Start planning your Argentina food tour
Argentinian cuisine is most famous for its grilled steaks and fine wines. With asado (barbecue), dulce de leche, empanadas, crisp white wines, and full-bodied reds, an Argentina food tour is guaranteed to satisfy the appetites of any hungry traveler.
What makes Argentina a great destination for foodies?
Argentina is well-known around the world for its food. Cattle farming has long been an important industry here, and this means Argentina is one of the best places to try a high-quality steak, lovingly prepared, and meticulously seasoned. The country also has a number of other traditional dishes that have evolved from a mix of indigenous culinary traditions, Spanish colonization, and the fertile, agricultural landscape. The climate here is also ideal for grape cultivation, making Argentina one of the world's leading wine producers.
The best gastronomy tours in Argentina
If you’re planning a food tour of Argentina, here are just a few of the experience that could feature on your trip.
Taste wines in the Uco Valley
Home to some of the best vineyards in Argentina, the Uco Valley is located near the city of Mendoza. This is a great place to take a wine tour and sample the region's specialty. red grape varieties such as Malbec, Cabernet, and Merlot are best paired with the local cuisine.
Sample asado barbecue
One of the most important elements in Argentinian cooking is asado, or barbecue. It’s typical to cook meat, sausages, vegetables, and sweetbreads over the fire, which can be found at restaurants pretty much everywhere. Order a selection to share at your table.
Shop and dine at Puerto de Frutos
In the riverside town of Tigre, not far from Buenos Aires, is a converted fruit market called Puerto de Frutos. It's still filled with stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables, but you’ll also find a wide range of open-air restaurants and ice cream stores, perfect for enjoying local treats on a sunny day.
Learn to cook empanadas
Empanadas, baked pastry turnovers with a meat or cheese filling, are a major staple in Argentina. What better way to learn more about the local culture and delight your tastebuds at the same time than learning to make this popular dish? Take a cooking class and you’ll be able to recreate the dish at home whenever you want to remember your trip.
Visit the wine region of Cafayate
Though it has been a wine-producing region for some time, Cafayate is gradually gaining recognition for its exceptional Torrontes whites. Along with visiting the area's many vineyards, visitors can also learn more at the Museum of the Vine and Wine of Cafayate in Salta.
Tips for planning a food tour in Argentina
The best time for an Argentina food tour is during the spring (October to mid-December) and fall (April to June), avoiding the crowds of the peak season and while the weather is sunny and mild, perfect for al fresco dining. The wine harvest takes place from February to April, and is kicked off with the National Grape Harvest Festival (Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia) in Mendoza.
