Lagarde Winery, Luján de Cuyo: Tastings, Restaurant & How to Visit

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.

Planning your visit? We include Lagarde Winery on our private wine tours in Mendoza — tell us your dates and we build the day around what is happening in the cellar that week. Ask Peter for a proposal.

How to Visit Lagarde

• Where it is: Mayor Drummond, Luján de Cuyo — Mendoza.
• Getting there: about 30 to 45 minutes by car from Mendoza city, which makes it an easy half-day option. Since you will be tasting, a driver or guided tour is the sensible choice.
• Visits: tours, tastings and the restaurant all run by appointment. It is one of the historic wineries of Luján de Cuyo, with over a century of unbroken production.
• Best time of year: harvest runs from late February through April and is the most vivid moment in the vineyard; September to December gives you green vines, snow still on the Andes and easier availability.
• Peter’s note: when a guest wants to understand the timeline of Mendoza wine, we start here.
• Pairs well with: a boutique Luján de Cuyo stop such as Perdriel or Agrelo in the same half day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a reservation to visit Lagarde?

Yes. Tours, tastings and the restaurant are booked in advance, and the kitchen has limited seating.

How far is Lagarde from Mendoza city?

It is in Mayor Drummond, Luján de Cuyo, about 30 to 45 minutes by car — one of the closest serious wineries to the city.

Why visit Lagarde instead of a newer winery?

Because of the history: over a century of continuous production lets you follow the whole timeline of Mendoza wine in one place.

Can Lagarde be done in half a day?

Yes. Its proximity to Mendoza city makes it a realistic half-day visit, on its own or with one more Luján de Cuyo winery.

Planning the whole day? Start from our guide to wine tours in Mendoza, see the wineries we visit most often, or send us your dates and we reply with a private itinerary.

Pedro Cubillos

Peter Cubillos, a Mendoza-based writer and winemaker with three published books and over 20 years of experience in wine tourism.