Wines and Horses Tour

Two of our favourite things in the best possible place: horses and wine in the Uco Valley. The day starts with a two-hour horseback ride through the vineyards and foothills of Tupungato, with the Andes directly in front of you, and ends with a full paired lunch at one of Uco Valley’s top wineries.

Why this combination works

Riding gives you a scale and silence you never get from a vehicle: irrigation channels, poplar windbreaks, stony soils and the sheer size of the valley. By the time you sit down to taste, you have physically crossed the terroir you are about to drink — the altitude, the wind, the light, the stones. Then the wine makes sense in a way no tasting room can explain.

What the day looks like

• Morning: hotel pickup in a private air-conditioned SUV and the 1h30 drive south to Tupungato.
• Late morning: a two-hour guided horseback ride with local gauchos through vineyards and foothills. Calm, well-trained horses; suitable for complete beginners.
• Afternoon: a full multi-course paired lunch at a leading Uco Valley winery, with Andes views.
• Return: back at your hotel in the late afternoon.

What’s included

Private late-model SUV with a bilingual English/Spanish driver-guide, the horseback ride with local guides, a full paired lunch, all bookings, bottled water, insurance and hotel pickup and drop-off. USD 280 per person; gratuities not included.

Practical details

• Duration: full day, approximately 9-10 hours.
• Riding level: no experience required; the pace is walking with the option to trot.
• Group size: private departures from 2 people.
• Best season: September to April. Mornings are cool even in summer, so bring layers.
• What to wear: long trousers, closed shoes or boots, hat and sunscreen.

Want more wine instead?

If your priority is cellars and tastings rather than riding, choose the Uco Valley Wine Tour (three wineries) or Luján de Cuyo for historic Malbec estates closer to the city. You can also see all the houses we work with in our guide to the wineries of Mendoza.

Send Peter your dates, group size and riding experience and he’ll confirm availability.