Wine and Chocolate Bike Tour: ride, taste, lunch, vineyards.

The best part of this Mendoza day tour is the way it links biking, wine, and chocolate without rushing from one tasting room to another. You pedal through Luján de Cuyo with the Andes in view, stop at Keltiké Chocolates, visit three different wineries, and finish with lunch in a winery garden.

I especially like the small group of no more than eight and the care built into the day. Janet, the guide, watches the cycling closely, knows the people at each stop, and keeps the pace comfortable. I also like that the wineries are not carbon copies: one focuses on the vineyard and wine process, another on its production system and garden, and Lamadrid provides the picnic setting.

The main catch is distance. The route covers 24 kilometers, so you need to be comfortable on a bike for several hours. At $200 per person, this is not a budget wine outing, but the price includes transport, bike, helmet, guide, admissions, tastings, lunch, insurance, and a full day in the country.

Key points to know before booking

• 24 kilometers by mountain bike: Most riding is on bike paths or dirt roads, with short stretches between each stop.
• Three contrasting wineries: Finca Bandini, Durigutti Family Winemakers at Finca Victoria, and Lamadrid Estate Wines each offer a different setting and focus.
• Keltiké chocolate comes first: You can sample unusual artisanal designs and, according to the day’s arrangements, warm up with hot chocolate.
• Janet guides the entire day: She speaks English and Spanish and pays close attention to safety, timing, and comfort.
• Lunch is a shared winery picnic: It includes sandwiches, cheeses, pastries, fruit salad, water, and a bottle of wine for two people.
• The Andes provide the backdrop: Clear mountain views add a memorable sense of place to the ride.

Why this Mendoza bike tour works so well

Mendoza is often experienced from the passenger seat of a van, with a tasting room followed by another tasting room. This tour gives you a better sense of the Luján de Cuyo area because you move through it under your own power.

The cycling is not an athletic race. The route is broken into manageable sections of about 15 to 30 minutes, with food, wine, or chocolate waiting at the end. That rhythm matters. You get time to ride, then time to sit and talk, rather than spending the entire day on a bicycle.

The total schedule runs from about 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., including pickup and return to Mendoza. You spend roughly half the day riding and the rest tasting, eating, and touring. The small group size also makes it easier for Janet to adjust the pace and keep everyone together.

The Andes are the visual reward. You will see them from among the vines rather than from a city viewpoint, which gives the day a stronger connection to Mendoza’s wine country.

Starting in Mendoza and getting set up

Pickup is included from the city of Mendoza. You should wait in your hotel lobby about 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time, then ride by transfer toward Luján de Cuyo.

The cycling begins at MONTAÑITA bicycle rental. Here you receive a mountain bike and helmet, with available bike sizes listed as S, M, and L. The bikes are 29-inch, 21-speed aluminum mountain bikes. The equipment is included in the price, and the supplied information describes it as modern and well maintained.

Your guide stays with you for the whole day. That is useful in practical ways. Janet handles the route, watches the roadside riding, and helps keep the transitions between stops smooth. You are not left to find the wineries on your own or to guess which road comes next.

Wear comfortable sports clothing and sneakers. Bring sunglasses, a backpack, and identification. You should also expect normal outdoor conditions: sun, dust, and changing temperatures are all possible during a full day in the open air.

Keltiké Chocolates: an easy first stop

The first stop is Keltiké Chocolates and Wood, a fine chocolate shop. You spend about an hour here, which gives you time to look at the unusual designs and sample artisanal chocolate rather than treating the stop as a quick purchase.

This is a clever beginning. Chocolate gives you a gentle start before the wine tastings, and the stop adds another local flavor to the day. The experience is not simply wine with a bicycle ride attached. The chocolate visit gives the first part of the morning its own character.

Hot chocolate may also be part of the stop, which is especially welcome on a cool day. You will see the rare designs up close, and the handmade presentation makes this more interesting than a standard shop visit.

After chocolate, you return to the route for a short guided ride through Las Compuertas. The first cycling section is about 15 minutes, followed later by sections of 30, 25, 15, and 30 minutes. These distances keep the day active without making any single ride feel endless.

Finca Bandini and the story behind the first glass

Finca Bandini is the first winery. You spend around 90 minutes here on a guided visit that explains the process from the vineyard through production, followed by a glass of wine.

This stop is a good introduction because it connects what you see outside with what ends up in your glass. You are not only seated for a tasting. You learn how the plants and vineyards fit into the winemaking process, then taste the result.

The first two wineries each include a glass of wine. That detail is worth noting if you are comparing this tour with a standard tasting package. The day gives you several chances to taste, but it also places clear limits on the amount of wine served while you are cycling.

The route from Finca Bandini to the next winery takes about 25 minutes by bike. Since the group rides together with a guide, the cycling becomes part of the visit rather than dead time between appointments.

Durigutti Family Winemakers and Finca Victoria

The second winery is Durigutti Family Winemakers at Finca Victoria. You spend about 70 minutes here, with a guided visit and wine tasting.

This winery brings a different kind of setting. You see the interior of the winery and learn about its production system. You also visit its orchard and a natural water reservoir where geese are kept. Those details give the stop a more personal, lived-in quality. It is not only stainless steel, barrels, and a tasting counter.

You receive another glass of wine here. I like the contrast with Finca Bandini because the three winery visits are designed to feel distinct. One emphasizes the vineyard process, the second combines production with gardens and water, and the third is built around food, wine, and time outdoors.

The riding sections between the wineries also give your palate a break. That is important on a day with several tastings. You have time to drink water, take in the views, and settle into the next stop instead of stacking one glass immediately after another.

Lamadrid Estate Wines and the long lunch

Lamadrid Estate Wines is the final winery and the grandest stop of the day, with about 90 minutes scheduled for the visit, guided portion, picnic, and wine.

The lunch is designed for two people. It includes raw ham sandwiches, roasted vegetables, assorted cheeses, sweet pastries, fruit salad, water, and a bottle of wine chosen by you. The menu can be adapted to vegetarian, children’s, or gluten-free needs, listed as without TACC.

This is more substantial than a token winery snack. You sit in the gardens and make a proper meal of it, which gives the day a slower finish. A bocce court is also available, so you can play after eating if you want something light and social before the ride back.

The food is one of the strongest reasons to consider this tour at its price. The supplied menu is generous, and the setting turns lunch into part of the Mendoza experience rather than a break you need to arrange yourself. Keep in mind that the bottle is for two people, so solo participants should check how the meal and wine arrangement will work for them.

After Lamadrid, you return the bikes at MONTAÑITA and transfer back to Mendoza. The final bike section is about 30 minutes, so the day does not end with a sudden long ride after lunch.

What $200 really covers

At $200 per person, this tour costs more than simply renting a bike and visiting one winery. The value comes from the number of moving parts handled for you.

The fee includes round-trip transport between Mendoza and Luján de Cuyo, a bilingual guide, mountain bike, helmet, winery and chocolate shop admissions, two winery glasses of wine, the shared picnic, and a bottle of wine for two. Insurance includes personal accidents, civil liability, ambulance service, and mechanical assistance.

You also get a full day rather than a short tasting session. If you priced transport, bike rental, three winery visits, lunch, and a guide separately, the package becomes easier to justify. It is still a premium day, but the inclusions are broad.

The strongest value is for a couple or small group that wants one organized day with no need to drive. You can taste wine without worrying about a designated driver, and you can see several parts of Luján de Cuyo without arranging separate reservations.

The weaker value is for someone who only wants a quick winery visit or who already has a bicycle and transport. In that case, the full package may be more than you need.

The cycling: pleasant, but not effortless

The route totals 24 kilometers. That is manageable for many recreational cyclists, but it is not a casual five-minute spin. You need to ride confidently and stay comfortable on a bike for most of a day.

The route includes bike paths and dirt roads, according to the practical details provided for the experience. Riding beside vineyards gives you a closer view of the area, but dirt surfaces can feel different from smooth pavement. Janet’s attention to safety is a real benefit, particularly when the group rides near roads.

You are not suitable for this experience if you cannot ride a bike, are pregnant, are under 140 centimeters tall, weigh over 130 kilograms, or are under 18 years old. The age rule is particularly important for families, since children under 18 cannot join.

I would not book this as a relaxed sightseeing day if you dislike physical activity. The tasting stops are generous, but the bicycle remains a central part of the experience.

Janet makes the day feel personal

The guide can shape a tour like this more than the winery names do. Janet leads in English and Spanish, remains with the group, and communicates throughout the ride and visits.

What matters most is her connection with the stops. The arrangements allow staff at the wineries and chocolate shop to be ready when the group arrives, which reduces waiting and keeps the day moving. Janet also takes time to talk with you, ask what you like, and share her own connection to Mendoza.

Her safety focus is another practical strength. She pays attention while the group rides near the roadside, rather than treating the cycling as an afterthought. For a small group, that personal oversight can make the difference between feeling relaxed and feeling uncertain.

Who should book this day

This tour suits you if you enjoy moderate cycling, wine, good food, and a full schedule. Couples are a natural fit because the picnic and bottle of wine are arranged for two, but a small group of friends would also make good use of the format.

It is particularly helpful for a short stay in Mendoza. You see vineyards, three wineries, a chocolate maker, and the Andes in a single day. That makes it a strong choice when you want broad coverage without spending days arranging transport.

You should choose something else if you want a quiet tasting room day, have limited mobility, or prefer to set your own timing. The schedule is fixed, and the 24-kilometer route requires a reasonable level of comfort on a bicycle.

Book at least 48 hours ahead. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible.

Should you book the Wine and Chocolate Bike Tour?

I would book it if you want Mendoza to feel like a place, not just a series of tasting rooms. The combination of vineyard roads, chocolate, three different wineries, a generous picnic, and Andes views gives the day variety and a clear sense of Luján de Cuyo.

The deciding question is simple: are you happy to cycle 24 kilometers for the sake of better views and a more active day? If yes, $200 is a fair price for the transport, equipment, guide, admissions, food, wine, and insurance included. If you want only wine tasting with minimal exertion, choose a vehicle-based option instead.

FAQ

How long does the Wine and Chocolate Bike Tour last?

The experience lasts 510 minutes, or about eight and a half hours. Pickup is scheduled around 8 a.m., with return to Mendoza around 4:30 p.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Round-trip transfer between Mendoza and Luján de Cuyo is included. Wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

How far do you cycle?

The total cycling route is 24 kilometers. The ride is divided into shorter sections between the chocolate shop and wineries.

Which wineries are included?

The route visits Finca Bandini, Durigutti Family Winemakers at Finca Victoria, and Lamadrid Estate Wines.

What food and wine are included?

The picnic includes raw ham sandwiches, roasted vegetables, assorted cheeses, sweet pastries, fruit salad, water, and a bottle of wine for two people. A glass of wine is included at two wineries. Vegetarian, children’s, and without TACC picnic options are available.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live guide service is available in English and Spanish.

Who cannot join the tour?

The experience is not suitable for pregnant women, people who cannot ride a bike, children under 18, people under 140 centimeters tall, or people over 130 kilograms.