Bodega Ruca Malen — Attraction in Mendoza

I visited Argentina as part of a birthday trip that included a dozen wineries between here and Chile, and this one was by far my most magical experience out of all of them. I decided to purchase the 7-course lunch and wine pairing, and to say the entire experience was perfect would be an understatement. From the moment I parked and arrived, I was greeted at the door by a friendly hostess. She invited me to explore the grounds and take some photos while they prepared the dining area. They have a very nice outdoor seating area and I took advantage of it to sit and relax and soak up the views. After, the hostess came back out to guide my to my choice of seating, and I picked a lovely table for two by the window.

Let me just say that EVERY SINGLE PLATE was phenomenal. My only regret is that I could not finish it all, and since I was driving, I also could not finish all of my wine. That being said, everything was exquisite. The meat was cooked exactly how I like it, the wine was all terrific and paired perfectly with the corresponding dish, and the service was flawless. Every plate and every wine was explained to me so I knew what I was getting, and I was so very appreciative that they ensured my water glass was always full so that I could drink plenty of water for a safe journey back home. The whole experience is advertised as lasting three hours and it definitely does! Honestly, I would have stayed for four or five hours if I didn't have to leave after everything was finished.

All the above alone would have been enough to make this experience a memorable one. But it went way beyond that. Last year I lost my fiance, and this trip was originally meant to be our honeymoon trip. I decided to instead make the trip a birthday trip, and I had my fiance's stuffed lion with me as a companion in his memory. Some people think this is a little weird, but everyone here absolutely loved him. They allowed me to share his story with them, and they welcomed him as if he were with me in person. As a surprise at the end of it all, they brought me out a birthday cake and candle. It was extremely thoughtful, and it was, by far, the most memorable part of my entire trip. It was so touching and meant so very much to me that I was in tears (good tears!) by the time I was leaving.

Special thanks to Lety and Diana and all the hard-working staff at Ruca Malen. They are all amazing and I wish I could have stayed longer and spend the evening drinking wine in their kind company. If you are planning a trip to Mendoza and want to ensure yourself a fabulous experience, then you MUST make it a point to visit this winery, and do the 7-course lunch. You will ensure yourself a very memorable experience, and even better if you don't need to drive after. I loved it, and I know that if I am ever back in Mendoza, this will be the very first place on my list to come back to. I cannot recommend it enough, and will always be grateful for the meaningful and unforgettable experience I...

Unfortunately we were disappointed in Ruca Malen after hearing so much hype for the lunch pairing. It seems a lot of the reviews are from a long time ago so I’m not sure if things have gone down hill, but we did not find it to be worth the extra cost (about $67/person) they charge above other wineries with pairing menus that we thought were better (La Azul for example). The dishes were ok, but nothing blew us away like at the other places. Plus the mushroom soup which could’ve been really great came out completely cold and therefore kind of claggy. The goat cheese starter really wasn’t the right proportions and I didn’t even finish mine (it’s not very big) but it just wasn’t that good even though I love goat cheese. The steak was the one dish that we both really enjoyed but the others are kind of forgettable or had some negative memories (like the soup). The desserts were also lacking a bit. Chandon does a last course of coffee with little chocolates and macaron type things too and theirs was much better. The one at Ruca Malen was almost a little sloppy. On top of all of this the service was unbearably slow! There were about 7-8 tables in the room and we sat 30 min to an hour after some others yet we all found ourselves struggling to get the bill paid after 4pm! (We got there at 1:15...others got there even earlier and it took soooo long!). The wines were just ok but nothing memorable either. Overall a very forgettable experience that brings more negative memories than positive ones. As much as I wanted to love this one, we didn’t. :( I hope they improve the service speed and quality of dishes. The thought into the dishes is there but we’re simply not executed as well as they...

Bodega Ruca Malen is an incredible experience. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. My wife and I were visiting Mendoza from New York City, and we dropped in (no reservation!) for a 7-course lunch with wine pairings. Let me tell you, it was one of the best meals we have EVER had. Each course of the meal was exquisite, and the chef's choices were unique, well-prepared, and incredibly flavorful. We had 5 different wines (whites and reds), and each wine was lovely and perfectly paired with each course. Our server and sommelier were highly attentive, incredibly knowledgeable, and kept our wine glasses full throughout the nearly 3 hour meal. In addition, the bodega is located inside a sprawling and gorgeous vineyard, with the Andes mountains in the background. Much of the staff spoke both English and Spanish. If you are in Lujan de Cuyo, you absolutely must stop by for lunch. You will be talking about this meal for days. If I lived in the region, I would come here at least...