Olive Oil Factory + Wineries + Full Asado Lunch (Full Day)

Mendoza is famous for wine, but this seven-hour food and wine tour gives you a broader taste of the province. You begin with award-winning olive oils, continue to CarinaE for a cellar visit and tasting, then settle in for a full asado lunch at Antigal Winery & Estates.

I like the sensible mix of olive oil and wine, and I like that lunch comes with wines from the winery itself rather than being treated as an afterthought. The main consideration is the price, $212 per person, and the fact that wineries and guides may change with availability.

Key points at a glance

• Award-winning olive oils: Learn how the fruit is processed and taste several varieties at Centenario.
• Two winery stops: Visit CarinaE for a cellar and tasting, then Antigal for lunch and more wine.
• A proper Mendoza lunch: The final stop includes a full asado meal, wine, and water.
• Named local guides: Rocio handles driving on some departures, while Fran and Boris have guided memorable food and wine days.
• Simple full-day logistics: Hotel pickup in covered areas, newer vehicles, insurance, visits, tastings, and return transport are included.
• Flexible booking: You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund and reserve now without paying immediately.

Why this Mendoza day works so well

Many wine outings focus only on bottles and tasting rooms. This one adds olive oil, which gives you a useful look at another major part of Argentine food culture. You get to compare how aroma, texture, and production methods shape a product before the wine portion begins.

I also like the pacing. The first two visits run about 1.5 hours each, while the final winery receives 2.5 hours for lunch and wine. That longer final stop matters. You are not rushing through a meal before climbing back into the vehicle.

The possible drawback is that this is a set seven-hour program, not a private day built around your own winery choices. The listed locations and guidebook can change based on availability. The operator promises the same quality standard, but you should book this tour for its overall format rather than for one specific winery alone.

Centenario starts with the olive oil

The first stop is Centenario, an olive oil factory visited for about 1.5 hours. You learn how olives become oil, from extraction through production, and taste different varieties that have received awards for quality.

That opening gives the day a useful change of pace. Olive oil tasting is not simply a warm-up for wine. It asks you to pay attention to fruit, bitterness, spice, aroma, and finish in a different way. If you cook at home, you will likely find this stop especially practical because the tasting connects production with what you put on a plate.

The factory is described as authentic rather than as a purely polished tasting room. You can expect the focus to be on how the liquid is made, not just on buying a bottle. The visit is led by a woman described as informative and enthusiastic, which is a good sign for anyone who wants more than a quick sample at the counter.

A useful tip: bring your ID card or a copy. It is required for the activity, and having it ready keeps the morning simple.

CarinaE brings the wine into focus

The tour then continues to CarinaE S.A. for another 1.5 hours, including a wine tasting. Here the emphasis shifts to winemaking, with the cellar, oak barrels, grape aromas, and surrounding vineyards forming the setting for the visit.

The value of this stop is the explanation. You are introduced to the production process and the decisions that shape the final wine. The tasting becomes more useful when you understand what happened before the bottle reached the table.

A previous departure included a guide who explained both wine and ponchos, an unusual detail that suggests the visit may include local cultural context beyond the standard cellar talk. Do not expect a formal wine course, but you can expect a chance to improve your basic understanding of what you are tasting.

CarinaE is also the point where the day’s rhythm becomes clear. You have already spent time with olive oil, so the wine tasting does not feel like the same stop repeated twice. The program gives each product its own setting and purpose.

Antigal saves the longest stop for lunch

The final visit is Antigal Winery & Estates, where you spend about 2.5 hours with a full lunch, wine tasting, and water. This is the heart of the day for many people. The meal is described as a gourmet lunch paired with selected wines from the winery, while the menu is presented as a full asado.

Asado is central to Argentine food culture, and pairing it with wine at a winery makes sense. You are not merely having a meal near a vineyard. The wine is selected to accompany the food, so the final stop brings together the two main threads of the day.

The strongest praise for this stop concerns the cooking and setting. The lunch has been described as outstanding and fabulous, with the location adding to the occasion. That does not mean you should expect a particular menu, since no dishes are listed. It does mean lunch is a central part of the booking, not a basic meal added to fill the schedule.

The 2.5-hour window also gives you room to eat at a comfortable pace. A seven-hour tour can become tiring if every stop is a quick tasting followed by more driving. Here, the longer meal creates a natural pause before the return to Mendoza.

What the food and wine pairing adds

The pairing is where the tour offers more than a collection of visits. At Centenario, you taste olive oil on its own and learn what makes one variety different from another. At CarinaE, you focus on the wine and its production. At Antigal, you see how wine works with a complete meal.

I like this order because it builds from ingredient to drink to finished table. You begin with a raw product and its production method, move into the cellar, then finish with a meal that puts both food and wine into practice.

You should still keep your expectations measured. This is not advertised as a professional sommelier class or a cooking lesson. The benefit is a well-organized introduction to Mendoza’s food culture, with explanations and tastings rather than technical training.

Transport, guides, and the seven-hour schedule

Pickup and return transport are included from your place of stay within the covered area of Mendoza. The tour uses new, latest-generation vehicles, and insurance is included. That removes the need to arrange a driver for a day that includes several wine tastings.

The schedule lasts seven hours, though exact starting times depend on availability. Plan on giving the activity most of your day. You will not be able to squeeze it casually between a morning city walk and a fixed afternoon appointment.

Guide language choices are Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Named guides connected with this experience include Rocio, Fran, and Boris. Rocio has been praised for being a friendly driver who chatted throughout the trip, while Fran has been credited with adding passion and expertise to the day. These details matter because the time between stops is part of the tour, not dead time.

The guidebook and exact places can change based on availability. If you have your heart set on CarinaE or Antigal specifically, confirm the current plan before booking. If your main goal is olive oil, wine, a full lunch, and included transport, the flexible arrangement should be less of a concern.

Is $212 a fair price?

At $212 per person, this is not a budget winery outing. The price includes a full day of transport, a local guide, three substantial visits, all listed tastings with wine, a full lunch with wine and water, and insurance.

The value depends on how you would otherwise arrange the day. Booking separate transport, paying for several tastings, organizing a meal, and finding a safe ride back after drinking can quickly add cost and effort. Here, those pieces are joined into one plan.

The price will make the most sense for couples and food-focused visitors who want a polished day without managing logistics. Joseph, who booked for a couple, singled out the friendly driver and winery guide, while Laura described the lunch as outstanding and the day as exceptionally well organized. Those details support the idea that the tour works best when you want the whole experience handled for you.

It may not suit you if you prefer inexpensive tastings, a small number of bottles, or a flexible afternoon with no fixed schedule. You are paying for the meal, vehicle, guide, and structure as much as for the wine itself.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to couples, first-time visitors to Mendoza, and anyone who wants food to carry equal weight with wine. The olive oil factory makes the program broader than a standard winery circuit, and the full asado gives the day a clear culinary finish.

It also suits you if you want to taste wine without driving. Pickup, return, insurance, and a guide are all included, which makes the day easier and safer than arranging several independent visits.

You might choose something else if you are a serious wine collector seeking one particular producer, a private tasting, or a highly customized route. Since locations can change with availability, this experience is strongest when you care about the format and quality rather than a guaranteed list of every stop.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, which adds useful flexibility for more visitors. Language support in Spanish, English, and Portuguese also makes the explanations easier to follow.

Practical details before you reserve

Bring your ID card, though a copy is accepted. Pickup is available from your place of stay within a covered area of Mendoza, so check that your address falls within the service zone.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also helps if you are still adjusting your Mendoza schedule.

Keep the day open for seven hours and avoid planning another major activity immediately afterward. The final meal includes wine, so an unhurried return is more sensible than trying to fit in a tight evening reservation.

The best reasons to choose it

The most praised parts of this experience are clear: the friendly, engaging guide service; the winery visit; and the lunch. The olive oil factory also receives strong approval, especially for its informative presentation and the chance to taste several varieties.

I would give extra weight to the lunch when comparing this tour with cheaper wine outings. A full asado paired with winery wines can turn a sequence of tastings into a complete Mendoza day.

The other useful feature is the balance. You are not spending all seven hours in the same type of room. The factory, cellar, and dining table each offer a different way to understand local food and drink.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-rounded Mendoza food day with wine, olive oil, a full asado, and transport already arranged. The $212 price is easier to justify when you value the meal, guide, and safe return as much as the tastings.

Skip it if you want a low-cost, highly personal wine route or need every winery guaranteed in advance. For most couples and first-time visitors who want a comfortable introduction to Mendoza’s culinary side, this is a strong choice, especially when the lunch and guide quality matter as much as the bottles.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts seven hours, including pickup in Mendoza, the three visits, lunch, and the return trip.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is included from your place of stay within a covered area of Mendoza.

What language can the guide speak?

Live guiding is available in Spanish, English, and Portuguese.

What does the olive oil visit include?

You visit the Centenario olive oil factory for about 1.5 hours, learn about extraction and production, and taste different award-winning varieties.

Which wineries are included?

The planned winery visits are CarinaE S.A. and Antigal Winery & Estates. Locations and guides can change based on availability.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Antigal Winery & Estates includes a full asado lunch with wine and water.

Are wine tastings included?

Yes. All visits and tastings with wine are included in the price.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What should I bring?

Bring an ID card. A copy of the ID is accepted.