Here’s Part 2 in my series on Argentina. Mendoza enjoys a dry climate that is not unlike that of southern California in the summer but colder in the winter. It offers different experiences depending on what area you choose to stay in – close to the mountains, classic Mendoza, the city center, and Chacras de Coria where the “old money” and artists live. Chacras is a leafy, residential area filled with hidden villas and cobblestone streets and a small town. We chose Chacras because of a wonderful hotel, the Relais et Chateau Susana Balbo Winemaker’s House and Spa Suites. Here are my picks of things to do in Mendoza.  If you missed Part 1 on Buenos Aires, click here.

Our base was the incredible SB’s Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites,the first hotel by Argentina’s pioneering female winemaker, Susana Balbo, created with her daughter, Ana Lovaglio Balbo. The ultra-boutique, seven-suite property is designed as and indeed feels like a private estate, immersing guests in the culture, wines, and hospitality of a winemaking family, with a strong sense of place reflected throughout its design, art, gastronomy, and wellness offerings.

Each spa suite features a private garden terrace, in-room wellness amenities including a serious steam room, stone tub, sensation shower, and massage table, with select suites offering private dry saunas. Dining at La VidA highlights refined Argentine cuisine with sustainable ingredients and curated wine pairings, while museum quality art by local artists is showcased throughout the house and suites.

Even the landscaping is impressive, complete with lovely flowering plants, capers, mint and oregano. A member of Relais & Châteaux, part of the Virtuoso global network, one of only five hotels in Argentina awarded Two MICHELIN Keys, and certified by Hoteles Más Verdes, the property offers highly personalized experiences through an Experience Curator. Another plus, it’s a several minute walk from the center of the  town of Chacras de Coria. For more information, visit:https://www.susanabalbohotels.com/sb-winemakers-house-spa-suites-

A highlight of the things to do in Mendoza are the wine tours. A  wine tour was on the schedule every day. You may think it’d be repetitive after awhile but not at all. Here are our favorites, each of which has a different experience, ambiance, and feel to it, along with their wine tasting.

Susana Balbo Wines is a cornerstone of modern Mendoza, defined by the pioneering spirit of its founder—Argentina’s first female enologist. Known globally as the “Queen of Torrontés,” Susana Balbo is credited with transforming Argentina’s flagship white grape from a rustic table wine into a world-class, elegant varietal. Unlike the more traditional, sprawling estates, this Agrelo-based winery feels like a sophisticated family home, blending cutting-edge winemaking tech (like its state-of-the-art “La Capilla” experimental room) with a warm, boutique atmosphere and an herb and vegetable garden. It is particularly special for its focus on “The Art of Blending” and its commitment to sustainability, holding a Michelin Green Star for its culinary practices. For more on their tours of the winery, click here.

Experience options include creating your own custom wine blend to take home, a high end multi course pairing lunch at Osadia de Crear where I enjoyed one of my best dishes of the year (a carpaccio of trout with greens from their garden) or a cooking class preparing Argentine dishes with open fire cooking. Afterwards you can linger in the garden at strategically placed chairs and soak in the atmosphere.

Bodega Luigi Bosca is a pillar of Argentinian wine history, founded in 1901 by the Arizu family and recognized as the first “luxury” boutique winery in the country. This year it was named the New World Winery of the Year by the Wine Enthusiast. It is celebrated not just for its consistent, world-class Malbecs, but for its role as a pioneer in quality—helping establish the D.O.C. Luján de Cuyo (the first denomination of origin in the Americas).

The estate is a living testament to family legacy, now spanning four generations. Separate from the bodega,in Maipu  at the Arizu family’s private historic estate, they offer the Finca el Paraiso experience. Unlike the others, it blends a walk through the vineyards adjacent to olive trees with stops enroute for wine and olive oil tastings and an audio guide to hear the secrets of the founding family and enjoy an encounter with nature.

Then there are some small delicious bites at a bar, personally curated and cooked by the charming chef. You end up at the heart of the finca, a greenhouse like space where you can enjoy a 4 or 8 course lunch with wine pairing. There’s also a surprise experience at the French chateau, the welcoming spot for guests (but I’m not going to tell you about that one). An alternative to this long tour is a picnic on the lawn.

Bodegas López is known for its firm commitment to the “López Style,” a traditional winemaking philosophy that prioritizes long aging in large French oak casks, while also embracing new trends. Founded in 1898 and currently managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the founding family, the winery has a storage capacity of over 40 million liters, distributed among stainless steel tanks, large oak casks, 50,000-liter French oak vats, epoxy-lined concrete tanks, and French and American oak barrels.

It also features a special vintage área called “Estiba,” where historic bottles dating back to 1938 are preserved — a true testament to the family’s legacy and heritage.

Visits are available by prior reservation only and are subject to a fee.

The winery offers four guided tour options designed for different visitor profiles, as well as three special experiences ranging from a blending game — where guests can create and take home their own bottle — to model vineyard walks that provide an in-depth discovery of the authentic López Style.

When we visited, it was the beginning of the harvest, so we were able to see the first freshly picked grapes ready to begin the process, which concluded with lunch at Rincón de López restaurant. There, a Delicious menú is specially designed to pair with their complex and evolved reserve wines, such as the legendary Montchenot (I also greatly enjoyed their Chenin Blanc).

A seven room hotel recently opened within the winery grounds, featuring a private swimming pool and a charming garden.

Other things to do in Mendoza — soft adventure offerings ranging from e biking and hiking, to freshwater fishing, horseback riding, and visiting the mountain range.