 7 Argentine wineries with the world's best vineyards (20/11/2025)
• The World's 50 Best Vineyards — Hall of Fame: Catena Zapata
• Wine Spectator — Catena Zapata Takes Top Spot as World's Best Vineyard (2023)
• The World's 50 Best Vineyards — Hall of Fame: Zuccardi Valle de Uco
• Argentina.travel — Bodega Trapiche
• Los Andes — Las mejores bodegas y vinos de Mendoza 2026 (18/03/2026)
• Michelin — The MICHELIN Guide Buenos Aires & Mendoza 2026 (13/07/2026)
• Mercado — Invierno en Bodega Doña Paula: vino, naturaleza y experiencia única (17/07/2025)
• Forbes Argentina — Michelin Guide 2026: the 14 Argentine restaurants with stars (13/07/2026)
• Catena Zapata — official visits and contact page