Maipú: Historical Vineyards, Premium Olive and Vigilant Experience

Three tastes of Mendoza, one long delicious day. This private Maipú outing combines Bodega Benegas, a premium olive oil visit at LAUR, and a three-course lunch with three wines at Casa El Enemigo. I like the mix because you get more than a standard winery route, and I like the private transport because your group can set a comfortable pace.

Marcelo, the guide, is praised for adjusting the day around his group’s timetable and needs. The main consideration is time: this is a full 7 to 9 hours, and the Casa El Enemigo lunch alone takes about three hours. If you want a quick tasting circuit, this will feel too slow. If you want a generous day of food and drink, the length is part of the appeal.

Why This Maipú Day Is Worth Considering

• Bodega Benegas offers an intimate start: The first stop includes a facility tour, a look at production methods, and winery history, with admission included.
• LAUR adds olive oil to the wine story: Maipú is also an important oil-producing area, and the visit includes tastings of oils and balsamic vinegar.
• Casa El Enemigo turns lunch into the main event: You choose across several starters, main courses, and desserts, then pair the meal with three wines.
• Marcelo provides private transportation: Pickup is available from any accommodation in the metropolitan Mendoza area, using an air-conditioned vehicle.
• The tour suits food-focused groups: Snacks, bottled water, tastings, wine with lunch, and private transfers are included in the $320 price.
• The schedule has room for personal service: One especially strong point is the guide’s willingness to rearrange the day to match the group’s timing.

A 9:00 a.m. Pickup From Mendoza

The day begins at 9:00 a.m., with pickup in the lobby of your hotel or accommodation in the metropolitan region of Mendoza. You need to provide the full address when booking. The operator also supplies a WhatsApp contact number for Marcelo, which is useful for confirming the meeting point.

I like this setup because you do not need to find a separate meeting location. Private transportation also removes the need to drive after a day built around wine. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and snacks and bottled water are provided during the transfer.

The exact timing can run from seven to nine hours. That difference likely depends on the pace of the visits, the lunch service, and transportation between stops. You should keep the rest of your evening open rather than planning a tight appointment afterward.

This is a private activity, so only your group participates. That matters more here than it would on a simple sightseeing trip. Wine visits can feel rushed in a large group, while a private format gives Marcelo more room to respond to your preferences. One account of the tour specifically praises him for rearranging the day around a group’s schedule.

Bodega Benegas: A Focused First Look at Wine

The first stop is Bodega Benegas, where you spend about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The visit covers the winery’s facilities, its production method, and its background, along with the features that define the estate.

That length feels about right for an opening stop. You have enough time to understand how the wine is made without using up the entire morning. The tour is not presented as a rushed tasting only. It gives you a working introduction to the cellar and the ideas behind its wines.

The tasting is included, as is admission to the visit. Alcoholic beverages are also covered at the wineries and during lunch, so you are not building the cost one glass at a time as the day goes on.

One useful detail is the intimate scale reported for the Bodega Benegas visit. A tasting group of only six people allowed for a close lesson in wine tasting. That does not guarantee the same group size every day, but it gives you a sense of the kind of setting you may find at this stop.

If you are new to wine tasting, this can be the most educational part of the day. You can pay attention to the production explanation, ask questions, and then use that information during the tasting. If you already know Mendoza wines well, the facility tour and winery background may be more valuable than a basic introduction to tasting.

LAUR Olivícola: Maipú Beyond the Vineyards

The second stop shifts from grapes to olives. At LAUR Olivícola, you spend about 1 hour and 15 minutes visiting the facilities, learning how the products are made, and hearing about the establishment’s story and main features.

This is a smart change of pace. Maipú is known for viticulture, but olive oil production is also a major local activity. The visit helps you see the area as an agricultural region with more than one signature product.

The tasting is a key reason to keep this stop in the plan. A particularly memorable detail is the balsamic vinegar, which received strong praise for its unusual flavor. You can also expect olive oil tasting as part of the visit.

I would treat LAUR as more than a filler between wineries. It gives the day a broader food focus, and it may appeal to you even if wine is not your main interest. It also breaks up the drinking schedule with a different kind of tasting.

The group size can be larger here than at Bodega Benegas. That may make the visit feel less personal, especially if you prefer a quiet tasting table. On the other hand, the larger format does not change the fact that the oils and vinegar provide a distinct part of the day. If you enjoy taking food products home, this is likely the stop where you will want to pay close attention to what you taste.

Casa El Enemigo: Three Hours Built Around Lunch

The final stop is Casa El Enemigo, also referred to as Casa Vigil in the dining description. This is where the tour slows down for a three-step meal paired with three Enemy wines. Admission, lunch, and the wine pairings are included.

The three-hour allocation tells you how to approach this stop. It is not a quick plate served between tastings. You get time to choose courses, eat at a relaxed pace, and work through the wine pairing without feeling pushed out the door.

The menu offers several choices at each stage. Starters may include empanadas, soup, egg, eggplant, carpaccio, chicory, or a fritter. Main courses include rib, eye of steak, filet, trout, rotolo, cavatelli, or crepes, with different side dishes available.

Dessert also offers plenty of choice, including chocolate volcanoes, ice cream, flan, sweets and cheeses, fruit textures, and other options. The exact selection can vary, so you should think of this as a broad menu rather than a fixed dish-by-dish promise.

The three Enemy wines are the center of the pairing. You are not simply having lunch with a single glass. The meal is designed as a sequence, with wine served alongside the courses. For anyone who enjoys comparing food and wine, this is the most substantial part of the day.

Service is another strong point. The Casa Vigil meal is described as very tasty, with especially good attention from the staff. I would still keep expectations practical: a long tasting lunch is a major commitment after two earlier stops. If you prefer light meals or only occasional alcohol, the final three hours may feel excessive.

How the $320 Price Works

At $320 per person, this is not a budget winery shuttle. The value comes from how much is bundled into a private day: hotel pickup, private transportation, an air-conditioned vehicle, snacks, bottled water, winery and olive oil tastings, alcoholic drinks, and a three-course lunch with wine.

A cheaper group excursion might reduce the transport cost, but it may also give you less control over the schedule. Here, only your group participates, and Marcelo has shown a willingness to adjust the order or timing when needed. That flexibility is a real part of the price.

The lunch also affects the calculation. A three-course meal with three paired wines can make a large difference to the total cost of a full day in wine country. You are paying for a full food and drink program, not just several small pours.

I see the best value for couples, families of adults, or small groups who want convenience and personal service. The cost may be harder to justify if you mainly want to visit one winery, or if you plan to spend little time eating. The private format becomes more attractive when the price is shared across a group, although the listed rate is per person.

Timing, Group Size, and What to Bring

Plan for a long day. Pickup starts at 9:00 a.m., and the complete outing takes approximately seven to nine hours. The route includes two shorter visits followed by a long lunch, so the day has a clear rhythm rather than a series of identical tastings.

The private format applies to your tour group, but individual venues can have their own visitor groups. The Bodega Benegas visit may feel intimate, while LAUR can have a larger group. That difference is normal for a route that combines several independent establishments.

You do not need to arrange your own food during the transfer because snacks are included. Bottled water is also supplied. Since lunch comes late in the schedule and the first two stops include tastings, use the snacks as a practical bridge rather than treating them as a meal.

I would give Marcelo your accommodation address and WhatsApp number details carefully before the day. Pickup is offered across the metropolitan Mendoza area, but the operator needs the exact location to organize it.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most

I would recommend this outing if you want wine country with a strong food component. The olive oil stop makes it more varied than a route focused only on cellars, and the final lunch gives you time to sit down rather than spending the whole day standing at tasting counters.

It also works well for people who value private service. Marcelo’s ability to adapt the schedule is especially useful for groups with a fixed return time or different levels of interest in wine and food.

You may want to choose another type of outing if you prefer a short half-day visit, a low-cost group shuttle, or a route built around many quick tastings. This experience gives you fewer stops, but each one receives meaningful time.

The tour is offered in English. Most people can participate, and confirmation is received at booking. The supplied details do not list special accessibility arrangements, so you should ask the provider directly if your group has specific mobility needs.

Booking and Cancellation Advice

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. A cancellation made less than 24 hours before departure is not refunded, and changes inside that same window are not accepted.

Because pickup depends on your accommodation address and the outing is private, I would provide all location details when you book. The provider gives Marcelo’s WhatsApp number for contact, which can help with practical confirmation before departure.

My Take on the Maipú Experience

This is a carefully paced day for people who want Mendoza’s wine country served with a full meal and a second agricultural tradition. Bodega Benegas supplies the wine education, LAUR brings in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and Casa El Enemigo gives the day a long, celebratory finish.

The main weakness is not quality but commitment. Seven to nine hours, three major stops, and a three-hour lunch will not suit every schedule. At $320, you should book it for the private transport, the generous meal, and the personal attention, not simply for the number of wineries visited.

I would book this tour if you want comfort, a flexible guide, and a food-centered day in Maipú. I would skip it if you want a fast, inexpensive tasting route. For a small group that enjoys sitting down over several courses and tasting beyond wine, it offers a well-rounded use of a full Mendoza day.

FAQ

How long does the Maipú tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 7 to 9 hours, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from the lobby of your hotel or accommodation anywhere in the metropolitan region of Mendoza. You must provide the accommodation address when booking.

Is transportation included?

Yes. The tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, along with snacks and bottled water during the transfer.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What food and wine are included?

The tour includes tastings at the wineries and LAUR, alcoholic beverages during the visits and lunch, and a three-course lunch with three Enemy wines at Casa El Enemigo. The menu includes several starter, main course, and dessert choices.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.