Why You Should Ditch the Uco Valley and Head for Chacras de Coria, Mendoza

Chacras de Coria is an upscale residential neighbourhood to the south of Mendoza city. It is compact yet full of stuff to do. Many visitors to Mendoza have a hard time choosing between staying in the city or staying in the Uco Valley, but in Chacras de Coria you get the best of both worlds: a semblance of urbanity but situated in an idyllic rural setting. The town is walkable and it is also located at the entrance to the valley itself.

Chacras de Coria also has a number of boutique bodegas where you can get a personalised service by being shown around by a member of the family who runs the winery. This is the perfect way to see the passion that these viticulturists have for their craft and product, and it is a very different experience to doing a wine tasting in a large scale vineyard or winery. Pulmary is one of the most popular boutique bodegas in Chacras and is located right in the heart of town, so it’s easily accessible from anywhere in the village.

Given the size of Chacras de Coria, it has an impressive number of delicious restaurants. They range from the high end tasting menu at Brindillas, which is great for a romantic night or special occasion, to informal eateries like Anastasio El Pollo, which does a mean grilled chicken or steak at reasonable prices. If you are looking for traditional Argentine food with a bit of local flare, then head to Lo del Pajaro for some home cooking.

Chacras de Coria is full of intimate lodgings that will let you have the full Mendoza vacation experience. From country estancias to family run guest houses, Chacras de Coria is the perfect blend of countryside chic and modern convenience. Many quinchas, or country houses, come with swimming pools so you can cool off in the summer heat without leaving the comfort of your hotel.

Chacras de Coria is full of tree-lined streets, one storey buildings, antiquated outhouses, walled estates and rambling vineyards. The overall effect is one of a slow pace of life, yet a life that is filled with amazing wine, good food and a community spirit. You might not see horses running wild through the streets, but it would perhaps not be surprising if they did.

There are a few bike rental shops in Chacras de Coria, but Bacchus Bikes is by far the best. The friendly staff dole out cruiser bikes and mountain bikes with suspension to anyone who has come to Mendoza to bike around the vineyards, one of the most popular activities for tourists in the area. They will also provide you with a handy map of the area surrounding Chacras de Coria and recommend places for you to stop and taste wine or eat during your cycle ride.

While one of the downsides of staying in the Uco Valley is its distance from the city of Mendoza, Chacras de Coria is located right beside one of Mendoza’s other premium wine regions, Lujan de Cuyo. Visitors can easily reach Lujan de Cuyo and its vineyards and wineries by bike, and so do not need to head all the way out to the Uco Valley to get a real taste of the Mendocino wine scene.