Zuccardi Valle de Uco is internationally regarded as the winery with the best visitor experience anywhere — voted World's Best Vineyard by 50 Best in 2020, 2022 and 2023, the only producer to win the title three times. The estate sits in Paraje Altamira, San Carlos, Valle de Uco, 95 km south of Mendoza city at 1,100 m, directly under the Cordon del Plata range. The third-generation Italian-Argentine Zuccardi family has farmed in Mendoza since 1963, when civil engineer Alberto Zuccardi planted the first vineyards in Maipu after a research trip to California. Today head winemaker Sebastian Zuccardi (third generation) leads a "wines of place" philosophy, focusing on five distinct terroirs across 800+ hectares: Paraje Altamira, Gualtallary, La Consulta, San Pablo and Maipu. The flagship building, designed by architect Eugenio Aguirre and inaugurated in 2016, is built exclusively from materials extracted from the surrounding mountains — basalt rock, granite, Patagonian cypress — making it one of the most architecturally honest wineries in the world. The on-site restaurant Piedra Infinita appears in the Michelin Guide Argentina 2024 and the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list, with 180-degree Andes views through a curved glass wall.
Why visit Zuccardi
Three reasons. First, the architecture: this is the only top-30 winery in the world built without imported materials, and walking through the basalt-and-granite halls feels closer to entering a contemporary art museum than a working bodega. Second, the wines: Sebastian Zuccardi is one of the leading voices in the global "terroir without makeup" movement — minimal oak, ambient yeasts, fermentation in concrete eggs, every label tied to a specific parcel. The Aluvional series and Finca Piedra Infinita are reference points for what high-altitude Malbec can achieve. Third, lunch: Piedra Infinita is the most-talked-about restaurant in Argentine wine country, with a kitchen led by chef Juan Pablo Michelini that builds dishes around lamb from Malargue, Andean potatoes and white-corn husks, paired by sommeliers who actually trained on the wines you are drinking.
For travelers willing to give up half a day of driving, Zuccardi delivers more than any single stop in Lujan de Cuyo. It is the closest thing Mendoza has to a Napa-style flagship destination.
The wines
Serie A (entry premium)
The introductory range — Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay — sourced from estate vineyards across Valle de Uco. USD 20-40. Bright, fresh, designed to show terroir without heavy oak.
Q (premium)
Single-vineyard wines from selected parcels: Q Malbec, Q Cabernet Sauvignon, Q Chardonnay. USD 45-75. More structured, longer finish, the bridge into the icon range.
Aluvional (single-terroir)
Three parallel Malbecs from three different Valle de Uco terroirs — Paraje Altamira (rounder), Gualtallary (mineral, electric), La Consulta (powerful). USD 70-120. Tasting them side by side is the clearest lesson in Argentine terroir you can get.
Concreto (concrete-egg fermentation)
100% Malbec fermented and aged in concrete eggs (no oak). USD 50-85. Pure fruit, silky tannins, designed to drink younger than the oak-aged siblings.
Finca Piedra Infinita (icon)
Super-premium expression from the 140-year-old vineyard that gave the restaurant its name. USD 180-320. Wine Advocate consistently scores 96-99. The most age-worthy wine in the Zuccardi portfolio.
Tasting & tour options
| Experience | Price (USD) | Duration | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour + classic tasting | 40-65 | 1h30 | Architectural tour and 4-wine flight (Serie A or Q) |
| Tour + 3-course Piedra Infinita lunch | 100-140 | 4 hours | Full visit plus three-course paired menu |
| Tour + 6-course tasting menu | 180-260 | 5 hours | Full visit plus six-course paired menu (icon wines) |
| Vertical tasting | 80-120 | 2 hours | One wine across 3-5 vintages with sommelier |
Restaurant reservations are taken separately on OpenTable; tour reservations on zuccardiwines.com.
Book your Zuccardi visit
Best seller Valle de Uco Wine Tour (full-day)
Full-day small-group tour with hotel pickup, three-winery Valle de Uco circuit including Zuccardi or sister property. Lunch included.
Private Driver — Valle de Uco
Door-to-door private transfer with English-speaking driver. Drink freely, return safely. Full-day for 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
Zuccardi sits 95 km south of Mendoza city. The drive takes 1h30: south on RN 40 past Lujan de Cuyo, then west on RP 94 through the towns of Tunuyan and San Carlos. There is no public transport. Three options:
- Self-drive: a rental car (USD 55-80/day) gives you flexibility for combining wineries. Free parking on site. Realistic only if your group has a designated driver.
- Private remis or transfer: USD 130-180 round-trip with a 4-5 hour wait. Mendoza Holidays, Trout & Wine and MendoVino all run this service.
- Wine tour with transfer: the easiest option for international visitors. Operators like Mendoza Wine Tours, Ampora Wine Tours and Mendoza Holidays sell full-day Valle de Uco circuits (USD 180-280 small-group, USD 380-580 private) including 2-3 wineries plus lunch.
If you are driving from Lujan de Cuyo, plan 1h. See the full getting-there guide for routes from the airport and Buenos Aires.
Best time to visit
Harvest (March-April) is unbeatable: grapes ripening on the vine, fermentation tanks active, vineyards turning red and gold. Daytime sits at 22-28 C. Spring (October-November) is the photographer's choice — snowcapped Andes against bright-green vineyards and rose bushes flowering between rows. Summer (December-February) brings 28-35 C heat and full restaurant bookings. Winter (June-August) is the quiet season: bare vines, dramatic mountain light, smaller groups, and the basalt building feels especially atmospheric. Closed Sundays year-round.
Where to eat nearby
The standout is Piedra Infinita on site — book ahead. Other Valle de Uco options:
- La Posada del Jamon (Vista Flores) — Spanish-style cured meats, hearty regional cooking. USD 30-50 with wine.
- Casa de Uco restaurant — at the Casa de Uco wine resort, contemporary Argentine. USD 80-130 with wine.
- Siete Cocinas Patagonia — chef Pablo del Rio's seven-region tasting menu. USD 90-130.
Where to stay
For a Zuccardi-focused trip, sleep in Valle de Uco rather than driving back to the city. Best options: The Vines Resort & Spa (USD 580-1,100, villa hotel surrounded by vineyards), Casa de Uco Wine Resort (USD 380-650), Andeluna Lodge (USD 280-420), Atamisque (USD 240-380). Budget-friendly: La Posada del Jamon (USD 130-190) or hotels in Tupungato town (USD 80-140). See our complete Mendoza accommodation guide.
Combine with other top wineries
- Bodega Salentein — sister estate in Tunuyan, contemporary art space and Andes views. 30 minutes north.
- O. Fournier — striking gravity-flow architecture in La Consulta, 20 minutes south.
- Catena Zapata — pair with a separate Lujan de Cuyo day for the full Mendoza picture.
- Andeluna and Domaine Bousquet — boutique stops on the way back to Mendoza.
