Top 5 wine bars in Buenos Aires

There has never been a better time to visit Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital as an oenophile than right now. Buenos Aires’ wine scene is on the rise, bursting with flaming wine bars, all in many different shapes and sizes. Read on to find out which are the top 5 wine bars in town and get ready to take your taste buds into a flavorful trip around the country’s varied terroirs.

There is a lot more in Argentina than just Malbecs:

When you think of Argentine wine varietals, chances are high Malbec is at the top of your list.

But Argentina has a rich wine history, with the country producing an endless array of different wines.

Here are a few other varietals to look out for if you want to have the full experience:

Reds:

• Bonarda: Originally from Savoy (France), this is the second most planted grape in Argentina. It is mostly grown in Mendoza area and surrounding provinces, just like Malbec, with which it is often compared due to its freshness and low tannin content. Its full-bodied richness, moderate acidity, and black fruit flavors make it great to have along with empanadas (the country’s most popular finger food).

• Tempranillo: The grape that made Rioja (Spain) famous was brought to Argentina by the first Spanish settlers and it has been overlooked for decades. A somewhat rustic grape, it generally yields wines with good structure, color and tannins. Tempranillo does best in cooler regions and needs careful water management, which makes it well suited to some of the micro-climates in the Andean foothills around Mendoza.These medium-bodied red has refined tannins, moderate acidity, and earthy notes.

• Pinot Noir: This iconic grape of Burgundy (France) is grown in cooler regions because of its brief ripening period and also because these climates best preserve the freshness that give the wine its zing. While produced in various regions, it is in Patagonia where it reaches its highest potential. Sommeliers say that Pinot Noir of Argentina is really distinctive, due to an excellent balance between intensity and alcohol, and a very peculiar acidity. In Southern Argentina, Chubut province has a chilly climate, ideal for Pinot Noir, and hosts some of the southernmost vineyards in the world. With its characteristic dark red color, it goes very well with chicken dishes.

Whites:

• Torrontés: this is the country’s signature and most widely planted white variety. It is actually the only grape that originated in Argentina and you’re not very likely to find it anywhere else. The province of Salta (North-west Argentina) has become the best-known producer of this intensely perfumed wines with white flower aromas, tropical fruit flavors, and crisp acidity, that are best paired with salty food and exotic condiments.

Cuyo region, Mendoza. Malbec

Malbec is a type of grape used to produce red wine and this is the signature wine for Argentina.

Malbec grapes were born in France several centuries ago, so this variety was introduced in Argentina around the mid 19th century. Mr. Miguel Pouget, a French agronomist, was hired to improve the quality of local wines, so he brought different varieties and Malbec was one of them.

Malbec had a successful growth in the Mendoza region. Mendoza is a province located in Cuyo region, west of Argentina, being the center of wine production in our country. 

Two of the reasons for this success were altitude and the local climate. Mendoza is located close to the Andes mountains, so vineyards are located around 2000-3000 feet above sea level. Hard to believe, right? The other important point is climate: the perfect balance for the plants to thrive (the Aconcagua peak and other mountains stop humid winds from the Pacific Ocean and the area is also far from the Atlantic ocean). 

Mendoza became the main Malbec producer in our country.

Northern region. Torrontés

The northern region is located in the north west of our country, including the provinces of Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán and Catamarca.

The geography of this area includes different landscapes and climates depending on temperature, rain and altitude. So, some fertile valleys are found in this region where important vineyards are located, specially in Cafayate region (concentrating 70% of the vineyards in Salta province).

As the region is located at a certain altitude above sea level, temperature variation is important during  the day. For this reason, wine from high altitude vineyards have special characteristics. 

The specific varietal produced here is torrontés. We are speaking about a white grape variety. It is known for its flowery aroma. It is an excellent wine to pair with the regional cuisine.

Patagonia, Pinot Noir

In this case, it is a red grape variety. Perhaps many people know about Malbec produced in Argentina, but this grape adapted very well in Patagonia and cold weather conditions.  

You could have an amazing surprise! Sommeliers say that Pinot Noir of Argentina is really distinctive. It has an excellent balance between intensity and alcohol. Chubut province has a chilly climate, ideal for Pinot Noir, and hosts some of the southernmost vineyards in the world.

Top 5 wine bars in Buenos Aires to go for wine tasting in Buenos Aires

Now that you know the differences of our local wines and what wine is Argentina known for, it is time to speak about some of the most important wine bars in Buenos Aires, so that you can enjoy a unique experience of wine tasting in Buenos Aires.

1-Vico Wine Bar

Location: Honduras 5799, Palermo.

Palermo is a traditional neighborhood and, at the same time, trendy and lively. Vico Wine Bar offers lots of options of wonderful top class wines produced in different regions in our country, so it is better to go with time to enjoy them. 

2-Overo Bar

Location: Nicaragua 4583, Palermo.

Overo opens every day to welcome visitors. Created by wine lovers for wine lovers. The wine list has many options to choose from, there is a nice atmosphere and a lovely roof-top. Environment is a main issue for their owners, so it is a sustainable venue. 

3-ProVinCia

Location: Arroyo 826, Retiro.

Arroyo street is a lovely French style street in Buenos Aires. You will be amazed by all the details of the architecture along this special street. ProVinCia is a new wine bar in this area. It offers different varieties, some of them from small producers and others, from big wineries. Even though wine has the lead here, they also offer excellent specialty: coffee.

4-Verdot Wine Bar

Location: Manuel Quintana 465, Recoleta.

Located just a few minutes away from Recoleta cemetery and in the heart of the neighbourhood, Verdot Wine Bar offers an amazing variety of Argentine wines. It is a kind of oasis in the middle of the city. 

5-Gran Bar Danzon

Location: Libertad 1161, Retiro

Gran Bar Danzon opened in 1998, so it is considered one of the first wine bars in Buenos Aires. Many of the renowned present-day sommeliers began working here. They offer an extensive wine list. The counter has a unique and particular design.

Well, we know that wine bars are places to indulge yourself and enjoy a good time, but we also know that wine lovers would be delighted to visit a winery. Do you think you have to visit one of the regions that we mentioned above to have that experience? The answer is… no! Many people think there are no wineries near Buenos Aires, but we have good news for you! We will tell you about a winery in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where you can get in about one hour from your hotel. Let’s go!

Winery in Buenos Aires: a hidden gem in the middle of the Pampas

We are used to get information about wineries and vineyards in different areas in Argentina, but there is no need to go all the way to Mendoza to enjoy a vineyard-vibe, take your wine knowledge to the next level, and indulge yourself with a world-class lunch. Gamboa Winery is located just one hour away from Buenos Aires city and is a hidden gem that not many people has discovered yet, so get the chance to be one of the first ones! 

You will be picked up from your hotel in Buenos Aires, and on the way to the winery, a professional tour guide will tell you about the history of wine making and the three main vineyard regions in Argentina. 

Once at the winery, you will enjoy a real wine tasting experience while an expert tells you about varietals and some secrets of local wines. Taste our Malbec wines which are renowned all over the world. Then, a three-course lunch will be waiting for you at a lovely place in the same winery. This is an experience to take your wine knowledge to the next level! Not to be missed!

If you do not have enough time to go to Gamboa Winery, you can enjoy a personalized wine tasting in Buenos Aires city while learning how to make empanadas, the most popular Latin-American street food, or if you don’t like cooking, a great option can be the Palermo street art walking tour plus a wine tasting experience.

Whatever your interest is, we have an option for you!

These are just some of the suggested options to decide about wine tasting in Buenos Aires. Still finding it difficult to make up your mind about visiting a winery in Buenos Aires? Don’t worry. We can help you with that!

You can book a free 30-minute call to talk to one of our travel experts who will help you with all the questions you may have.

Please do not hesitate to contact us, we are just a message away, ready to help you and hoping to see you soon around here to say: “Welcome to Buenos Aires. Enjoy your stay”.