Lagarde is one of those wineries that makes you realize how much Mendoza has grown. The kind of place that often becomes a reference point when exploring wine tours in Mendoza
It was founded in 1897, and today it sits right in the heart of Luján de Cuyo, surrounded by houses and neighborhood streets—because what is now “the city” wasn’t the city when this place began. In 1969, the Pescarmona family took over, and it has stayed a family project ever since.
History Without a Showroom Feel
When you visit Lagarde, you don’t get a “new-world showroom.” You get history in a very Mendoza way: old equipment, old spaces, old textures—plus the contrast of stainless steel next to older materials and the feeling that this winery has lived through many eras.
Old Vines and a Regulated Origin
And then there’s the vineyard side, which is quietly serious. Lagarde has estate vines dating back to 1906 and 1930, and they’re also known for producing Malbec under the Luján de Cuyo D.O.C. (That D.O.C. matters: it’s not a marketing badge; it’s a regulated origin with specific rules, and it was the first D.O.C. in the Americas.)
But if Lagarde has become a “must” for many people, it’s also because of food.
Food as a Pillar, Not an Add-On
They have two restaurants on-site: Zonda and Fogón. Zonda has been recognized by the MICHELIN Guide (including a Green Star, and the winery highlights its MICHELIN recognition for 2024 and 2025. Fogón also appears in the Guide’s selection. And personally, this is where my bias comes in: I’m close with Lucas Olcese, who leads that gastronomic side and has become a major name in Mendoza.
Final Thoughts
So Lagarde gives you something harder to find than it should be: a truly traditional Mendoza winery—emblematic, historic, with real vineyards—paired with a culinary experience that’s not an add-on, but a pillar.
This is why we choose Lagarde: because you can feel time there. In the location, in the tools, in the vines, and in the fact that a winery built “outside the city” ended up right in the middle of it. If you’re interested in experiencing the historic side of Mendoza wine country, our private wine tours in Mendoza, Argentina, are designed to include wineries like Lagarde—places where time, vineyards, and gastronomy come together naturally.
Peter Cubillos, a Mendoza-based writer and winemaker with three published books and over 20 years of experience in wine tourism.