Seeking to position itself as one of the main wine tourism destinations in the region, The San Rafael wineries expand their infrastructure and diversify their gastronomic and recreational offerings, in an environment where tradition and novelty coexist in harmony. Next, a review of some must-sees.
The bee
Built in 1883, La Abeja is the first winery in San Rafael and a cornerstone in the development of the activity. Its founder was Rodolfo Iselín, a French immigrant and pioneer in the region, whose tragic and fascinating life captures the attention of tourists.
The establishment is open to the public and offers guided tours to learn about the wine-making process and discover, through Iselín’s work, the history of San Rafael.
Through four steps, the public will be able to tour the facilities of the winery, on whose property lies the old mansion of its creator, and its Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards. At the end, an extensive tasting of some of their selected wines is offered. You can also enjoy a gourmet picada.
Website: www.bodegalaabeja.com.ar
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Iaccarini Winery
This hundred-year-old winery was founded in 1903 by the Italian immigrant Pascual Iaccarini and recovered and set up in 2009, after a long agony that had led to its shipwreck.
Located in the Las Paredes district, the farm is divided into three plots, depending on the age of its vineyards. In it, the mixture of the past coexists with the present, turning it into a bright and refined space, where high quality wines are produced.
Its brand new winebar, mounted on old wine sinks, invites you to enjoy an intimate and sophisticated experience, hand in hand with some of its selected bottles and a menu with different tapas.
Website: www.bodegaiaccarini.com.ar
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Ibarra Winery
Under the motto “Well natural, well cuyanos”, this boutique winery produces high quality natural and signature wines. It is located at 3550 Cubillos street and offers guided tours, tastings and various food and wine experiences.
In addition, its restaurant invites you to discover regional dishes in a warm and familiar atmosphere. It also has vegetarian, vegan and coeliac-friendly cuisine. There it is possible to have lunch, dinner and enjoy a picnic.
The combo is completed with live shows ranging from folk clubs to electronic sunsets, including jazz, rock and tango.
Website: www.bodegaibarra.com.ar
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Grand Estate (Former Garbin)
Founded in 1978 by Carlos Garbín, Garbin Estate is one of the largest and most thriving wineries in San Rafael. Its facilities have state-of-the-art technology. In December, they were the venue for the Flor de la Vid Provincial Festival.
Its best known wine is the popular Pico de Oro. Per year, Garbin Estate produces 3.8 million cases. Now. It is one of the 30 Argentine wineries with the highest export volume, in addition to having a presence throughout the country. India, the US, Brazil and Spain, among others, are some of the destinations for its wines.
Located at Castelli 1331, the firm offers breakfast, brunch and guided tours. Also chopped and even a catamaran or tirobangi ride through Los Reyunos.
Website: www.garbinestate.com
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labian
Located on the road to the Atuel Canyon, Labiano is a winery with a family tradition, whose foundation dates back to 1925, when the Spanish immigrant Hipólito Labiano and his wife Juana settled in San Rafael to begin harvesting the vine.
Since 2002, the winery has kept its doors open to tourism and receives a large influx of tourists -almost 90,000 a year-. Guided tours are free, last approximately 40 minutes and end with a tasting.
Labiano also offers breakfast and lunch in his restaurant, and sale to the public in his store. The “fountain of wine”, located at the entrance, is one of its most popular attractions.
Website: www.bodegalabiano.com
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Serra Winery
Continuing along the path of the Atuel Canyon, you will arrive at La Vieja Bodega Serra. Serra is located at Cubillos 4500, in the Rama Caída region. It was founded in 1949 by a group of immigrants who laid the foundations for this still-active venture that is now open to the public.
Currently, the winery offers free guided tours, in which you can also learn about the production process of its olive oil. Serra has a capacity for 650,000 liters of wine per year, which makes it a boutique winery.
Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin, Tempranillo and Merlot are some of the varietals that the firm produces in its own vineyards. Its facilities are warm and welcoming, ideal for enjoying a tasting in a dream cellar.
Website: www.bodegaserra.com.ar
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Dynamics
Dinamia is a true gem within San Rafael wine tourism. The winery is located in Rama Caída and produces organic and biodynamic wines under the supervision of its founder and manager, Alejandro Bianchi, a 3rd generation San Rafael fine wine producer. In his own words, Dinamia “works for life”.
In addition to its productive area, “La Encantada” operates in its facilities, a farm founded in 1920 that currently works as a hostel. There, tradition and contact with nature are the stars of an environment surrounded by trees and gardens, where tranquility reigns.
In parallel, the place has an organic chocolate shop, turning it into an unprecedented and comprehensive venture, where all the factors come together to offer sustainable and excellent products, taking care of the environment at each stage of the process.
Website: www.fincadinamia.com
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tornaghi
This hundred-year-old winery was founded in 1893 by the Italian immigrant César Tornaghi, a pioneer of San Rafael viticulture. Currently, the firm is in the hands of the fifth Tornaghi generation, making it the oldest family winery in the region. Its doors are open to the public and invite you to discover the facilities and taste some of its wines.
Going around Tornaghi is like traveling back in time. Go back to the beginnings of the activity in the area and retrace the artisan process behind those wines that marked the way. Today its bottles are present in markets such as China, Panama, the US, Peru and Paraguay.
The warmth of Susana, responsible for the visits, and her stories end up rounding off a pleasant and comfortable experience, in the midst of an environment where tradition, nature and modernity coexist in pursuit of achieving excellence in wines.
Website: www.tornaghi.com.ar
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bianchi
A true classic at the Argentine table, Bianchi is one of the colossi of San Rafael. The winery is located on Ruta 143 and Valentín San Rafael street, and invites you to discover both the family and productive history of a firm that is synonymous with wines and sparkling wines.
Tastings, guided tours and tours of the vineyards on foot, by bicycle and by electric bicycle are some of the proposals that the winery offers to discover behind the scenes of its best bottles. For those who want to go one step further, Bianchi allows them to create their own cut of wine without the need for prior knowledge.
Among the pearls of the winery is its central dome, a refined space ideal for discovering some of its select labels, in the company of a snack and the explanations of its oenologists. Currently, Bianchi has a presence in 40 countries.
Website: www.bodegasbianchi.com.ar
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harth
Located in Colonia López, at km 455 of National Route 173, Harrth is an organic winery that operates under the administration of the Martens family. High quality wines are produced there respecting the environment and committing to sustainability.
To care for his 85 acres of vineyards, Haarth uses traditional fertilizers like compost and manure. In addition, the harvest is done manually, minimizing the implementation of agricultural machinery. The winery is open to tourism and offers both guided tours and tastings.
Added to the excellence of the process, certified by the International Agricultural Organization, and the thoroughness in each stage of it, the winery achieves high quality organic wines. For a comprehensive experience, Haarth offers accommodation at his inn. It also has its own restaurant.
Website: www.haarthwine.com
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Murville
Murville specializes in sparkling wines and frizzy wines. Its genesis occurred in 1937, when the Italian Rafael Salafia acquired the 10 hectares where he would later set up the establishment.
Currently, the firm is in the hands of one of his grandsons and has four estates in which 100 hectares of vineyards are distributed among the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah, Bonarda, Torrontés, Chenín Blanc and Chardonnay vines.
The Murville facility is open to tourism. The winery offers different proposals to get to know the establishment and the fruit of its work. Guided visits to the vineyards, tours of the production plant and tastings are some of the winery’s alternatives. which also has its own restaurant.
Website: www.murville.com
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Benegas painting
Although the winery has more than 85 years of history, its current administration dates back to 2012, when it was acquired by a local businessman. It is located in the district of the same name and has a capacity for 1,200,000 liters of wine, which is divided between tanks and concrete pools lined with epoxy.
Among its services, Cuadro Benegas offers guided tours, tastings of different products, preparation of special menus to pair with its wines, and sunsets with views of the vineyards and the landscape of San Rafael.
In addition, the winery produces personalized wines, an option available for institutions, clubs or people who want to have their own label. Currently, for example, Cuadro Benegas produces the wine of the world champion and River goalkeeper Franco Armani.
Website: www.fincacuadrobenegas.com.ar
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Chayee Bourras
Located in the Cuadro Benegas district, Chayee Bourras is a boutique winery founded in 2010, dedicated to producing high-end wines from the Bonarda variety.
Its two types of vinification are “Reserve” and “Classic”, and its production is exported to Canada.
Booking through, Chayee Bourras invites you to visit his small winery and farm, tour his vineyards and share a gastronomic experience in his restaurant “NIDO”, an intimate and comfortable space, where various homemade dishes are offered accompanied by house bottles.
Website: www.bodegabourras.com.ar
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heracles
Inspired by the benefits of the mythical Greek hero, Heracles is a family business with more than 50 years of experience in the cultivation of the vine. It is located in the San Rafael district of Cañada Seca and has plantations of different varieties.
Currently, it works with the younger varietal line, made up of Malbec, Bonarda and Cabernet Franc, and the Reserve line, which includes Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bonarda, aged in French oak barrels. His wines are present in different provinces and also in various countries.
Website: www.heracleswines.com.ar
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
