Mendoza Wine Tour Prices: What You Get at Each Price

How Much Does a Winery Tasting Cost in Mendoza?

If you arrange your own transport and book directly with wineries, the tasting itself can be relatively inexpensive.

In September 2026, examples published through Mendoza’s Bus Vitivinícola programme showed basic winery visits and tastings around:

• AR$20,000
• AR$28,000
• AR$29,000
• AR$35,000

depending on the winery and experience.

These lower-cost tastings may include:

• guided winery visit
• two or three wines
• cellar tour
• basic food accompaniment
• olive oil tasting in some cases

Premium tastings cost more.

A winery may charge significantly more for:

• reserve wines
• single-vineyard wines
• vertical tastings
• private tastings
• food pairings
• specialist-led experiences

So when someone asks, “How much is wine tasting in Mendoza?” there is no single answer.

A basic tasting and a premium terroir tasting are completely different products.

What Does a Basic Mendoza Wine Tasting Include?

The cheapest winery experiences usually include some combination of:

1. A short guided tour
2. Explanation of wine production
3. Cellar or barrel-room visit
4. Two to four wines
5. Time in the winery shop

The exact number and quality of wines matter.

A tasting of two entry-level wines should not be compared directly with a tasting of four premium or single-vineyard wines.

Before booking, look for phrases such as:

• classic tasting
• reserve tasting
• premium tasting
• icon wines
• single-vineyard tasting
• paired tasting

They can indicate a significant difference in both experience and price.

How Much Do Mendoza Wine Tours Cost?

Wine tours generally cost more because you are paying for several services at once:

• transport
• driver
• guide
• winery reservations
• tastings
• coordination
• sometimes lunch

A full-day tour therefore should not be compared with the price of a winery tasting booked directly.

Think of the tour as a package.

The next four sections take that package apart by price tier, using the live prices of the tours we cover. The sections after them explain the ranges you will see quoted elsewhere.

$27–$43: the shared afternoon

This is where most visitors land, and it is genuinely good value rather than a compromise.

At $27 you can book a single winery tour and tasting — a bodega visit, no transport. At $32 the Route 60 Maipú tour takes you to three cellars and an olive oil mill, pours nine glasses, and includes every entry fee and a round-trip transfer. (our breakdown →) At $34 you get the same shape from the most-booked tour in the province, with 1,300+ reviews behind it. At $43 a half-day with enologist guides covers two cellars in Luján de Cuyo or Maipú.

What is included: transport, hotel pickup, all entry fees, all tastings, an English-speaking guide.

What is not: lunch. These are afternoon tours — out at 2pm, back at 8pm — and one operator states plainly in its own listing that you should eat before boarding. The olive oil tasting is the only food.

The hidden cost: the pickup loop. Collecting ten guests from ten hotels takes about 45 minutes, and whoever boards first sits through all of it, twice.

$125–$143: the full day, with a meal

Crossing into three figures buys three things at once, and only one of them is food.

The meal — three courses or a multi-course menu at a working winery, each course paired. The pace — two cellars instead of four, because the table takes two hours. And the reach — a morning departure can get to Luján de Cuyo or even the Uco Valley and still be back by six, which a 2pm departure structurally cannot.

At $125 the full-day tour lets you choose your region and serves a three-course paired lunch at a named estate, with a Salentein vineyard picnic as an alternative option. (our breakdown →) At $130 the semi-private day gives you your own guide-driver and deletes the pickup loop. (our breakdown →) At $143 the wine-and-bike day swaps a third cellar for a ride beside a reservoir in the Andes — and is the one tour here where lunch is genuinely not included. (our breakdown →)

$210–$246: private, or premium and named

Two different things happen in this band, and they are worth separating.

Private ($210) buys the vehicle rather than the seat — literally, because that price is per group of up to three, not per person. The private winery tour covers three cellars across Luján and Maipú, your own guide, no fixed itinerary, no collection loop. For a couple that is $105 each and for three it is $70 each, against $125 per person for the shared full-day tour with lunch. See our private wine tours page for how the format works.

Premium named ($246) buys certainty. The Luján de Cuyo premium day publishes its three estates before you book — Achaval-Ferrer, Pulmary and Finca La Anita — runs small groups, serves a gourmet paired lunch, and includes every fee and tax with nothing collected on the day. (our breakdown →)

That last clause matters more than it reads, for the reason in the next section.

$375–$450: the top, where you must read the exclusions

At the top of the Mendoza market, two similar prices can mean very different totals, and this is the single most useful thing on this page.

The private Uco Valley sommelier day is $375 per group of up to four, and what that buys is the day: a private car, a certified sommelier for nine hours, photographs and a bottle of sparkling wine at the scenic stops. The winery visit and tasting fees are paid directly at each cellar, and lunch is ordered à la carte. (our breakdown →)

The private Zuccardi Piedra Infinita day is $450, and that includes the executive transfer, the private guided visit, the premium tasting and a four-to-nine-course paired menu at the winery’s restaurant.

Neither is hiding anything — both state it clearly. But compare the headline numbers alone and you will be wrong by a hundred dollars or more. And note that the $246 Luján day is fully inclusive at a little over half the top price.

A handful of listings sit above $450, from $773 to $950 for private full-day, biodynamic and overnight formats. They have few or no reviews, so we do not feature them.

The cheapest thing that is not what it looks like

The lowest price in the whole Mendoza catalogue is $23, for self-guided bike hire in the Luján de Cuyo wine region. It includes a bike, a helmet and a paper map. It does not include a single tasting — you pay every cellar at the door.

We do not use it as this site’s price floor for that reason. Our stated floor is $27, the cheapest listing that pours wine. If you see a Mendoza wine tour advertised near $20, check whether the wine is in it.

Budget Mendoza Wine Tours

At the lower end, you can find short or relatively simple wine experiences that combine transport with one or two stops.

In September 2026, local low-cost packages with central Mendoza pickup were available from roughly AR$65,000–100,000 per person, depending on the winery combination and duration.

These can be excellent value if you mainly want:

• safe transport
• a quick introduction
• one or two wineries
• no complicated planning

But check the inclusions carefully.

The cheapest options may include:

• only one glass at a winery
• fewer stops
• no lunch
• no premium wine
• basic shared transport

Best for

• budget travellers
• short stays
• casual wine drinkers
• people who mainly want an easy winery visit

How Much Is a Full-Day Mendoza Wine Tour?

A full-day wine tour is more expensive but usually represents a much more complete Mendoza experience.

A typical full-day tour might include:

• hotel pickup
• two or three wineries
• several tastings
• guided visits
• winery lunch
• return transport

Local packages including lunch were around AR$180,000 per person in some September 2026 examples.

International booking platforms showed many full-day tours in the US$150–250 per-person range, with premium and private options going higher. The catalogue tiers above start lower, at $125 for a shared full day with lunch.

The main variable is lunch.

A substantial multi-course winery lunch with paired wines can account for a large part of the total price.

How Much Does a Mendoza Wine Tour with Lunch Cost?

For many travellers, the best-value experience is not the cheapest tour but a full-day itinerary that includes lunch.

Why?

Because a winery lunch in Mendoza can be a major experience in its own right.

It may include:

• three to seven courses
• multiple paired wines
• premium wine upgrades
• local ingredients
• empanadas
• grilled meat
• vegetables
• dessert
• coffee

Some lunches last two or three hours.

In current listings, Mendoza wine tours with lunch commonly sit around:

• AR$170,000–200,000+ in local packaged experiences
• US$165–250+ on international platforms for shared or premium group tours
• US$230–370+ for many private Uco Valley experiences

These are broad examples, not fixed prices. Our wine tours with lunch page compares the catalogue tours that include the meal.

Is a Winery Lunch Worth the Extra Cost?

Usually, yes—if food is part of why you are visiting Mendoza.

A good wine lunch does several things at once:

• breaks up the tasting day
• lets you experience wine with food
• slows the pace
• gives you more time at the winery
• reduces the temptation to cram in too many stops

A tour with two wineries and a great lunch may be more memorable than a cheaper tour with four rushed tastings.

If your budget is limited, however, there is nothing wrong with booking a shorter tasting tour and eating back in Mendoza city.

How Much Does a Private Mendoza Wine Tour Cost?

Private tours are more expensive because you are paying for:

• exclusive vehicle
• dedicated driver or guide
• flexible itinerary
• fewer passengers to split transport costs
• more control over winery selection

In 2026, private Uco Valley tours listed on major international platforms were commonly around US$230–370+ per person, depending on inclusions and group size.

Some private transport-only options were cheaper.

However, those may require you to pay separately for:

• tastings
• winery visits
• lunch
• reservations

This is why a US$90 transport option cannot be compared directly with a US$300 all-inclusive tour.

Does a Private Tour Get Cheaper with More People?

Often, yes.

Private transport is usually priced around the vehicle or group and not by multiplying every cost equally by each passenger.

That means:

• private tour for 1 person = expensive
• private tour for 2 people = still relatively expensive
• private tour for 4–6 people = sometimes competitive with premium small-group tours

If you are travelling with friends or family, always compare the total private price divided by your group size.

You may be surprised.

How Much Does an Uco Valley Wine Tour Cost?

Uco Valley tours usually cost more than Maipú or Luján de Cuyo tours. Our Uco Valley wine tours page and the Uco Valley wine guide cover the region itself.

There are three reasons:

1. Distance
2. Premium winery positioning
3. Long winery lunches

Many Uco Valley wineries are around 1.5–2 hours from Mendoza city.

So even before tasting any wine, the operator has more:

• fuel cost
• driver time
• vehicle time

International listings in 2026 showed Uco Valley experiences from around:

• US$90 for some private transfer-style options
• US$140+ for certain private experiences
• US$230–250 for more complete wine days
• US$300–370+ for premium private tours with lunch

Always check whether winery fees are included.

Why Are Some Uco Valley Tours So Cheap?

Because some listings are essentially transport packages. The private transfer to three Uco Valley wineries, from $90, is one.

They may:

• pick you up in Mendoza
• drive you to selected wineries
• organise reservations
• return you to your hotel

But you may still pay each winery separately.

This can be a good option if you want flexibility.

It is not necessarily a bargain if you later add:

• US$25–35 tasting fees at several wineries
• a US$90 paired lunch
• premium tasting upgrades

The final cost may end up similar to an all-inclusive tour.

How Much Does a Luján de Cuyo Wine Tour Cost?

Luján de Cuyo is generally cheaper to reach than the Uco Valley because it is closer to Mendoza city. Our Luján de Cuyo wine tours page covers the district.

That means you can find:

• affordable shared tours
• half-day tours
• premium full-day tours
• private itineraries

Budget group experiences may begin relatively low, while premium lunches and famous wineries can push the total price significantly higher.

If this is your first Mendoza wine day, Luján de Cuyo often gives the best balance between:

• winery quality
• travel time
• tour cost
• lunch options

How Much Does a Maipú Wine Tour Cost?

Maipú can be one of the most budget-friendly areas to explore. Our Maipú wine tours page lists the tours that go there.

It is close to Mendoza city and has:

• historic wineries
• olive oil producers
• casual tasting experiences
• bike tours

This reduces transport cost and makes half-day tours practical.

If you want the cheapest sensible introduction to Mendoza wine country, Maipú is usually worth comparing before paying for a premium Uco Valley day.

Mendoza Wine Bus Prices

The Bus Vitivinícola is one of the most useful alternatives to a conventional wine tour.

For January–November 2026, published transport ticket prices included approximately:

• AR$47,400 for several half-day wine routes
• AR$54,000 for some routes
• AR$52,800–68,800 for full-day Uco Valley routes

The key point is that this is primarily transport.

The Bus Vitivinícola ticket includes scheduled transport and coordination of winery reservations. Tastings and meals are paid separately. Compare the selected route and current total with the operator’s own booking options.

That makes the Wine Bus useful for travellers who want:

• safe transport
• more independence
• lower base cost
• control over tasting choices

But you must add the winery fees when comparing it with an all-inclusive tour.

Wine Bus vs Organised Tour: Which Is Cheaper?

The Wine Bus can be cheaper, but not automatically.

Imagine the following:

Wine Bus

• transport ticket
• two winery tastings
• lunch

versus:

Full-day tour

• hotel pickup
• transport
• two winery tastings
• lunch
• guide

Once you add everything, the gap may become smaller.

The Wine Bus is best when you value independence.

A full tour is best when you value convenience. Our guide to which Mendoza wine tour is right for you has a longer section on the bus.

How Much Does a Winery Lunch Cost on Its Own?

A winery lunch can vary from relatively simple food to a full tasting-menu experience.

Current Uco Valley examples can reach around US$90 per person for a multi-course paired lunch.

Premium restaurants may be higher. Our guide to Mendoza wineries with lunch covers the restaurants themselves.

When comparing tour prices, this matters.

A US$250 tour that includes a US$90 lunch plus transport and several tastings may actually be quite reasonable.

What Makes Mendoza Wine Tours Expensive?

Several factors increase the price.

1. Uco Valley transport

Longer driving means higher transport cost.

2. Private vehicle

Fewer passengers share the cost.

3. Premium wineries

Famous or prestigious wineries often charge more.

4. Better wine

Reserve and single-vineyard tastings are more expensive.

5. Winery lunch

Multi-course lunches add significantly to the total.

6. English-speaking guide

A specialist bilingual guide may increase the price.

7. Small group size

Smaller groups usually mean higher cost per person.

8. Peak dates

Popular travel periods can reduce availability and increase the importance of booking early.

What Is Usually Included in a Mendoza Wine Tour?

Before booking, check for each of these.

Transport

Is it shared or private?

Hotel pickup

From your exact accommodation or only central hotels?

Winery visits

How many?

Tastings

Basic, reserve or premium?

Lunch

Included or extra?

Drinks with lunch

Wine included?

Guide

Driver only, general guide or wine specialist?

Entrance fees

Included?

Bottled water

Included?

Gratuities

Usually not.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

The cheapest-looking tour can become expensive because of extras.

Watch for:

Winery admission not included

The operator transports you but you pay at each winery.

Lunch not included

A premium winery lunch can add a substantial amount.

Tasting upgrades

The basic tasting may be included while better wines cost extra.

Hotel pickup surcharge

Especially outside central Mendoza.

Foreign-card charges or exchange-rate differences

Prices in Argentina can behave differently depending on payment method and exchange conditions.

Tips

Optional gratuities are not always included.

Should You Pay in Argentine Pesos or US Dollars?

This depends on the operator and your payment method.

Some local providers quote in Argentine pesos.

International booking platforms commonly quote in US dollars or your home currency.

Because Argentina has historically experienced frequent currency fluctuations, comparing a peso price from several months ago with a current dollar price can be misleading.

For that reason:

check the live price on the day you book rather than relying on an old blog post.

Is Wine Tasting in Mendoza Expensive?

Compared with many famous wine regions, Mendoza can still offer good value.

You can choose between:

• basic tastings
• affordable shared tours
• independent Wine Bus trips
• premium small-group tours
• luxury private experiences

The destination works for several budgets.

What becomes expensive is trying to combine:

• famous winery
• premium tasting
• private transport
• gourmet lunch
• Uco Valley
• dedicated guide

All in the same day.

That is effectively a luxury experience.

Is It Cheaper to Book Wineries Yourself?

Potentially.

You may save money if you:

1. book tastings directly
2. arrange shared transport or Wine Bus
3. skip a premium paired lunch
4. visit wineries close together

However, organising everything yourself takes more work.

You need to coordinate:

• tasting times
• driving distances
• reservations
• lunch
• safe transport

A tour operator is partly charging you to solve that logistical problem.

How to Do Mendoza Wine Tasting on a Budget

You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars.

A budget-friendly strategy is:

Choose Maipú or Luján de Cuyo

Closer to Mendoza city.

Take the Wine Bus

Lower transport cost than a private car.

Choose basic tastings

Do not upgrade every winery to premium.

Visit two wineries

More than enough for one day.

Eat in Mendoza city

Skip the expensive winery lunch.

Avoid crossing wine regions

Less transport.

This can still give you a genuine Mendoza wine-country experience.

Where Is It Worth Spending More?

If your budget allows one upgrade, we would spend it on experience quality, not winery count.

Good upgrades include:

Smaller group

Less waiting and more attention.

Better winery

Especially if wine is the main reason for your trip.

Paired lunch

One of Mendoza’s signature experiences.

Uco Valley day

Worth paying more for if scenery and high-altitude wine are priorities.

Private itinerary

Worth it if you have specific wineries you genuinely want to visit.

Where Can You Save Money?

You can often save on:

• private transport
• premium tasting upgrades
• third or fourth winery stop
• famous-name winery premiums
• elaborate lunch

You do not need every wine day to be luxurious.

A good trip might combine:

• one premium Uco Valley day
• one affordable Maipú or Luján de Cuyo day

That gives you variety without paying luxury prices twice.

Is a Cheap Mendoza Wine Tour Worth It?

Yes, if your expectations match the product.

A cheap shared tour can be excellent if you want:

• a social day
• a few tastings
• easy transport
• an introduction to Mendoza

It may disappoint if you expect:

• famous wineries
• premium wines
• personalised attention
• gourmet lunch
• specialist wine education

The problem is rarely that the cheaper tour is “bad.”

The problem is booking the wrong type of tour for what you want. Our guide on whether a Mendoza wine tour is worth it goes through the cases.

Is a Premium Mendoza Wine Tour Worth It?

A premium tour is worth considering if:

• wine is a major reason for your trip
• you have only one wine day
• you value food
• you dislike large groups
• you want Uco Valley
• you want better producers
• convenience matters

If wine is only a small part of your Mendoza visit, a basic tour may be more than enough.

How Much Should You Budget for a Mendoza Wine Trip?

A useful way to think about your budget is per wine day.

Budget wine day

Plan for:

• shared/independent transport
• basic tastings
• casual meal

Mid-range wine day

Plan for:

• small-group transport
• several tastings
• good winery lunch

Premium wine day

Plan for:

• private or luxury small-group transport
• premium wineries
• upgraded tastings
• paired multi-course lunch

Many travellers will get better value from one high-end day and one simpler day than from three premium days.

Example Mendoza Wine Budgets

These are not fixed packages—just useful ways to structure spending.

Budget day

• Wine Bus or simple shared tour
• two standard tastings
• lunch in Mendoza afterward

Best for: casual wine visitors

Mid-range day

• full-day small-group tour
• two or three wineries
• included tastings
• winery lunch

Best for: most first-time visitors

Premium day

• private or very small group
• selected wineries
• reserve tastings
• gourmet paired lunch
• Uco Valley

Best for: wine lovers and special occasions

How to Compare Two Mendoza Wine Tours

Suppose Tour A costs less than Tour B.

Do not book A yet.

Compare:

Only then can you tell which is better value.

What we would book

For value, the $32 Maipú afternoon — and eat lunch first. For one well-fed day, the $130 semi-private. For a group of three or more, the $210 private, which is $70 a head because it is priced per group. For a specific estate, the $246 named premium day, which is also the last price point where nothing at all is collected on the day.

Which one fits your trip is worked through properly in which Mendoza wine tour is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is wine tasting in Mendoza?

Basic winery visits can start around AR$20,000–35,000 per person in current 2026 examples, while premium tastings cost more.

How much is a Mendoza wine tour?

Prices range widely. Simple local wine experiences can cost under AR$100,000, while full-day tours with lunch commonly cost much more. International full-day tours often fall around US$150–250, with premium private experiences around US$230–370 or more. The tours we feature run from $27 for a single winery tasting to $450 for a private day at Zuccardi, with shared full days including lunch from $125.

How much is an Uco Valley wine tour?

Uco Valley is usually more expensive because of the distance from Mendoza and the premium nature of many wineries. Current private experiences range from transport-focused options around US$90 upward to US$300–370+ all-inclusive premium tours.

Are wine tastings included in Mendoza tours?

Sometimes. Never assume they are. Some tours include transport only and require you to pay tasting fees directly at each winery.

Is lunch included in Mendoza wine tours?

Many full-day premium tours include lunch, but cheaper and half-day tours often do not.

How much is the Mendoza Wine Bus?

In 2026, published transport fares were roughly AR$47,400–68,800 depending on route and duration. Winery tastings and food may be extra.

Is a private wine tour worth the money?

It can be, particularly for groups, travellers who want specific wineries, or anyone looking for a customised Uco Valley day.

Is Mendoza wine tasting cheaper than Napa?

In many cases, Mendoza can offer strong value, particularly for winery lunches and full-day experiences, although luxury private tours can still be expensive.

Should I book wine tastings in advance?

Yes, especially for popular wineries, Uco Valley estates, premium tastings and winery restaurants.

Final Thoughts: How Much Should You Spend?

There is no “correct” Mendoza wine budget.

You can have an enjoyable wine day without booking a luxury tour.

At the lower end, combine safe shared transport with a couple of standard tastings.

For the best all-round first experience, a small-group full-day tour with lunch usually gives the strongest balance of convenience, wine and value.

Spend more for the Uco Valley, a private itinerary, or premium winery lunch when those experiences genuinely matter to you.

And above all, compare inclusions, not headline prices.

A US$90 transfer, a US$170 tour with lunch and a US$350 private premium wine day are not competing versions of the same product.

They are three different experiences.

Once you understand that, Mendoza wine-tour prices become much easier to evaluate—and it becomes much easier to decide what is worth paying for.