The Argentina Culinary & Wine Tour 2026 is a 16-day escorted luxury journey through Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Mendoza, and Salta, running November 3 through 19, 2026. Chef Ricardo Fernandez Battini and his wife Suzanne lead a small group through five-star hotels, private winery tastings, and the food and culture of Chef Ricardo’s home country. The tour costs $13,950 per person and covers in-country flights, private transportation, luxury accommodations, and a full schedule of tastings and experiences. Only a few spots remain, and the trip is limited to a small group to keep every tasting private and every dinner personal.
Most travelers who research Argentina discover the same problem. The country is enormous, the wine regions sit a thousand miles apart, and the best tables and cellars open through relationships rather than reservation websites. This tour solves that problem. Chef Ricardo was born and raised in Argentina, and the itinerary reflects thirty years of his personal connections to winemakers, chefs, and restaurateurs across the country.
Quick Facts: Argentina Culinary & Wine Tour 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tour dates | November 3 to 19, 2026 |
| Destinations | Buenos Aires, San Carlos de Bariloche, Mendoza, Salta, Cafayate |
| Wine regions | Luján de Cuyo, Uco Valley, Maipú, Cafayate |
| Hosts | Chef Ricardo Fernandez Battini and Suzanne Battini |
| Hotels | Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, Charming Luxury Lodge & Spa, Park Hyatt Mendoza, Hotel Alejandro I by Meliá, Piattelli Wine Resort |
| Price | $13,950 per person |
| Deposit | $2,000 per person to reserve |
| In-country flights | All four included |
| Group style | Small group, privately escorted |
| Operated by | Chef Ricardo, LLC, over 30 years in business |
At a Glance
- Sixteen days across four distinct regions of Argentina, from the capital to Patagonia to the Andes
- Five luxury hotels, including two Park Hyatt properties and a wine resort surrounded by vineyards
- Private tastings at Matervini, Salentein, Dal Borgo, San Pedro de Yacochuya, and Piattelli
- An olive oil tasting at Laur, one of the most decorated olive oil producers in the world
- The Gala Tango dinner show in Buenos Aires, included with wine
- A drive through the Quebrada de las Conchas, a canyon of red sandstone on the road to Cafayate
- A private tour of Circuito Chico along Lago Nahuel Huapi in Bariloche
- All in-country flights, private transfers, and daily breakfast included
- Escorted start to finish by an Argentine-born chef and his wife
What Is the Argentina Culinary & Wine Tour?
The Argentina Culinary & Wine Tour is a privately escorted, small-group luxury trip through Argentina’s greatest food and wine destinations, hosted by Chef Ricardo Fernandez Battini and Suzanne Battini. The 2026 tour runs November 3 to 19 and covers Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Mendoza, and the Salta wine country, with all in-country travel arranged.
The trip has run for more than a decade, and it works differently from a packaged wine vacation. Guests travel as invited friends rather than as a tour number. Chef Ricardo grew up in Argentina, and Suzanne has hosted these journeys alongside him through every season of the tour’s history. Together they built the itinerary around places they know personally, which means the group is welcomed by name at wineries and restaurants where a typical visitor would see only the public tasting room.
Every stage of the trip balances planned experiences with genuine leisure. Mornings at a winery give way to afternoons at the spa. A full day of tastings in the Uco Valley is followed by an evening entirely your own in Mendoza. Guests who have traveled with Ricardo and Suzanne describe the pacing as one of the trip’s finest qualities, with one couple from South Carolina calling it a well balanced itinerary that made for an outstanding vacation.
If your calendar can hold sixteen days next November, the itinerary page shows exactly how each of them unfolds. Two couples can still join the 2026 departure.
Who Leads the Tour?
Chef Ricardo Fernandez Battini and Suzanne Battini lead every Argentina Culinary & Wine Tour personally. Ricardo is an Argentine native and longtime Western North Carolina chef, and the couple is known in the region’s culinary circles for founding the Lomo Grill, one of the area’s first farm-to-table restaurants. Their company, Chef Ricardo, LLC, has operated for more than thirty years.
That last point deserves emphasis. Many wine tours are assembled by marketing companies and handed off to local subcontractors on arrival. This one is designed, hosted, and escorted by the same two people from the first airport pickup to the final transfer. Ricardo’s connections in his homeland open cellar doors, and Suzanne’s attention to detail keeps sixteen days of flights, hotels, and dinner reservations running quietly in the background.
Guests notice. Reviews on the tour’s website repeatedly credit the hosts themselves. A couple who traveled from Atlanta wrote that Ricardo and Suzanne were warm, knowledgeable, and completely focused on the group’s experience. Another guest from Oregon praised a tour led by people who truly know the territory, its food, and the sources of its wines.
Where Does the 2026 Tour Go?
The 2026 tour follows a route that only in-country flights make possible: Buenos Aires in the east, Bariloche in Patagonia, Mendoza at the foot of the Andes, and the high-altitude vineyards of Salta and Cafayate in the northwest. The group flies between regions and travels by private vehicle within them, so no day is lost to logistics.
Buenos Aires: Old-World Elegance in Recoleta
The tour begins and ends at the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, a converted palace in Recoleta, the French heritage district of Buenos Aires. Days in the capital blend guided experiences with free time. Guests can walk to the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, visit Recoleta Cemetery, shop along Calle Florida and Galería Pacífico, or settle in for a coffee at La Biela, the famous corner café of Recoleta.
Two evenings define the Buenos Aires chapters of the trip. The first is dinner at Marcelo in Puerto Madero, where owner Marcelo Piegari serves traditional Italian cooking that honors the gastronomy of Buenos Aires. The second is the Gala Tango dinner show, included in the tour with a three-course dinner and wine tasting. Gala Tango pairs an elegant tango performance with live folklore music, and the tour’s past guests consistently name it among their favorite nights in Argentina.
On the return to Buenos Aires near the end of the trip, the group visits the Teatro Colón with an English-speaking guide. The Teatro Colón is the finest opera house in Buenos Aires and among the most celebrated in the world. Guests can close the trip with a treatment at the AHIN Wellness Spa inside the Palacio Duhau, one last stroll through Puerto Madero, or a visit to the El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore, a theater converted into one of the most beautiful bookshops anywhere.
Bariloche: The Lakes and Peaks of Patagonia
From Buenos Aires the group flies to San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina’s Lake District, where the Andes meet a chain of glacial lakes. Home for these days is the Charming Luxury Lodge & Spa near the shore of Lago Nahuel Huapi. Every guest stays in a master suite with a private in-suite spa, so a dry sauna or a double jacuzzi waits a few steps from the bed.
The centerpiece of the Bariloche stay is a private tour of the Circuito Chico, the scenic route that traces the shore of Lago Nahuel Huapi and ends at the Civic Center downtown. Afternoons are free for shopping and lunch in town. Suzanne and Ricardo point guests toward local favorites, including La Marmite for Swiss fondue, Rapanui for gelato, and Chocolates del Turista, because Bariloche is also the chocolate capital of Argentina. Dinner options include Alto El Fuego, a classic Argentine steakhouse, and Il Gabbiano for Italian cuisine.
Mendoza: Malbec at the Foot of the Andes
Mendoza is the heart of Argentine wine, and the tour spends several full days here based at the Park Hyatt Mendoza in the center of the city. From this base the group explores three of the province’s most important wine districts, each with its own character.
In Luján de Cuyo, the group visits Matervini for a private tasting, included in the tour. In the Uco Valley, home to some of the highest vineyards in the province, the day includes a tasting at Salentein, the celebrated winery built in the form of a cross with underground barrel cellars, followed by an optional five-course lunch tasting at Alpha Crux. In Maipú, the group tours Olivícola Laur, an olive estate that has produced extra virgin olive oil for well over a century and has earned top world rankings for its oils. The Laur tasting is included, and an optional four-course lunch follows at Legado Wine Lodge. An additional Mendoza day pairs the Matervini visit with an optional five-course lunch tasting at 5 Sentidos.
Evenings in Mendoza are intentionally left open. The Park Hyatt sits on the city’s main plaza, and guests can wander to dinner on their own schedule or simply rest before the next day among the vines.
Curious how these days fit together hour by hour? The complete day-by-day itinerary lists every departure time, tasting, and dinner. When you are ready, the contact page is the fastest way to ask about the remaining spaces.
Salta and Cafayate: The High-Altitude Frontier
The final wine chapter takes the group north to Salta, one of Argentina’s oldest colonial cities, with a night at the Hotel Alejandro I by Meliá and a suggested dinner at El Bodeguero. The next morning brings one of the most dramatic drives in South America. The road to Cafayate passes through the Quebrada de las Conchas, a canyon of red sandstone and sedimentary rock formed over hundreds of thousands of years, and the group stops to take it in.
In Cafayate the group checks into the Piattelli Wine Resort, a luxury property surrounded by its own vineyards. The days here include a tasting at Bodega Dal Borgo in Animaná and a visit to San Pedro de Yacochuya, both included, plus a private tasting at Piattelli Winery itself at the resort. Between tastings, guests have real time to enjoy the resort’s spa and pool. Cafayate’s vineyards rank among the highest on earth, and the wines grown at this altitude carry an intensity of aroma and color that surprises even experienced tasters.
What Wines Will You Taste?
Guests taste across the full range of Argentine wine, from the Malbecs of Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley to the high-altitude wines of Cafayate, including the aromatic white Torrontés that made the region famous. Included tastings take place at Matervini, Salentein, Laur (olive oil), Dal Borgo, San Pedro de Yacochuya, and Piattelli.
Because Chef Ricardo arranges each visit personally, tastings run as private experiences rather than public walk-ins. Winemakers and estate teams pour for the group directly, answer questions, and often share wines that never reach export markets. For wine lovers, this access is the single strongest reason to travel escorted rather than independently.
How Does the Tour Compare to Planning Argentina Yourself?
An escorted tour with Argentine-born hosts removes the two hardest parts of independent travel in Argentina: complex domestic logistics and closed-door access. Four one-way flights, five hotels, private drivers in every region, and personally arranged tastings replace months of planning and hundreds of confirmation emails.
| Consideration | Argentina Culinary & Wine Tour | Planning It Yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic flights | Four one-way flights arranged and included | Researched, booked, and monitored by you |
| Winery access | Private tastings through the hosts’ personal relationships | Public tasting rooms and standard tours |
| Hotels | Five luxury properties, pre-selected and confirmed | Trial and error across unfamiliar cities |
| Language | Argentine-born host with the group at all times | Your Spanish, or a translation app |
| Transfers | Private transportation throughout | Taxis, rideshares, and rental cars |
| Restaurant tables | Reserved at the country’s finest rooms | Whatever is available when you arrive |
| Your time | Spent tasting, eating, and relaxing | Spent coordinating |
The comparison to other wine destinations is just as telling. Napa and Tuscany reward a visit, but neither offers Argentina’s combination in a single trip: a European-flavored capital city, Patagonian lakes, Andean vineyards at extreme altitude, and a favorable exchange environment for American travelers. November adds one more advantage that neither can match, because it is late spring in Argentina, with vineyards in full green and summer weather arriving.
What Is Included in the Price?
The tour price of $13,950 per person includes all four in-country flights, private transportation throughout the trip, five luxury hotels with daily breakfast, the Gala Tango dinner show with wine, and private tastings at Matervini, Salentein, Laur, Dal Borgo, San Pedro de Yacochuya, and Piattelli, all escorted personally by Chef Ricardo and Suzanne.
Included:
- Escorted throughout by Chef Ricardo Fernandez Battini and Suzanne Battini
- Five-star and luxury accommodations: Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt, Charming Luxury Lodge & Spa, Park Hyatt Mendoza, Hotel Alejandro I by Meliá, and Piattelli Wine Resort, all with breakfast
- One-way flights: Buenos Aires to Bariloche, Bariloche to Mendoza, Mendoza to Salta, and Salta to Buenos Aires
- All private transportation and airport transfers
- Gala Tango show with three-course dinner and wine tasting
- Private winery and estate tastings as listed in the itinerary
- The Quebrada de las Conchas stop and the private Circuito Chico tour
Not included:
- International airfare between the United States and Buenos Aires (approximately $1,500 round trip from Asheville with American Airlines)
- À la carte lunches and dinners at restaurants such as Gioia, Marcelo, Parrilla El Gran Paraíso, El Bodeguero, Il Gabbiano, Fogón Asado, and Alto El Fuego, plus the optional multi-course winery lunches at 5 Sentidos, Alpha Crux, and Legado Wine Lodge
This structure is deliberate. Breakfasts and signature experiences are covered, while many lunches and dinners stay flexible so couples can eat lightly after a five-course tasting or splurge on a steakhouse when the mood strikes. Full details sit on the Trip Inclusions & Pricing page.
How Do You Reserve a Spot?
Reserving a place on the November 2026 tour requires a $2,000 deposit per person. A payment of $4,000 per person confirms the reservation by May 1, 2026, and the final balance of $7,950 per person is due by August 1, 2026. Inquiries go to Ricardo Fernandez Battini at culinarywinetours@gmail.com or 828.246.7542.
Space on this tour is genuinely limited, and the small group size is the reason every tasting stays private and every dinner conversation includes the hosts. Two more couples can join the 2026 departure. If Argentina has lived on your travel list for years, this is the season and the company to finally go with. Start with a phone call or a note through the contact page, and Ricardo or Suzanne will answer your questions personally.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Argentina Culinary & Wine Tour? The 2026 tour runs November 3 through November 19, 2026. The trip begins with an overnight flight from the United States to Buenos Aires and ends with a group transfer to Ezeiza International Airport for the flight home.
How much does the tour cost? The tour costs $13,950 per person. This covers luxury hotels with breakfast, all four in-country flights, private transportation, escorted hosting throughout, the Gala Tango dinner show, and the private tastings listed in the itinerary. International airfare to Buenos Aires is separate.
What airports do I use? Guests fly into Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires. Travelers from the Southeast can connect through major hubs, and round-trip airfare from Asheville runs approximately $1,500 with American Airlines. All flights within Argentina are arranged and included.
Is Argentina safe for American travelers? The tour is built for comfort and security. Guests travel with private transportation in every city, stay in five-star hotels in the best districts, and move through the country with two experienced hosts, one of whom is a native Argentine who knows each destination personally.
Do I need to speak Spanish? No. Chef Ricardo is a native Spanish speaker and remains with the group throughout the trip, and guided experiences such as the Teatro Colón visit are conducted in English. Many guests enjoy learning a few phrases along the way, but none are required.
What hotels does the tour use? The tour stays at the Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt in Buenos Aires, the Charming Luxury Lodge & Spa in Bariloche, the Park Hyatt Mendoza, the Hotel Alejandro I by Meliá in Salta, and the Piattelli Wine Resort in Cafayate. Breakfast is included at every property.
What wines will we taste? Tastings cover Argentina’s signature Malbec in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, the wines of Matervini and Salentein, and the high-altitude wines of Cafayate at Dal Borgo, San Pedro de Yacochuya, and Piattelli, including the region’s famous Torrontés. An olive oil tasting at Laur in Maipú rounds out the palate.
What meals are included? Daily breakfast at every hotel is included, along with the three-course Gala Tango dinner with wine and the private tastings named in the itinerary. Many lunches and dinners are à la carte by design, which keeps evenings flexible and lets couples pace themselves across sixteen days of remarkable food.
How much walking is involved? The pace is comfortable. Cities are explored with private transportation and unhurried walks, winery visits involve easy touring, and the schedule includes generous leisure time at hotels and spas. Guests who enjoy more activity can add walks in Recoleta, downtown Bariloche, or Cafayate at their own pace.
Is this trip suitable for wine beginners? Yes. Tastings are hosted conversations rather than technical seminars, and Chef Ricardo enjoys teaching as much as pouring. Beginners leave understanding Argentine wine, and collectors leave with access and stories they could not have found on their own.
Why does the tour travel in November? November is late spring in Argentina. The weather is warm, the vineyards are green and growing, and travel conditions across Buenos Aires, Patagonia, and the wine regions are at their best. It is one of the finest months of the year to see the country.
How do payments work? A $2,000 per-person deposit reserves your space. A $4,000 payment confirms the reservation by May 1, 2026, and the final balance of $7,950 is due by August 1, 2026. Checks are payable to Chef Ricardo LLC, and credit card payments carry a 4% bank service charge.
What is the cancellation policy? Cancellation terms and refund schedules are published on the Trip Inclusions & Pricing page. Booked domestic flights are non-refundable once purchased, so travel insurance is worth considering at the time of deposit.
What should I pack? November calls for spring and early-summer clothing with layers. Days are warm in Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Cafayate, while evenings in Bariloche and at altitude can turn cool. Comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket, and something elegant for the Gala Tango evening will serve you well.
Who do I contact to book or ask questions? Contact Ricardo Fernandez Battini at culinarywinetours@gmail.com or 828.246.7542. You can also send a note through the website’s contact page, and the hosts respond personally.
