Mendoza to Bariloche: Combining Wine Country with a Patagonia Ski Trip
How to combine 3-4 days in Mendoza wine country with your Bariloche ski trip -- routing, timing, wineries, and what to eat.
Argentina's two great reasons to visit -- Mendoza wine country and Bariloche ski terrain -- sit 1,100 km apart and pair into a natural two-week itinerary. Most international skiers fly into Buenos Aires and connect directly to Bariloche, skipping Mendoza entirely. Those who build in 3-4 days in wine country first consistently say it was the right call: the contrast between sun-drenched high-altitude vineyards and the dark Andean snowpack makes each destination sharper. This guide covers how to route the trip, what to do in Mendoza, and how the two places fit together.
Why combine Mendoza with a Bariloche ski trip?
The pairing works because the two places are logistically compatible and experientially opposite. Mendoza sits at 750 m elevation on the eastern slope of the Andes; Bariloche and Cerro Catedral sit on the western side, 1,000-2,000 m above sea level. The wine region is dry, sunny, and best visited in the early part of the Southern Hemisphere winter -- May and June -- before peak ski season begins. Arriving rested and sun-warmed from Mendoza, then descending into the colder, wetter lake district around Bariloche, gives the trip a sense of movement that a straight Buenos Aires-to-Bariloche itinerary doesn't offer.
There is also a practical upside: Mendoza has excellent direct flights from Santiago, Lima, and Bogota, giving travellers from North and South America a natural first stop before continuing south.
When should you visit Mendoza before skiing in Bariloche?
The optimal window is mid-June through early July. Mendoza's high-altitude vineyards in Lujan de Cuyo and the Uco Valley are accessible and largely uncrowded at this time. Daytime temperatures run 8-14 degrees Celsius -- cool but comfortable for winery visits. Meanwhile, Cerro Catedral's ski season opens reliably in mid-June, so arriving in Bariloche after 4-5 days in Mendoza puts you on the mountain in the second or third week of the season, when base depths are building and crowds are still light.
Avoid the May shoulder period: some wineries reduce hours and a few Catedral lifts may not yet be running. Avoid August if you want Mendoza -- by then, peak ski season in Bariloche is in full swing and you won't want to be anywhere else.
How do you get from Mendoza to Bariloche?
There is no direct flight -- you connect through Buenos Aires. Aerolineas Argentinas operates Mendoza-Buenos Aires-Bariloche routings, and the total journey including connection is typically 4-5 hours. Budget approximately 120-200 USD for this leg depending on how far in advance you book.
The alternative is a scenic overland route via the Siete Lagos highway, but this takes 12-14 hours including the border crossing into Chile and back, and is not practical in winter without careful planning and chain-equipped vehicles.
The simplest approach: fly Mendoza to Buenos Aires (Aeroparque, not Ezeiza), wait 2-3 hours, and take the next Bariloche connection. You can check ski bags on both legs as a single itinerary if booked together.
What should you eat and drink in Mendoza before your ski trip?
Mendoza's food culture centres on *asado* and Malbec, and the best versions are found at the winery restaurants rather than in the city itself. Zuccardi Valle de Uco, Achaval Ferrer, and Clos de los Siete all have lunch services that pair seasonal food with estate-grown wine. A typical lunch runs 60-100 USD per person including wine.
In the city, Av. Aristides Villanueva has a compact strip of wine bars and small restaurants that work well for an evening without much planning. The *empanadas mendocinas* -- baked, not fried, with beef and egg -- are worth seeking out at any neighbourhood bakery.
For skiers worried about alcohol before altitude: the vineyards are at 900-1,100 m, which is not high enough to cause problems. Bariloche itself is only 770 m. You are not skiing Andean altitude.
Which Mendoza wineries are worth a visit before your ski trip?
Three wineries that work well for a 2-day visit:
1. Zuccardi Valle de Uco -- 90 minutes from the city, architecturally striking, one of the best restaurant experiences in the region. Book the tasting menu in advance.
2. Achaval Ferrer -- closer to the city in Lujan de Cuyo, focused on single-vineyard Malbec, shorter visit format that works if time is limited.
3. Clos de los Siete -- a cooperative of seven French-owned estates in the Uco Valley, very good for comparative tastings across producers.
If you only have one day: go to the Uco Valley. The landscapes -- flat vineyards against the Andes snowline -- are visually unlike anything in Bariloche and worth the 90-minute drive.
Does the altitude in Mendoza affect acclimatisation for skiing?
Minimally. Mendoza city is at 750 m; even the highest Uco Valley wineries are under 1,200 m. Cerro Catedral's base sits at 1,050 m with the highest lifts reaching 2,388 m. The Mendoza detour doesn't provide meaningful pre-acclimatisation for skiing -- it doesn't hurt, but don't factor it in as preparation. For most skiers, altitude at Catedral is not an issue. See our note on altitude and skiing in Patagonia if this concerns you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Mendoza before the ski trip?
Three to four days is the sweet spot. Day one: arrive and recover from travel. Days two and three: winery visits in Lujan de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Day four: city exploration or a second winery, then evening flight to Buenos Aires and connection to Bariloche the next morning.
Is Mendoza expensive compared to Bariloche?
Broadly similar for accommodation. Mid-range hotels in Mendoza city run 80-150 USD per night; winery boutique hotels in the Uco Valley run 200-400 USD. In Bariloche, equivalents are 70-120 USD for town hotels and 150-300 USD for lake-view properties near Catedral.
Can you rent ski gear in Mendoza?
No. Mendoza has no ski rental infrastructure worth mentioning. If you need gear, rent in Bariloche at the base of Catedral or in town. See our ski rental guide for Argentina for specifics.
*This guide was written by the Ski Patagonia Co. team, based on 8 years of routing international ski trips through Argentina.*
The combination of Mendoza and Bariloche makes for a more complete Argentina experience than either destination alone. If the routing works for your schedule, it's worth the extra few days. Talk to us about building the full itinerary.