wineries and vineyards in the province of Buenos Aires

It is not strictly essential to travel many kilometers – go to Mendoza or Salta, for example – to live the experience of walk among vineyardsknow a bodega or be part of a tasting with pairing.

It is that a few kilometers from Capital, in the province of Buenos Aireshay numerous winemaking ventures that offer the possibility of tasting their products and learning about winemaking.

Although there are records of the existence of vineyards on Buenos Aires soils since the beginning of 1900, these They disappeared in the 1930s due to regulations which was in force until 1997, which prohibited production in order to protect the regional economies of Cuyo.

In the 2000s, the vineyards sprouted again and there was a great takeoff of activity. According to statistical data from the National Institute of Viticulture (INV), the area of ​​vines planted in the province of Buenos Aires registered a growth of nearly 200% between 2011 and 2021while the number of vineyards grew 420%, going from 10 to 52 in that same period.

With the aim of continuing growth, at the end of 2022 the provincial Legislature sanctioned Law 15,405 on the Promotion and Incentive Regime for the Wine Industry, known as Buenos Aires Wine.

Currently it is estimated that there are just under 200 hectares of vineyards distributed in thirty-four Buenos Aires towns, such as Campana, Berisso, Junín, Tandil, Saldungaray, Chapadmalal and Mar del Plata, among others.

The Buenos Aires wine route is growing and there are several wine tourism ventures that are only a few years old.

One of them is between Cardales and Campana, 76 km from the City, where the Casa Gamboa winery.

The project began 13 years ago with the planting of vines, but wine production was done in a warehouse until a few months ago.

The vineyard consists of 6 hectares where Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir are mainly produced, as well as Monastrell, Bonarda, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Riesling and Chardonnay. The first commercial harvest was achieved in 2020.

Casa Gamboa has a attractive gastronomic proposal created by Edward Holloway, an Irish chef based in Mendoza and a specialist in winery gastronomy. For this experience he designed a step-by-step menu with a focus on seasonal products. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition, since mid-April there have been tastings with guided tours through the winery. The activity is available from Thursday to Sunday at three times: from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

One has to reserve in advance for both the restaurant and the guided tour.

On the other hand, in the Las Flores party187 km from the City of Buenos Aires, opened La Blanqueada winerya family project that was born after the pandemic.

Mauricio and Ana take care of everything: he makes the wines by hand and she is in charge of the development of the business and runs the social networks.

Currently being built a dig with the bioconstruction technique, in coordination with INTA, for the stowage of bottles. The next objective is to plant vines; For now, they buy them in Buenos Aires or Mendoza.

The wine that stands out is a blend de merlot y cabernet sauvignon reserva made with 100% Buenos Aires grapes and aged in oak barrels.

La Blanqueada has different tourist proposalssuch as lunches, tastings, tastings, dinners and guided tours, sensory experiences with essences, introductory talks on tasting, sale of regional products and public and private events.

You must reserve through Instagram (@lablanqueadalf) or at 11 3351-0606.

Another recent venture is Castel Conegliano, 40 kilometers from Mar del Platain the party of General Pueyrredón.

The first vines were planted there in 2019: prosecco, Moscato Giallo and Pinot Nero. The construction of the winery was in 2021, and for now it does not receive visitors.

As mentioned above, the activity has been going on for years in Buenos Aires and there are some wineries that have already been installed in the tourist circuit for a long time.

The Berisso Coast Cooperative, 68 km from the City, is one of them. Wine production in the place dates back to 1940, but it took off in 2000, when the reactivation was promoted.

Four years later, the cooperative was formed, responsible for organizing the provincial Vino de la Costa festival, which takes place in July every year.

This winery offers guided tours on Saturdays at 11. The tour lasts two hours: you visit the farm of one of the producers and then the production room. The distance between one point and the other is two km, so visitors are requested to have their own mobility.

The tour is by reservation and is done with a minimum capacity. For adults it costs $5,000 and includes a gift of wine. Children under 12 do not pay, and from 13 to 18 they pay half.

Perhaps the winery that is most famous is Trapiche Costa and Pampalocated in Chapadmalal, between dunes and 6 kilometers from the sea.

The renowned winery, which is also based in Maipú, Mendoza, offers different types of tastings of a wide variety of labels.

Bodega Saldungaray It is another of the classics that make up this route. The first wines arrived in 2007, and since then they invite you to get to know their product, get closer to the vineyard and enter the winery.

Open from Thursday to Sunday and holidays, and during winter holidays it will be open every day. Visits leave from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every hour on the hour. They last 30 minutes and include a tasting. The cost is $1,000.

In the southwest region, it stands out AlEste Winery & Vineyards, in Médanos, Villarino. There, until 1930, 300 hectares of vineyards cultivated by immigrants were registered.

This winery was the first in the area to resume wine-growing activity after the prohibitions imposed by the national government, and It took him eight years to get wines suitable for sale.

AlEste offers guided tours in which the history of Buenos Aires wine and entrepreneurship is told, and a tasting is done. This activity takes place every day, Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The visit is free.

• AlEste Winery & Vineyards, Médanos (www.bodegaaleste.com.ar)

• Bodega Saldungaray (bodegasaldungaray.com.ar)

• Casa Gamboa, Campana (instagram.com/bodegagamboa)

• Castel Conegliano, General Pueyrredón (castelconegliano.com)

• Cooperativa de la Costa, Berisso (instagram. com/vinocosta debenisso)

• Cordón Blanco, Tandil (www. cordonblanco.com)

• Finca Don Atilio, Cañuelas (www.vinos-uribelarrea.com)

• Finca la Juanita, Tornquist (instagram.com/finca.la.juanita)

• Finca Las Antípodas, Junín (instagram.com/lasantipodasok)

• Ita Malal, Abra del Hinojo (instagram.com/itamalal)

• La Blanqueada, Las Flores (instagram.com/lablanqueadalf)

• MYL Colores, Colonel Pringles (Facebook mylcolores)

• Trapiche Costa and Pampa, Chapadmalal (trapiche.com.ar)