Argentina wine regions: which one to choose?
 

I plan on going to Argentina for 2 weeks in July. We intend on flying in from the US to Iguzu then flying to Buenos Aires. We would like to visit Patagonia and the wine regions, too. There seems to be several wine regions to choose from. Any ideas? We were thinking of renting a car and driving within the wine region that we choose, but that is just an idea at this point.

Thanks in advance!

Patagonia in July??? Are you serious?

I agree with Rastaguytoday, Patagonia is too cold! well the NW is the best area not only for wines but also for the varied landscape. Salt Flats, rock formations and colourful mountains! Nothing to waste! You can also drink the unique torrontes in Cafayate produced by most of the wineries there. You can slos, taste malbec, tannat, merlot, cabernet Sauvignon... And the weather si great. Deep blue sky and sunny days all the time...
Youc an not miss it!
flintstones

To me asking which wine region to visit in Argentina is akin to asking whether one should visit Napa/Sonoma in California or the handful of vineyards on NY's Long Island or perhaps the wine region in Oregon/Washington state. Good wines in this region too, but cannot compare to Napa/Sonoma in size, popularity etc..
Mendoza and the surrounding area is the primary wine region for Argentina. That's where their best wines come from. Yes, there are wineries in Patagonia as well and a couple of other places... but I would always recommend Mendoza first. After you go there, you can try to diversify to other regions on another trip.

Have you been in both places??
I mean if you recommend one over the other it means you have been in both. And... on the other hand " That's where their best wines come from"... I would not be so sure. The specialist say... " The alttitude is one of the reasons why the wines in Cafayate are so good, the red grape developes a thicker skin to protect the seeds from the sun and cntaisn more tanins.
Not said by me, people who knows about wines...
I can only say I love torrontes wine. And torrontes in ONLY produced in the NW. A unique kind of white wine which is delicious... In Mendoza they have recently started to try to produce it.
Flintstones

thank you for the responses. After doing more research, i have discovered that Patogonia would be too cold...so i will save that for another time.

as for the wine regions, are there any specific wineries that you would suggest? Also, have you stayed in Mendoza before? If so, where do you suggest is a good place to stay on a moderate budget? i have heard about some bed and breakfasts--do you know anything about those?