Mendoza & the Central Andes - Argentina - page 642

Spanish and English. Take bus 380 (AR$4.10, one hour) from platform 53 in Mendoza's
bus terminal.
Bodegas Chandon WINERY
( 0261-490-9968; www.bodegaschandon.com.ar ; RN40, Km29, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo; guided
visits AR$30; Mon-Sat by reservation only) The modern Bodegas Chandon is popular with
tour groups and known for its sparkling wines (champagne). Tours are available in Span-
ish and English. Take bus 380 (AR$3, one hour) from platform 53 in Mendoza's bus ter-
minal.
Catena Zapata WINERY
( 0261-413-1100; www.catenawines.com ; Calle Cobos 5519, Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo; visits/
tours by appointment 10am-6pm Mon-Sat) Catena Zapata is one of Argentina's most es-
teemed wineries. Tours are fairly mundane but are conducted in English, German or
Spanish. Tasting - if you put down the cash - can be educational indeed. Get there by
taxi (cheaper if you catch a bus to Luján de Cuyo and grab one from there).
WORTH A TRIP
MAIPÚ: A GOURMET EXPERIENCE
The small town of Maipú, just out of Mendoza, is so packed with wineries, olive oil
farms and other gourmet businesses that it's easy to hit five or six in a day. All offer
tours and most finish proceedings with at least a small sampling of their produce.
Accordingly, a few companies in Maipú rent bikes, making a day tour of the area
an excellent outing, and a lot more fun than the often rushed half-day wine tours on
offer from Mendoza tour agencies.
To get to Maipú, catch the 173 bus from the bus stop on La Rioja in Mendoza and
get off at the triangular roundabout. Bike-hire competition here is serious business
(there have been fistfights in the street between operators) and the main compan-
ies are all within walking distance of each other. Go for a stroll and see who has the
best wheels. Among operators are Mr Hugo Bikes ( 0261-497-4067;
www.mrhugobikes.com ; Urquiza 2228; bikes per day AR$40; 9am-7pm Mon-Sat) and Coco Bikes (
0261-481-0862; Urquiza 1781; bikes per day AR$30; 9am-6pm Mon-Sat) . All will supply you
with a (basic) map of the area and may throw in goodies like water and discount
vouchers for tastings.
Reservations are not necessary at any of the following.
Carinae ( 0261-499-0470; www.carinaevinos.com ; Aranda 2899; tours AR$35; 10am-6pm
daily) is the furthest south you really want to go - it's a small, French-owned winery