O. Fournier is the most architecturally striking winery in Argentina — a low, horizontal concrete-and-glass building that stretches across the high desert of La Consulta, San Carlos, Valle de Uco at 1,200 m altitude, 120 km south of Mendoza city. The estate was founded in 2000 by Spanish entrepreneur Jose Manuel Ortega Gil-Fournier, who came to Argentina from Spain looking for an unspoiled fine-wine region and chose this little-known corner of the Uco Valley for its altitude, soils and Andes views. The building was designed by Mendoza\'s leading architectural studio Bormida & Yanzon (the same team behind Salentein and Diamandes) as a fully gravity-flow winery — no pumps anywhere in the production chain, with each stage of vinification using natural elevation differences. The wines are sold under the iconic Alfa Crux and B Crux labels and consistently score 91-96 points in Wine Advocate, with the Tempranillo bottlings particularly notable in a country where Spanish varieties remain rare.
Why visit O. Fournier
O. Fournier is the architecture geek's winery. Bormida & Yanzon designed the building as a horizontal concrete bar that hovers over the desert floor, with massive south-facing glass walls that frame the Cordon del Plata range. Inside, the gravity-flow design means the entire production chain is visible from a single elevated viewing platform — grapes arrive on the top level, then descend through fermentation, ageing and bottling without ever being pumped. For travelers interested in modern winemaking technique, this is the most informative tour in Argentina.
The other reason to come is the Tempranillo program. Argentina is overwhelmingly a Malbec country, but Ortega Gil-Fournier brought his Spanish heritage and planted serious Tempranillo blocks at La Consulta. The Urban Uco range — a Tempranillo-led blend with Malbec and Merlot — is one of the few places where you can taste high-altitude Argentine Tempranillo done at premium level. Combined with the building, this is a winery that gives you something genuinely different from the rest of the Mendoza circuit.
The wines
Urban Uco (entry premium)
The introductory range with the distinctive Tempranillo focus — Urban Uco Tempranillo-Malbec-Merlot blend, Urban Uco Sauvignon Blanc. USD 15-25. Bright, fresh, the easiest entry point to the O. Fournier portfolio.
B Crux (premium)
The mid-range estate blend, predominantly Malbec with Tempranillo and Merlot. USD 35-55. Wine Advocate 91-93 across recent vintages. Built for 5-10 years of cellaring.
Alfa Crux (icon)
The flagship Malbec from the oldest La Consulta blocks, with extended barrel ageing. USD 70-130. Wine Advocate 93-96. Dense, structured, the most age-worthy O. Fournier wine.
A Crux (super-icon, limited)
Made only in exceptional vintages — a top-block selection above Alfa Crux. USD 150-250. Allocated mostly to export markets but small quantities are available at the on-site shop.
Tasting & tour options
| Experience | Price (USD) | Duration | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic tour + tasting | 30-45 | 1h30 | Architectural and gravity-flow tour, 4-wine flight (Urban Uco, B Crux) |
| Premium tasting | 50-70 | 2 hours | Tour plus 6 wines including Alfa Crux |
| Tour + Urban lunch | 70-100 | 3 hours | Visit plus three-course paired Argentine-Spanish menu |
| Vertical tasting | 60-90 | 2 hours | One label (typically B Crux) across 4-5 vintages |
Reserve at ofournier.com; the Urban restaurant takes lunch reservations separately.
Book your O. Fournier visit
Best seller Valle de Uco Wine Tour (full-day)
Full-day small-group tour from Mendoza with hotel pickup, three-winery Valle de Uco circuit including O. Fournier or sister estate. Lunch included.
Private Driver — Valle de Uco
Door-to-door private transfer with English-speaking driver. Drink freely, return safely. Up to 4 passengers.
Hotels in Valle de Uco
Boutique winery lodges and luxury resorts in Tunuyan, San Carlos and Tupungato — best price guarantee on Booking.
How to get there
O. Fournier sits 120 km south of Mendoza in La Consulta, the southernmost department of Valle de Uco. The drive is 1h40: south on RN 40 past Lujan de Cuyo and through Tunuyan, then a short stretch on RP 92. Three options:
- Self-drive: rental cars from the airport USD 55-80/day, free parking on site. Realistic only with a designated driver — 1h40 each way is a long sober commitment.
- Private remis or transfer: USD 140-200 round-trip with a 4-5 hour wait. Mendoza Holidays and MendoVino are reliable operators.
- Wine tour with transfer: the easiest option for first-time visitors. Mendoza Wine Tours, Trout & Wine and Ampora Wine Tours run full-day Valle de Uco circuits (USD 200-300 small-group, USD 420-600 private) typically pairing O. Fournier with Salentein or Andeluna plus lunch.
From Lujan de Cuyo the drive is 1h. See the getting-there guide for full routes.
Best time to visit
Harvest (March-April) is peak — gravity-flow vinification is in full swing, you see grapes descending through the building level by level. Spring (October-November) brings flowering vineyards and snow on the Andes. Summer (December-February) is hot (28-35 C); Valle de Uco at 1,200 m stays slightly cooler than the city. Winter (June-August) is the architecture lover's choice — bare vines, dramatic mountain light, the concrete building takes on a starker, more sculptural feel. Closed Sundays.
Where to eat nearby
- Urban restaurant on site — Argentine-Spanish fusion using estate produce and Tempranillo pairings. USD 50-90 with wine.
- La Posada del Jamon (Vista Flores) — Spanish cured meats, hearty regional cooking, 25 minutes north. USD 30-50.
- Casa de Uco restaurant — at the wine resort, contemporary Argentine. USD 80-130 with wine.
Where to stay
For an O. Fournier-focused trip, sleep in Valle de Uco rather than driving back. Best options: The Vines Resort & Spa (USD 580-1,100), Casa de Uco Wine Resort (USD 380-650), Andeluna Lodge (USD 280-420), Atamisque (USD 240-380). Budget: La Posada del Jamon (USD 130-190) or hotels in Tupungato town. See our complete Mendoza accommodation guide.
Combine with other top wineries
- Zuccardi Valle de Uco — World's Best Vineyard, 20 minutes north.
- Bodega Salentein — also designed by Bormida & Yanzon, 25 minutes north.
- Andeluna and Atamisque — boutique estates within 20-30 minutes.
- Catena Zapata — pair with a separate Lujan de Cuyo day for the full Mendoza picture.
