Maipú: Historical Vineyards, Premium Olive and Vigilant Experience

This Maipú experience is interesting because it ties together two food and drink worlds you might normally do separately: wine country and the olive-oil tradition of Mendoza. You get guided stops across three places, then a proper sit-down meal with tastings that keep the day moving.

I like the clear, step-by-step structure, from winery history and production methods to an olive farm visit, then straight into lunch at Casa El Enemigo. I also like that the day is guided in English and centered on tastings, so you’re not just looking at rows of vines, you’re learning what you’re tasting and why it matters. One thing to consider: it is a long full day, around 7 to 9 hours, and it includes multiple alcohol tastings, so pace and your own drinking comfort should be part of your plan.

Key Highlights You’ll Care About

• Hotel pickup in Mendoza (metropolitan area), so you can start at 9:00 am without stress
• Bodega Benegas with a guided facility tour plus a history and production-method walkthrough
• LAUR Olivícola with oil tastings, and the balsamic vinegar angle is a standout
• Casa El Enemigo lunch with a 3-step meal and tastings paired with three wines
• Snacks, bottled water, and an air-conditioned vehicle during the transfer, included in the price
• Private tour format so your group stays together throughout the route

How Maipú Keeps the Day Focused

If you want Mendoza but you do not want to spend the day bouncing around randomly, Maipú is a smart target. It’s close enough to make a full plan workable, yet it still feels tied to production, not just sightseeing. This tour is built like a guided “food and drink lesson,” not a long van ride with quick photo stops.

The rhythm helps you make the most of your time. You start with one winery, then switch gears to olive oil production, then end with a long lunch and wine pairings. That order also makes sense. You get a baseline on wine-making first, then you broaden into oils and tangy vinegars, and finally you land in a cellar dining room where everything clicks into place.

For practical travelers, I like that the day includes snacks during the transfer and bottled water, plus an air-conditioned vehicle. In Mendoza, that comfort matters, especially if you’re doing a midday meal after a morning of touring.

Price and Logistics: Is $320 Worth It?

At $320 per person, this is not a cheap “bus tour” type of deal. You are paying for a guided day that includes entry tickets, tastings, transportation, and a multi-step lunch with wine pairings. When you compare that to piecing together separate winery visits plus lunch on your own, the value starts to make sense.

Here’s what you’re really getting for your money:

• Admission tickets included for all three stops
• Alcoholic beverage tastings in the cellars and during lunch
• Lunch with wines at Casa El Enemigo
• Private transportation with an air-conditioned vehicle
• Snacks during transfer and bottled water

If your goal is maximum tasting time with minimal planning, this pricing can feel fair. If you only want one winery and you’d rather spend the rest of the day exploring on your own, it may be more than you need.

Also note the tour is offered in English, and it runs on a private tour/activity basis for your group. That can be a big quality upgrade because you get less waiting, fewer interruptions, and a guide who can adjust to your timing.

Getting Started: Pickup, the 9:00 am Launch, and Mobile Tickets

The experience starts at 9:00 am. You meet in the lobby of your hotel or accommodation, as long as it is in the metropolitan area of Mendoza. You will need to give the pickup address ahead of time, and the local contact listed is Marcelo (WhatsApp +54 9 261 534 7936).

This matters more than it seems. A smooth pickup removes one of the most common frustrations in wine touring, where you end up walking around trying to find the meeting point. With hotel pickup, you just show up.

The tour also uses a mobile ticket, which can reduce last-minute hassle. You still want to plan for a slightly early start mentality, since you are boarding at the beginning of the day and you have three timed stops ahead.

The vehicle is private and air-conditioned, which helps during transfers between Maipú wineries and the olive farm stop. If you’re visiting during warmer months, that comfort is not a luxury, it’s what lets you stay fresh for tastings and lunch.

Stop 1: Bodega Benegas and the Art of Learning What You Taste

Your first major stop is Bodega Benegas. You arrive, then you get a tour of the facilities and learn about its production method. You also cover the winery’s history and the main characteristics that define what you will taste later.

Why this stop works:

• You are not just tasting wine, you’re getting the “how it’s made” context early.
• The guide-led flow helps you connect flavors to choices in production, like what happens before and during fermentation and aging.
• Starting with a structured winery visit gives you a baseline for the day.

One detail that stood out in a strong way is the feel of the group. At least at one point, this winery visit was described as intimate, with a small group size around six people. That kind of group size usually makes the tasting lesson more interactive, and you tend to hear explanations clearly instead of competing with chatter.

Possible drawback to plan for: winery tours can set a pace. If you are the type who prefers long, unstructured time in a tasting room, the guided format will feel more structured than casual. Still, the advantage is you leave understanding what you sampled, not just remembering what you liked.

Expect the tasting ticket to be covered, and expect the tasting to tie back to what you learned in the facility tour.

Stop 2: LAUR Olivícola and the Olive Oil Plus Aceto Moment

Next you head to LAUR Olivícola, the second stop. This one shifts from grape-based production to the world of olives and oils. You tour the facilities and learn the production method, plus the history and main characteristics of the establishment.

Maipú is known for both viticulture and olive culture, and this stop makes that connection feel real. You are getting a second major production lens, which helps you understand why Mendoza pairs wines so confidently with olive products and vinegar-based flavors.

The tasting focus here is especially memorable for oil lovers, particularly with an emphasis on aceto balsamico, or balsamic vinegar. That tangy note gives a different kind of “brightness” than wine alone, and it changes how you perceive acidity, sweetness, and even how food feels in your mouth.

What to keep in mind:

• The group size here can be larger than at the first winery stop, so questions might be less personalized.
• Oils and vinegars can take getting used to, especially if you expect only “olive oil tasting.” Try to pay attention to texture and aroma, not just flavor.

If you enjoy learning through taste, you’ll probably love this stop because it adds variety without sending you off the main route of the day.

Stop 3: Casa El Enemigo Lunch, Three Courses, and Three Wines

The final stop is Casa El Enemigo, where the day becomes a meal. You’ll have a 3-step lunch with choices at each stage, and each part is paired with the tasting of three enemy wines.

That pairing style is a smart way to spend your afternoon. Instead of tasting three wines back-to-back in a rushed way, you taste them alongside food. Your palate gets a chance to reset between courses, and you learn what changes when flavors hit your tongue.

Here’s what you can expect from the meal options:

Starter options

• Empanadas
• Soup
• Egg-based dishes
• Eggplant
• Carpaccio
• Chicory
• Fritter

Main options

• Rib
• Eye of steak
• Filet
• Trout
• Rotolo
• Cavatelli
• Crepes

Dessert options

• Choc volcanoes
• Ice cream
• Flan
• Sweets and cheeses
• Fruit texture

That’s a wide menu, and it’s one of the practical reasons this tour lands well with a lot of tastes. You are not stuck with just one course style, and you can choose the kind of comfort food you actually feel like eating, not what the tour assumes you want.

A strong point from experience descriptions is that the lunch is not only tasty, it comes with excellent service. In real terms, good service means smoother ordering, attentive timing, and less scrambling to get your wine pairings right as courses land.

One more practical note: because tastings happen in both the cellars and during lunch, you should plan to pace yourself. If you’re driving later, this is not the type of day to treat lightly.

What the Day Feels Like From Start to Finish

You’re looking at 7 to 9 hours, starting at 9:00 am. That typically means you will spend:

• A chunk of the morning at the first winery
• A second stop at the olive production site
• A long lunch stretch to end the experience

The tour also includes snacks during transfer and bottled water, which is exactly what you want when you’re going from guided tours into tastings. It lowers the chance you will feel sluggish mid-day.

The “all-in-one” structure is also helpful if you do not want to coordinate reservations and driving between separate places. You get a single plan, one vehicle, one guide flow, and built-in time for each venue.

If you like authenticity, the facility tours are the heart of this day. You are shown the production process at both a winery and an olive farm. That’s different from tasting-only stops, where you often see a pretty room and sample quickly.

Who This Tour Suits Best

This is a good fit if you:

• Want a guided, English-language day that mixes wine and olive production
• Like learning through production methods, not just sipping and chatting
• Prefer one organized itinerary with pickup, transportation, and meals included
• Enjoy food that goes beyond one style, especially with the large set of lunch options

It may not be the best fit if you:

• Want a short half-day outing
• Prefer only wineries and skip olive-related production entirely
• Have strict dietary needs that require customization beyond the standard menu choices listed

Practical Tips Before You Go

Even with pickup and a planned schedule, you can set yourself up for a smoother day:

• Wear comfortable shoes, since winery and olive farm facility areas can involve walking
• Plan to hydrate, even though bottled water is included during transfer
• Decide in advance how you want to handle the tastings, since alcohol is part of the program
• If you have preferences for lunch, be ready to pick from the options at each course

If you are planning to message changes or confirm pickup details, the WhatsApp contact for Marcelo is the listed route.

Should You Book This Maipú Wine and Olive Tour?

I’d book it if your ideal Mendoza day is structured around tastings with real context, plus a meal that feels like part of the experience, not an afterthought. The combination of Bodega Benegas, LAUR Olivícola, and Casa El Enemigo, along with included tickets, transportation, snacks, and a 3-course lunch, is exactly the kind of “one price, one plan” value that saves time.

Book with extra care if you want minimal alcohol tasting or a very flexible schedule, since the stops and lunch pairing are built into the experience. For most people who want a guided, flavorful day in Maipú, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long is the Maipú tour?

It runs about 7 to 9 hours, starting at 9:00 am.

Where does pickup happen?

You meet in the lobby of your hotel or accommodation in the metropolitan region of Mendoza. You need to provide your pickup address.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It is described as a private tour/activity, with only your group participating.

Are tickets and tastings included?

Yes. Admission tickets are included for each stop, and alcoholic beverage tastings are included in the cellars and during lunch.

What food is included during the day?

There are snacks during the transfer and a 3-step lunch at Casa El Enemigo. The lunch includes multiple choice options for starter, main, and dessert.

Is there wine with lunch?

Yes. The lunch is paired with tasting of three wines, and wine is included with lunch.

Does the tour include transportation and water?

Yes. There is an air-conditioned vehicle and private transportation, with bottled water during the transfer.

What language is the tour offered in?

It is offered in English.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.