Mendoza, Argentina

As the heart of the wine making industry in Argentina, the Mendoza Province produces nearly two-thirds of the wine in the entire country.  Planted at some of the highest altitudes in the world, these vineyards are famous for their pink-skinned Griolla Granda and Cereza grapes, as well as Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Chardonnay.  While many of the large wineries located in the provincial capital of Mendoza, you will need a Mendoza car hire to tour the area's vineyards.

Seated at the eastern foothills of the Andes, these mountains separate Mendoza from the many vineyards of Chile, whose capital of Santiago is only a 50 minute plane ride away.  Unlike Chile however, Mendoza has a semi-arid climate with 4 distinct seasons and no extremes in temperatures.  The mountain rivers of Mendoza provide ample water from melted glaciers in the Andes.  You can reserve a 4x4 rental car in Mendoza to make the most of your time near this mountainous region.

You will notice as you make your way through the streets of Mendoza that there is an extensive irrigation system, with most streets bordered by irrigation channels on either side and many quaint bridges for pedestrian and vehicular traffic.  This allows for the greenery throughout the city as well as the wine production.  Some of these channels, canals and reservoirs date to the 16th century.

There are several fun activities to enhance your wine tour in Mendoza by car hire.  Adventure activities such as Paragliding are offered in the area, or if you visit in the winter there are a few ski resorts.  If you visit in the spring or summer and the weather is particularly nice you may consider booking a horse riding tour, or renting bicycles and biking to a few of the wineries around Mendoza.