The Goyenechea family has been producing wine in San Rafael for six generations, since founding their Goyenechea winery in 1868.
Brothers Santiago and Narcisco Goyenechea came to the New World from Spain and started their careers in the wine industry by buying wine and spirits stores in Buenos Aires before acquiring their first winery and estate in Villa Atuel in San Rafael. The winery is open for visits and tastings.
Finca Las Payas is a boutique winery in San Rafael where winemaker Santiago Salgado makes a host of natural wines. Orange wines from Moscato and red wines from Criolla, Ancellota, Corvina, Nero d’Avola, Croatina and Dolcetto are just some the specialities in the quirky and diverse portfolio of Finca Las Payas.
Algodon Wine Estates is a private real estate development with a hotel, restaurant and golf course, as well as vineyards and the Algodon winery. The oldest vineyards were planted in 1946 and you’ll find Bonarda, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Chardonnay and a sparkling Chenin Blanc within the collection.
Bodegas Bianchi is the leading winery in San Rafael, Mendoza, producing over 19 million litres of wine a year, working with over 350 hectares under vine and receiving over 85,000 visits to the winery each year. Known for both sparkling and still wine production, Bianchi was established in San Rafael in 1928 by Italian immigrant Valentín Bianchi and is now run by the fourth generation of the Bianchi family. The family winery spread its wings in 2016 acquiring a 150-hectare estate in Los Chacayes GI in the Uco Valley, where today it makes its premium Enzo Bianchi wines. Both wineries are open for a range of tourism and wine tasting activities.
Don Valentín Bianchi came to Argentina from Italy during the 20th century to begin a new life in the New World and, like many Italian immigrants at the time, he became fundamental in developing the wine industry. In 1928 he founded a winery in San Rafael, called El Chiche, ¨the small winery of the great wines¨.
This small winery flourished into Bodegas Bianchi and Valentín’s son, Enzo Bianchi, helped turn the family business into a lucrative production of both sparkling and still wine that became widely popular around Argentina. Enzo’s children, Valentín, Raúl and Sylvia, along with their children are now running the family winery which has been embedded in San Rafael for four generations.
In 2016, the winery expanded into the Uco Valley by acquiring another winery and property in the up-and-coming Los Chacayes GI region. Here they make their line of premium wines, Enzo Bianchi. Today the winery in San Rafael is one of the most popular wineries to visit in Mendoza.
One of the most prolific producers in San Rafael and in Los Chacayes, Bodegas Bianchi wineries have several vineyards which go towards their still and sparkling wine range.
With 142 hectares and owned by the family since 1982, the Doña Elsa vineyard has old vines in the Rama Caída region which are at an average altitude of 735 m.a.s.l. There is a wide range of varieties planted in the vineyard, ranging from Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah and Merlot, to Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Moscato Bianco and Torrontés.
In Las Paredes region, Finca Asti was purchased by the family in 1958 and has old vines of over 50 years of age. The 99-hectare estate, at approximately 740 m.a.s.l., is mainly planted with red grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and some Malbec, Petit Verdot, Caladoc and Petit Verdot, as well as some Viognier. This is one of their top terroirs in San Rafael and is often used for their top wines from the region.
Also in Las Paredes region, this 100-hectare estate has approximately 65 hectares of vines planted on slopes that range from 760 to 780 m.a.s.l. There is a wide range of soils here, including calcareous rocks on the terrace, and it is a good terroir for white wines including Chardonnay, Semillón, Moscato Bianco, Prosecco and Riesling, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir in red wines.
This vineyard was purchased in 2016 by the family and was their first acquisition outside of San Rafael, expanding production into the Uco Valley and specifically into Los Chacayes GI. The 150-hectare estate has more than 40 hectares of vines planted and has altitudes ranging from 980 to 1050 m.a.s.l. Malbec is the most important variety here but the winery also has significant plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Viognier. This is one of their top vineyards for premium wines.
Bianchi has a large and diverse portfolio that ranges from everyday wines to bonafide icons. Some of the most notable ranges and wines to look out for include:
A classic vino del pueblo from San Rafael, Don Valentín is one of the most important wines consumed in Argentina – appearing in most regions around the country and gracing many family dinner tables. An everyday, easy-to-drink red blend. There are also some white wines in the range.
This is a new label for Bianchi and it is the everyday, premium range from the Uco Valley. Single varieties include Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The ‘family’ range of wines is the reserve level of Bianchi wines from San Rafael and also the Uco Valley, which are usually single varietal wines but there are also some blends — including an exciting new white blend. One of our top picks from the Famiglia range is the Cabernet Sauvignon from San Rafael for its distinctive character and excellent value. Gran Famiglia is the Gran Reserve line and expresses their ultimate terroir and varietal expression.
This single-vineyard range focuses on showing the particular expression of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from Bianchi’s different vineyards. Complex and engaging red wines.
Bianchi’s top white wine is their oaked Chardonnay from San Rafael which offers a broad and structured wine with tropical fruit aromas and a juicy finish. Coming from the Doña Elsa vineyard.
The Enzo Bianchi has been an icon for many years, as the top wine from San Rafael, and now Bianchi have included wines from their Los Chacayes vineyard in the range. Structured, complex and rich red wines (Malbec, and a Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon blend) which deserve decanting before savouring.
Ever since 1995, Bianchi has been one of the leading producers of sparkling wines in Argentina. The classic Bianchi line is ideal for appetising summer sippers, which the Bianchi Extra Brut Premium spends several years on the lees and Los Stradivarius is a unique Cabernet Sauvignon sparkling!
Silvio Alberto is the Chief Winemaker at Bodegas Bianchi and has a vast winemaking experience in Mendoza, especially in the Uco Valley where he has brought his expertise since the Los Chacayes vineyard expansion in 2016.
In this video, he talks us through some of the key differences between the wines of San Rafael and Los Chacayes and how the terroirs compare in the glass:
Helping Silvio with the vineyards and winemaking is:
One of the most promising winemakers of his generation, Sergio spent several years working in Patagonian vineyards before returning to his native Mendoza to become Head Winemaker at Bodegas Bianchi.
Both Bianchi wineries are open for tourism and tastings.
The most-visited winery in San Rafael, and also one of the most-visited in Mendoza, Bianchi receives over 85,000 tourists a year who come to tour the winery and sparkling wine production and taste through the diverse portfolio.
Bianchi in San Rafael has a tasting and tourism experience for everyone: from the everyday walk-through tour with a tasting at the end (which runs every 30 minutes, costs less than USD$2 and requires no pre-booking) to private sit-down tastings and blending classes with your own private sommelier. There are also options for a picada (traditional Argentine tapas) or a horseride through the vineyard.
Contact [email protected] to explore the options available and book. Open Monday through Saturday.
Ruta 143 and Valentín San Rafael street. San Rafael.
You can also visit the beautiful stone-built winery in Los Chacayes, where premium tasting options are available as well as the option to spend the whole day in the beautiful estate and enjoy a home-cooked lunch in the gardens or private house.
This exclusive visit and tasting experience has to be pre-booked, and is available Monday through Saturday.
Contact [email protected] for the tasting and lunch options and to book.
Carril Los Sauces (no number), Los Chacayes, Tunuyán.