THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Head from Mendoza into the Andes by 4x4, crossing tunnels and iron bridges before rolling into the high-altitude vineyards of the Uco Valley. Taste expressive Malbecs, linger over a gourmet paired lunch, and learn how altitude and limestone shape the region’s most talked-about wines.
Head from Mendoza into the Andes by 4x4, crossing tunnels and iron bridges before rolling into the high-altitude vineyards of the Uco Valley. Taste expressive Malbecs, linger over a gourmet paired lunch, and learn how altitude and limestone shape the region’s most talked-about wines.
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Book directly with Trout Wine Tours for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
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Operated by Trout Wine Tours · Tupungato, Mendoza
By mid-morning the streets of Mendoza slip behind and the Andes start to fill the windshield—blue, jagged, and unapologetic. Your guide eases the 4x4 onto the unpaved track through Valle de Las Carreras, where the wind draws dust ribbons across the road and the range lifts its shoulders higher with every kilometer. Tunnels cut through rock and iron bridges span river cuts, remnants of old routes that once muscled commerce toward Chile. A glacial-blue lake flashes into view, catching the sunlight like polished stone, before the road drops toward the vineyards of the Uco Valley.
easy.
8–10 hours.
Comfortable with short walks on uneven ground and standing during tastings; no strenuous activity required.
Typically two boutique wineries are included, with guided tastings at each, plus a multi-course gourmet lunch with pairings at one of them.
Yes, but the unpaved mountain road can be bumpy; consider taking motion-sickness medication before departure and sit near the front if preferred.
Smart-casual attire with layers works best. Bring closed-toe shoes for vineyard walks and sunscreen for the high-altitude sun.
Most wineries can adjust the lunch menu with advance notice. Provide dietary needs at booking to ensure proper arrangements.
Participants must be at least 17 years old. The legal drinking age in Argentina is 18.
Wineries may change based on availability, but the experience maintains a similar quality level and mix of tastings and paired lunch.
Uco’s high-altitude wine boom accelerated in the 1990s with drip irrigation and vineyard expansion near Tupungato, adding limestone-influenced sites to Mendoza’s legacy. The La Carrera route follows historic trade paths long used by muleteers crossing the foothills.
This is a dry mountain environment where water is scarce; wineries rely on efficient drip irrigation. Stick to established roads and pack out any waste to keep the valley pristine.
Trout Wine Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Book with Trout Wine Tours
Book directly with Trout Wine Tours for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve Now