The Best Boutique Wineries in Argentina

Visiting Patti’s bodega is a special treat, as he will take you on a tour of his small, rustic winery himself and show you the garage where he began making wine in the 80s. He is widely known as quite the character and will animatedly share the story of his wine, from the starting process to the final product. All his wines are made naturally with no chemical additives and the reds are bottled for four to five years before the are deemed ready for commercial release. If you visit, you must try his Cabernet Sauvignon.

At first, the small, unassuming building of the La Azul Winery doesn’t catch the eye of visitors like its surrounding vineyard neighbors, but you’ll soon be reminded to not judge this book by its cover. Where other winemakers focus on aesthetics, La Azul focuses all its time and energy on its wines. The winery specialises in Cabernet Sauvignon and the national grape—Malbec. But what you really have to try is the Azul Gran Reserva—a blend of both grapes aged for two years in French and American oak barrels.

French retirees Brigitte and Philippe Subra know how to grow old in life alongside their wines. The name CarniaE comes from astronomy (one of Philippe’s passions) and is Latin for “from Carina”. It is also one of the most stunning constellations of the southern sky that appears during the harvest time summer nights. The Subra home and winery tour is very personal and will show you the winemaking process and how the property was restored to what it is today. CarinaE’s iconic must-try blend is the Prestige, which also has one of the best values for Malbec wines in Argentina.

CarinaE, Aranda Videla, 5517 Maipu, Mendoza, Argentina, +54 261 499 0470

Oak barrels | © Agustín Ruiz/Flickr

Familia Blanco is the family-run bodega that has produced the Mairena label for three generations. Gabriel and Monica Blanco began engaging in the ancient tradition of reaping the best grapes from their land in the 80s. In 2015, their efforts payed off when the Mairena Bonarda Reserve 2009 was voted the Best Bonarda in the World by the World Association of Writers and Journalists of Wines and Spirits. Their aim is to satisfy even the pickiest palates and create wines of the highest quality.

Created by winemaker Alejandro Vigil and historian Adrianna Catena, El Enemigo was founded to capture the essence of European immigrants settling in Argentina who wanted to make their own wines. Vigil graduated at the top of his university class in agricultural engineering and became head of the soils division at the National Agriculture Research Institute in Mendoza which set him up for his future career in winemaking. The winery’s Cabernet Franc has been highly recommended year after year by Decanter Panel Tasting and has received rave reviews from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast.

El Enemigo Winery, Videla Aranda 7008, 5519 Maipu, Mendoza, Argentina, +54 261 413 9178

Mendoza | © Wikimedia

Nestled in the Cafayate Valley in the province of Salta is this family-run vineyard. Lucía Romero Marcuzzi, along with her grandfather and the original founder Roberto Romero, decided in 2000 to design a premium winery that would make the very best wines with restored 50 year-old Torrontés and Tannat vines. They also cultivated new vineyards of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah grapes. You must try the crisp white wine, Laborum Torrontés, as it’s bound to impress even the most stubborn red wine drinkers.

El Porvenir de Cafayate, Cordoba 32, 4427 Cafayate, Salta, Argentina, +54 386 842 2007

El Porvenir | © Wikimedia

Bodega Gimenez Riili is a cosy winery run by a father-son team that focuses on a small production of Mendoza’s finest reds as well as whites that are worth a try. Founded in 1945, Gimenez Riili embodies Argentine passion and excellence and its family of winemakers has an eye for the finer things in life. They’ll welcome you to enjoy a glass or three of their Malbec alongside a traditional asado at their restaurant.