Ruca Malen

"For the number of reviews I read ahead of time, I was somewhat underwhelmed by my experience at Ruca Malen, but I would still give 5 stars for the food, wine, and ambiance. The food was flavorful and well presented. The location of Ruca Malen is beautiful and the indoor seating offered great views of the Andes and vineyards. Every member of the staff we encountered was friendly and welcoming. The wine pairings were great and well explained by servers. The price point is excellent for the amount of food and wine offered.

A few minor details of the experience did not match the caliber I expected from the recent Michelin attention ie: the empanadas at our table were not hot, table settings were not spotless, and the meat was fatty. The pairings, sides, palate cleanser, and desserts were excellent and we had a great experience overall, but it lacked the wow factor for me."

Emilee O'Brien

"My husband and I visited Ruca Malen during our honeymoon and WOW was it amazing. Our tour guide Soledad had so much passion for the wines and encouraged us to discover our own passions for each wine, taste, and our own perfect setting for each wine. The capitulo tres malbec might be the best I've had in South America, if not all of the America's. This is a once in a lifetime experience! Muchisimas Gracias Sole!"

Ashton Genzman Alvarez

"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 had here. 🤩"

Robert Blackie