Mendoza wasn't born as the wine capital. It took more than four centuries of work, immigration, mistakes and reinvention to become what it is today: one of the nine Great Wine Capitals of the world.
Knowing the history of Mendoza wine is not just cultural trivia: it's understanding why wineries are the way they are, why Malbec became a national symbol and how wine tourism became one of the main economic engines of the province.
The origins: missionaries and vines without tradition (1556–1850)
The first vines arrived in Mendoza in 1556, brought by Spanish Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries. Grapes weren't for wine tourism or market: they were for producing mass wine. The main variety was Criolla, a rustic variety adapted to the desert climate.
For 250 years, Mendoza produced wine for local consumption. The industry was artisanal, with family wineries and wines that didn't leave the region. The Andes Mountains and lack of transport made exporting impossible.
The immigrants' revolution (1850–1920)
The great transformation began with European immigration. In the mid-19th century, Italians, Spaniards and French arrived in Mendoza, many from traditional wine regions. They brought with them:
- French and Italian varieties: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Bonarda
- Modern production techniques
- The concept of industrial winery
The historic milestone occurred in 1853: French agronomist Michel Aimé Pouget, hired by Governor Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, brought the first Malbec vines from France. Without knowing it, he planted the seed of the symbol of Argentine wine.
In the following decades, the first industrial wineries were founded: Bodegas López (1898), Trapiche (1883), Toso (1890). The arrival of the railway in 1885 connected Mendoza with Buenos Aires and allowed exporting wine throughout the country.
The industrial era and mass production (1920–1990)
During the 20th century, Mendoza became the largest wine producer in South America. But quality wasn't the focus: quantity was important. Argentina had very high per capita wine consumption (over 90 liters per person per year in the 70s) and wineries produced mass wines for the domestic market.
Malbec, already planted, was seen as a filler variety. The big successes were Cabernet Sauvignon and blends with Bonarda and Tempranillo. Wineries were huge, with old technology and focus on volume.
The quality revolution (1990–2010)
The crisis in Argentine wine consumption in the 90s (it fell to less than 30 liters per person per year) forced wineries to reinvent themselves. The way out was exporting, and exporting required world quality.
Here appear the protagonists of the new era:
- Nicolás Catena Zapata: the visionary who bet on premium Malbec and demonstrated that Argentina could compete with the world's great wines. In 1995 he launched Catena Zapata Estiba Reservada, which received 99 points from Robert Parker.
- Susana Balbo: the first female winemaker in Argentina, pioneer in premium Torrontés and Malbec.
- Paul Hobbs: California winemaker who founded Viña Cobos in Luján de Cuyo.
- Achaval Ferrer: pioneers in single-parcel Malbecs.
The discovery of Uco Valley as a high-altitude wine zone was the great revelation. Wineries like Salentein, Andeluna, Domaine Bousquet showed that high-altitude wines had a unique expression impossible to replicate in other regions.
To understand the differences between Mendoza wine regions well, we recommend reading our guide to Mendoza wine regions.
The wine tourism boom (2000–today)
With international recognition came traveler interest. Wineries, which historically didn't receive public, began opening their doors. The first restaurants in wineries appeared: Casa Vigil, La Bourgogne (Vistalba), 1884 (Escorihuela Gascon), which added signature gastronomy to tastings.
In 2004, Mendoza was declared International Wine Capital, joining the exclusive group of Great Wine Capitals of the world. That same year the Mendoza Wine Route was created as a structured tourist product. To understand how to navigate it, visit our Wine Route guide.
Today Mendoza wineries are true architectural and gastronomic destinations. Salentein has a contemporary art museum, Casa Vigil offers immersive experiences with exclusive wines, Catena Zapata is a Mayan pyramid in the middle of vineyards.
Malbec: from filler variety to national symbol
The history of Mendoza Malbec deserves a separate chapter. Originally from Cahors, France, this grape almost went extinct in Europe due to phylloxera (19th century plague). In Mendoza it found perfect conditions: altitude, thermal amplitude, stony soils, dry climate. The variety evolved with its own characteristics.
The big change came with the decision to make premium Malbecs instead of mass-produced. Today there's more Malbec in Argentina than in any other country in the world: 75% of the planet's Malbec is grown in Mendoza.
To dive deeper into varieties, we recommend our guide to Mendoza grape varieties.
The most important milestones
- 1556: Arrival of first vines to Mendoza.
- 1853: Pouget brings Malbec from France.
- 1885: Arrival of the railway, export to the country.
- 1898: Founding of Bodegas López.
- 1995: Catena Zapata Estiba Reservada receives 99 Parker points.
- 2004: Mendoza declared Great Wine Capital.
- 2011: World Malbec Day (April 17).
- 2020: Mendoza surpasses one million wine tourists per year.
Historic wineries to visit
If you're interested in Mendoza wine history, these wineries deserve a visit:
- Bodegas López (Maipú): founded in 1898, over 100 years of tradition.
- Trapiche (Maipú): pioneer in exporting to the United States.
- Catena Zapata (Luján): the winery that restarted premium Malbec.
- Familia Zuccardi: three generations making wine, now with Sebastián.
- Norton (Maipú): founded in 1895 by an English engineer.
If you want to organize a day at century-old wineries, you have all details on the Maipú winery tour page.
The future of Mendoza wine
Mendoza keeps evolving. Some current trends:
- Biodynamic wines: Salentein, SuperUco, Krontiras lead the way.
- Natural wines: a new generation of young winemakers bets on minimal intervention.
- High-altitude Cabernet Franc: the trendy variety in Uco Valley.
- High-altitude white wines: Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from Uco Valley are winning awards.
Frequently asked questions
What's Mendoza's oldest winery?
Bodegas López, founded in 1898 in Maipú. Still operating and visitable.
Why is Malbec so important in Argentina?
Because it found in Mendoza perfect conditions to express its maximum quality, and because the strategic decision of the 90s was to bet on it as the national symbol.
How is World Malbec Day celebrated?
April 17, with events at wineries worldwide. In Mendoza there are special tastings, parties at wineries and tourist promotions.
What other varieties are historic in Mendoza?
Bonarda (Italian variety adapted in Argentina), Tempranillo (Spanish) and Cabernet Sauvignon. All brought by immigrants in the late 19th century.
If you want to tour Mendoza's historic wineries with a guide specialized in history and oenology, contact us via WhatsApp. We build personalized itineraries combining classic centenarians with new stars of Argentine wine tourism.
Live the history of wine in person
Historic wineries · Expert guides · Authentic Mendoza