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

The best part of this Mendoza day is the rhythm: pedal a little, taste a little, stop for lunch, then ride on. You travel through Luján de Cuyo vineyards with the Andes in view, rather than sitting in a bus all day. Stops include Keltiké Chocolates, Finca Bandini, Durigutti Family Winemakers, and Lamadrid Estate Wines.

I especially like two things here. First, the three wineries are different, so the day is not just the same tasting room repeated. Second, the picnic lunch gives the tour a proper pause, with cheese, sandwiches, pastries, fruit salad, water, and a bottle of wine for two. The main consideration is the 24-kilometer cycling distance. It is not a hard mountain ride, but you need to be comfortable on a bike for most of a full day.

Key points to know before booking

• Three winery stops with different settings: Expect vineyard and production visits, wine tasting, and a final picnic at Lamadrid Estate Wines.
• A full 24-kilometer bike route: Much of the riding is on bike paths or dirt roads, but you should be an active, confident cyclist.
• Chocolate comes first: Keltiké offers artisan chocolates and a useful warm-up before the winery circuit.
• Janet guides the day: She provides bilingual English and Spanish guidance and pays close attention to cycling safety.
• Small groups keep the day personal: The tour is limited to eight participants.
• The $200 price covers a lot: Transport, bike, helmet, guide, winery and chocolate admissions, food, wine, and insurance are included.

From Mendoza to the vineyards at 8 a.m.

Your day begins with pickup in Mendoza at about 8 a.m. Wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before the scheduled time. The included transfer takes you toward Luján de Cuyo, where the bike portion begins at MONTAÑITA bicycle rental.

This arrangement is useful because you do not have to arrange a taxi, rent a bicycle on your own, or work out how to reach the wineries. You collect a 29-inch mountain bike, helmet, and gear at the rental shop, then meet your guide for the route.

The bikes are aluminum mountain bikes with 21 speeds and sizes S, M, and L. That gives you some room to find a suitable fit, though I would still tell the operator your height when booking. A good fit matters more than it may sound when you are riding 24 kilometers.

The group is capped at eight people. That is small enough for the guide to keep an eye on the pace and help with road safety, but the day still has a shared-group feel. The tour is available in English and Spanish.

Keltiké Chocolates makes a smart first stop

The first stop is Keltiké Chocolates and Wood, a fine chocolate shop where you spend about an hour. The focus is on artisan chocolate, unusual designs, and new flavors. The stop gives the day a welcome change from the usual wine-only format.

This is also a practical way to ease into the cycling. You have only a short ride from the rental, about 15 minutes, before reaching the chocolate shop. Some feedback specifically praised the hot chocolate, which sounds particularly welcome during Mendoza’s cooler months.

The chocolate stop is not a quick souvenir purchase squeezed between wineries. It is a full visit, and the tour’s inclusion of admission means you can treat it as part of the tasting program. If you have a serious sweet tooth, this may be one of the day’s highlights. If you mainly came for wine, it still adds variety and keeps the schedule from feeling repetitive.

After Keltiké, you ride for about 30 minutes to the first winery. The route passes through the Luján de Cuyo area, with vineyard views and the Andes beyond. The route includes bike paths and dirt roads, according to the available tour details, but you should still expect some riding near roads and follow Janet’s instructions carefully.

Finca Bandini explains the vineyard-to-glass process

Finca Bandini is the first winery stop and lasts about 90 minutes. Here you learn how the plant moves through the vineyard and into wine production, followed by a glass of wine.

That sequence makes the visit useful even if you already know something about wine. You see the agricultural side before focusing on the finished drink. Mendoza wine tours can sometimes rush straight to a tasting room, but this stop gives the vineyard itself a role in the story.

The first tasting also sets a sensible pace. You are still early in the day, and the tour does not start with a large meal or a long series of pours. The included benefit is described as a glass of wine at two wineries, so you should not assume unlimited tasting at every stop.

There is a 25-minute ride between Finca Bandini and the next winery. That distance is short enough to break up the visits without making you feel as if you spend the entire day in the saddle. Still, the cycling is the backbone of the tour, not a minor transfer between tastings.

Durigutti adds gardens, production, and a water reservoir

The second winery is Durigutti Family Winemakers at Finca Victoria. You spend about 70 minutes here, with time to see the interior of the winery and its production system.

The setting includes an orchard and a natural water reservoir with geese. Those details make this stop feel different from a standard cellar visit. You get a look at the working property, not only the polished tasting experience.

You also taste a glass of wine here. Since this is the second included glass, it is worth asking the guide how the tasting will be handled if you want to compare the first two wineries closely. The tour is designed to introduce you to contrasting producers, so pay attention to the differences in setting and production, not only to which wine you prefer.

The ride from Durigutti back through the Las Compuertas area takes about 15 minutes. By now, you have cycled, tasted chocolate, visited two wineries, and are ready for the day’s longest stop.

Lamadrid turns lunch into the main event

The final winery is Lamadrid Estate Wines, where you spend about 90 minutes. This is the tour’s grand pause: a gourmet picnic in the winery setting, with a bottle of wine for two people.

The included food is substantial enough to function as lunch. It includes raw ham sandwiches, roasted vegetables, assorted cheeses, sweet pastries, fruit salad, water, and a bottle of wine chosen by you for two people. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and children’s meal options are listed, so request the right version when you reserve.

This meal is one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour over a basic bike rental with two tastings. You are not left searching for lunch between appointments, and the picnic creates time to sit, talk, and enjoy the gardens. The setting matters here. A meal among the winery grounds feels more connected to Mendoza’s wine country than a rushed restaurant stop.

Lamadrid also has a bocce court available. It is a small but welcome extra after lunch. You can play for a while instead of immediately climbing back onto the bike.

The final stop is also where the tour’s timing can work in your favor. You have already seen vineyards and production areas, so lunch feels like a reward rather than another formal presentation. At the same time, wine and a 24-kilometer ride require sensible pacing. Drink water, eat properly, and do not treat the bottle at lunch as a challenge.

What cycling 24 kilometers really feels like

The total route is 24 kilometers, with several separate rides of about 15 to 30 minutes. That is manageable for many active adults, but it is not a casual ride of a few blocks.

You do not need advanced mountain-biking skills. The bikes are standard mountain bikes, and the supplied feedback describes most riding as taking place on bike paths or dirt roads. Even so, the route can include road edges, and Janet is reported to pay close attention to group safety. Stay with the group and follow her instructions at crossings and on shared roads.

The schedule gives you regular stops, which makes the mileage easier than one continuous ride. You ride from the rental to the chocolate shop, onward to Finca Bandini, then to Durigutti, and finally to Lamadrid before returning the bikes. After the final ride, you return to the rental and take the transfer back to Mendoza, arriving around 4:30 p.m.

Wear comfortable sports clothing and sneakers. Bring sunglasses, a small backpack, and identification. You will want clothing that works for both cycling and sitting down to lunch, since the day moves between outdoor roads, winery interiors, and garden spaces.

Janet’s guiding makes a practical difference

The guide listed for this experience is Janet, and the available feedback repeatedly highlights her warm manner, communication, and attention to safety. She guides in English and Spanish and stays with the group throughout the day.

That matters on a route like this. A guide is not only there to explain wine. You also need someone to manage the timing, keep the group together, help with the bikes, and make sure each winery is ready for arrival. Janet’s personal relationships at the stops are described as part of the smooth feel of the day, with tastings prepared when the group arrives.

You should still be clear about your cycling ability before setting out. The tour is for adults who can ride a bike, and it excludes anyone under 18, anyone under 140 centimeters, anyone over 130 kilograms, and pregnant people. Those limits are practical requirements, not minor suggestions.

Is $200 a fair price?

At $200 per person, this is not the cheapest way to taste Mendoza wine. A simpler winery transfer or self-guided bike rental will likely cost less. The value here comes from what the price bundles together.

You receive round-trip transport from Mendoza to Luján de Cuyo, a bilingual guide, a mountain bike, a helmet, winery and chocolate admissions, wine tastings, lunch, and insurance covering personal accidents, civil liability, ambulance service, and mechanical assistance. You also get a small group rather than a large coach party.

The food is important to the calculation. A full picnic with sandwiches, roasted vegetables, cheeses, pastries, fruit, water, and wine for two is more than a token snack. Add three winery visits and the chocolate stop, and the day can make sense for someone with limited time in Mendoza.

I would book it if you want one organized day that combines food, wine, scenery, and exercise. I would skip it if your priority is an intensive wine education, a relaxed schedule with no physical activity, or the lowest possible price.

Who will enjoy this Mendoza day most?

This tour suits couples and small groups who want to see the wine country actively. It is especially useful if you have only a short stay in Mendoza and want to combine several local experiences without arranging separate transport.

You should enjoy it if you like alternating between movement and tasting. The chocolate stop, three winery visits, garden picnic, and bocce court give the day plenty of variety.

It is less suitable for anyone who cannot comfortably ride for several short stretches over a full day. It is also not designed for children under 18. If you want to focus only on Malbec, cellar architecture, or long formal tastings, a dedicated wine tour may fit better.

Book at least 48 hours in advance. The tour allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Mendoza plans are still shifting.

Should you book the Wine and Chocolate Bike Tour?

I would book this tour if you want an active, well-organized introduction to Luján de Cuyo rather than a string of tastings from a vehicle. The route is long enough to feel like a real outing, but regular stops keep it from becoming an endurance test.

The strongest features are the variety of stops, Janet’s close attention to the group, and the generous final picnic at Lamadrid. The main warning is simple: you need to be comfortable on a bike, and you should plan for a full day outdoors.

For a confident adult cyclist who likes wine, chocolate, and a proper lunch, the $200 price is reasonable. For anyone seeking a short, low-effort tasting, choose something else.

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.

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is included from Mendoza. You then transfer to MONTAÑITA bicycle rental in the Luján de Cuyo area to collect your bicycle and helmet.

How far do you cycle?

The total cycling route is 24 kilometers. The individual rides listed between stops range from about 15 to 30 minutes.

Which languages are available?

The live guide service is available in English and Spanish.

How large is the group?

The tour is limited to eight participants.

What food is included at lunch?

The picnic includes raw ham sandwiches, roasted vegetables, assorted cheeses, sweet pastries, fruit salad, water, and one bottle of wine for two people. Gluten-free, vegetarian, and children’s meal options are available.

How many wineries do you visit?

You visit three wineries: Finca Bandini, Durigutti Family Winemakers at Finca Victoria, and Lamadrid Estate Wines.

Is wine tasting included?

Yes. The package includes a glass of wine at two wineries, plus a bottle of wine for two people with the picnic lunch. The itinerary also includes wine tasting at the winery visits.

Who cannot take this tour?

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