Tour of 3 wineries in Maipú with lunch + olive groves

Mendoza’s Maipú wine country is at its best when you slow down for several stops, and this tour gives you three wineries plus lunch in one easy day. You’ll taste local wines, learn how the bottles are made, and finish with a meal paired to different varietals at Esencia 1870.

I like the three-stop format, since it lets you compare different winery styles instead of tying your whole day to one cellar. I also like that lunch, tastings, city transfers, and a small alfajor tasting are bundled into the $120 price.

The main drawback is the fixed pace. Some winery bathrooms may require a long walk, the final lunch service can be slow, and the vehicle may feel cramped if the group is squeezed into a small car rather than a roomy van.

Key points to know before booking

• Three Maipú wineries: Stops may include Viña El Cerno, Corbel, Don Arturo, Vistandes, Cecchin, and other comparable wineries.
• Wine-paired lunch: The final stop includes a two-hour visit, tasting, food service, and lunch matched with wines.
• English support is available: Winery visits and tastings can be arranged in English, but the driver speaks Spanish.
• Hotel pickup is included: Pickup and return cover selected city-center hotels and hostels.
• A full seven-hour outing: Plan for long transfers at the beginning and end, plus three winery visits in Maipú.
• Small practical limits: The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, and vehicle comfort can vary.

Three wineries give you a better taste of Maipú

This is not a quick tasting-room stop with a rushed photo and a ride back to Mendoza. The plan gives you three winery visits, each with a guided tour and wine tasting. That variety matters in Mendoza, where one producer may focus on old-fashioned cellar methods while another puts more attention on food, presentation, or small-batch products.

The exact wineries can change. Common possibilities include Viña El Cerno, Corbel, Don Arturo, Vistandes, and Cecchin, with lunch served at Esencia 1870. If one of the named wineries cannot confirm the visit, the operator substitutes another winery of similar quality and wine-tourism service.

That flexibility is worth understanding before you book. You are buying a day in Maipú, not a guaranteed visit to one specific brand. If you have your heart set on a particular bodega, this may not be the right choice. If your goal is to see several traditional producers without arranging separate reservations, the format works well.

The morning begins with a city pickup

Pickup is offered from eight listed Mendoza accommodations, including Gorilla Hostel, Hotel Crillón Mendoza, Park Hyatt Mendoza, Villaggio Hotel Boutique, Hostel Central, Soltigua Apart Hotel Mendoza, Sheraton Mendoza Hotel, and Amerian Executive Mendoza Hotel. You wait at the hotel reception, not in your room, so the guide can find you without holding up the group.

If your accommodation is not listed, you can send the address to arrange a transfer. This is useful, but do not assume every address is automatically covered. Confirm it before the day of the tour.

The route includes a roughly 45-minute drive before the winery portion, followed by shorter 15- to 30-minute drives between Maipú stops. At the end, the ride back to Mendoza can take about 75 minutes. In practical terms, the seven-hour tour includes a good amount of road time, so bring water and wear clothes that feel comfortable for sitting as well as walking.

One point deserves attention: vehicle comfort may vary. A positive account describes a friendly, professional driver and a comfortable vehicle with door-to-door service. Another found the car too small for four people. That likely depends on the group and vehicle assigned, so ask about transport if you are especially tall, carrying bulky bags, or traveling with several companions.

First and second stops: guided tastings in Maipú

The first two winery visits each last about an hour. You’ll tour the property, hear about the production process, and taste several wines. The experience is built around classic winery methods, so expect an introduction to how Mendoza producers make and present their wines rather than a long technical seminar.

These visits are where the tour earns much of its value. A single tasting can leave you with one producer’s point of view. Two early stops let you compare the feel of different cellars and the way each winery explains its wines. You may also receive a small tapa with the tasting, a welcome touch that keeps the wine from arriving on an empty stomach.

English can be arranged for the winery visits and tastings. The driver speaks Spanish, so your experience may involve a mix of languages during the road portions and general logistics. If you need every explanation in English, clarify that before booking. The operator advertises both Spanish and English service, but the driver’s language is specifically noted.

The winery sequence is not presented as a choice menu on the day. The supplier decides which confirmed producers fit the route. I would treat that as part of the outing’s character: less control, but less work for you.

The final winery adds lunch, alfajores, and more time

The third stop is the longest, with about two hours for a winery visit, guided tasting, food tasting, and lunch. This is where the day shifts from cellar visits to a proper meal. Lunch is served at Esencia 1870 and paired with different wine varietals, so the food is meant to be part of the tasting rather than a separate restaurant break.

The pairing is important at this price. A tour with three tastings and transport is useful, but adding lunch means you do not need to find a restaurant between wineries or pay for a separate meal. It also gives you a chance to compare how wine changes with food, which is often more useful than tasting several glasses on their own.

Mendoza alfajores are included at the third winery. They are a small regional detail, but a welcome one. The alfajor tasting gives the stop a local food angle and breaks up the focus on wine.

Allow some patience at Esencia 1870. The meal can be very good, but service may move slowly. That is not a serious flaw if you see lunch as part of a relaxed wine day. It can matter if you have evening plans, a bus to catch, or little tolerance for a long table service. The seven-hour duration is an estimate of the full outing, and a slow lunch could push the return later.

What the $120 price really covers

At $120 per person, the tour is not the cheapest way to reach Maipú. Its value comes from bundling the pieces that are easy to underestimate: city pickup, return transport, three winery admissions, tastings at every stop, a wine-paired lunch, and the food tasting at the final winery.

You are also paying for convenience. Organizing three winery visits independently means dealing with transport, timing, reservations, and the risk of leaving one stop late. Here, the day has a set route and a driver handling the roads. For a first visit to Mendoza, that can be worth more than saving a little money.

The value is strongest for you if you want an all-inclusive day and do not need to select each winery yourself. It is weaker if you only want a short tasting, already have a rental car, or prefer to spend several hours at one producer.

The word all-inclusive should still be read in context. The supplied details include winery visits, tastings, lunch with wine pairings, and transfers from city-center accommodation. They do not list extra purchases, personal expenses, or special wines outside the planned tastings. Keep a card or some pesos available for anything additional.

A practical look at comfort and access

The tour includes walking through winery grounds and buildings. Some bathrooms are not close to the tasting areas, and they may not always be open when you need them. Use the facilities when you have the chance, rather than waiting until the final stop.

The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users. That is a firm limitation, not a small footnote, because the day involves vehicle transfers, winery walking, and access to different properties. If you have limited mobility but do not use a wheelchair, ask the operator about the specific wineries confirmed for your date.

The pickup arrangement is simple but exact. Wait at reception and be ready when the driver arrives. Waiting in your room can delay everyone, particularly when the route includes several hotel pickups.

The drive back to Mendoza is listed at around 75 minutes. After wine and a substantial meal, that ride may feel long, but it also gives you a quiet end to the day. Plan your evening with some flexibility instead of booking an early dinner or timed activity immediately after the tour.

How the language setup affects the day

The tour can be adapted for English, and the winery visits and tastings can take place in English. That is enough for the main educational part of the day, especially if you want to understand the wines and production methods.

The driver speaks Spanish. You may therefore receive route instructions or casual conversation in Spanish, while the winery staff handles the principal explanations in English when arranged. If you speak some Spanish, this mixed setup should be easy. If not, confirm the English arrangements before you pay.

No individual guide names are provided, so you should not expect to request a particular host. The quality of the day may depend on the driver, the winery staff, the assigned vehicle, and the confirmed route.

Who will enjoy this Maipú wine day most

I would recommend this tour to a first-time Mendoza visitor who wants a straightforward introduction to Maipú. You get three producers, repeated tastings, regional food, and transport without having to plan the route yourself.

It also suits couples and small groups who want lunch included. The final meal gives the day a clear center, while the first two wineries keep the experience from feeling like a single long restaurant visit.

You may want another option if you are a serious wine collector who wants detailed varietal comparisons, cellar access, or control over the exact producers. The wineries can change, and the focus is broad and accessible rather than highly specialized.

It is also less suitable for anyone who dislikes long vehicle rides, needs fully accessible facilities, or has a tight evening schedule. The combination of transfers, walking, and a potentially slow lunch calls for an unhurried day.

Booking tips that can make the day easier

Wear comfortable shoes. You may walk between tasting areas and bathrooms, and winery surfaces are not always designed for quick access.

Eat a light breakfast before pickup. The tour includes food along the way and lunch at the final stop, but the first winery may not be reached until after a substantial drive.

Tell the operator your accommodation address if it is not among the listed pickup points. Do not wait until the morning of the tour if you can avoid it.

Confirm the language arrangement, especially if English is important for you. The visits and tastings can be in English, but the driver speaks Spanish.

Keep your afternoon and evening open. The tour lasts about seven hours, and lunch service may run slowly. That flexibility will make the day feel far more relaxed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Mendoza plans are still shifting, but check availability for the exact starting time before booking.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want three winery visits, lunch, tastings, and transport in one package. The $120 price is reasonable when you count the included meal, wine pairings, admissions, and the convenience of a planned Maipú route.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed list of wineries, full wheelchair access, a larger vehicle, or a fast lunch. For everyone else, this is a practical first look at Mendoza’s wine country, with enough variety to keep the day interesting and enough food to make it more than a series of glasses.

FAQ

How long does the Maipú winery tour last?

The tour lasts about seven hours, including hotel pickup, winery visits, lunch, and the return transfer to Mendoza.

How many wineries will I visit?

You will visit three wineries in Maipú. The wineries may include Viña El Cerno, Corbel, Don Arturo, Vistandes, Cecchin, and other wineries of similar quality if a named property cannot be confirmed.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included at Esencia 1870, along with wine pairings matched to different varietals.

Are wine tastings included at all three wineries?

Yes. Each of the three winery visits includes a guided tour and wine tasting.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from selected city-center hotels and hostels. If your accommodation is not listed, you can send the address to coordinate a transfer.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The winery visits and tastings can be adapted for English. The driver speaks Spanish.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Can I cancel the tour for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, subject to the booking terms.