Argentinian wine making may not be an ancient practice, but what the local industry lacks in experience, they’ve more than made up for in technique. The best wineries in Argentina are often recognized around the world for Malbec, with both red and white varieties produced in the country. 

But your wine tasting in Argentina isn’t limited to a single stem glass of Malbec; Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnays, and more are produced in this part of South America. Keep an eye out for these award-winning Argentinian wines on your next trip to this sublime South American destination. 

Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2019

Sommeliers Choice Awards Gold Winner 2022

Producer: Aurelio Montes

Bottled in: Uco Valley

Price: $23.00

A dry red wine with fruity flavors as rich as its deep ruby color, the Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2019 took home the Gold Sommeliers Choice Award in 2022. Produced in Argentina, it was bottled by Aurelio Montes in the Mendoza region’s Uco Valley, where altitudes reach as high as 1100 meters above sea level. This Argentinian wine region is newer when it comes to its production of medium-bodied bottles, though the Kaiken Ultra proves that the organic grapes of the area are nevertheless top notch. Critics love fruit flavor blended with earthy tones. The light smokiness and oak notes end every sip with a mild tannic finish. 

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Alpasión Grand Chardonnay 2021

London Wine Competition Bronze 2023

Producer: Alpasión Wines

Bottled in: Uco Valley

Price: $30.00

Another award-winner from the Uco Valley, the Alpasión Grand Chardonnay 2021 won a Bronze award in 2023’s London Wine Competition, adding another award to Alpasión’s growing portfolio. This bottle is the only white wine in the producer’s Grand line, joining a number of exceptional Malbecs, Cabernet Francs, and Pinot Noirs. The Grand Chardonnay stands out for more than just its still white color. A partial malolactic fermentation and a year spent in French oak barrels yields both fruity notes of pineapple and lemon curd and an earthy notes of toasted oak and sea-shell minerality. And while Grand Chardonnay is available at your local spirits store, we urge you to consider uncorking it in situ. Alpasión Lodge is limited to 7 luxury rooms and 6 luxury glamping tents. With the Alpasión Restaurant on-site to let you drink in their wines and views of the Andes, it’s one of the best wineries in Argentina to spend your vacation at.

Cien por Ciento Torrontés 2021

USA Wine Ratings Gold 2022

Producer: Cien por Ciento

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $26.00

Ask a local what they’re drinking at a casual wine tasting in Argentina and they’ll likely show you a bottle of Cien por Ciento Torrontés on the table. For the uninitiated, the Torrontés wine is the other signature Argentinian wine. These light-skinned grapes grow near rows of Malbec in Mendoza’s high-altitude vineyards. The 2021 bottle is highly aromatic, matured in American oak barrels and sings a refrain of fruity notes. Its creamy texture is complex yet has an accessible taste that makes this white wine a favorite for Argentine locals and a gold medal winner in the USA Wine Ratings.  

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Origen Los Chacayes Malbec 2021

Decanter World Wine Awards Best in Show 2023

Producer: Terrazas De Los Andes

Bottled in: Uco Valley

Price: $14.00

You can never have too many Malbec options when wine tasting in Argentina, particularly when one includes Origen Los Chacayes’s 2021 Malbec. This Uco Valley wine earned a Best in Show rating in the latest Decanter World Wine Awards. It’s a show stealer: its character is as intense as its color is deep. Decanter’s tasters noted its meaty aromatic depth and definitive fruity strength characteristic of Argentina’s best Malbecs.

Elixio Cabernet Sauvignon

Berliner Wein Trophy 2023 Gold Winner 

Producer: Viña San Pedro Tarapacá 

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $9.00

A fitting Argentinian wine fitting for an asado dinner, the Elixio Cabernet Sauvignon by Graffigna is a classic addition to any wine cellar. Blackberry notes reign supreme in every deep red sip, with the occasional oak or spice slipping across your palate ever so subtly. Its ripe tannins endure a swirl around your mouth and its robust, rich flavors linger on the tongue long after it’s spat or swallowed. 

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2021 Norton 1895 Coleccion Chardonnay

New York International Wine Awards 2023 Mendoza Chardonnay Wine of the Year

Producer: Bodega Norton

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $15.00

Produced in Argentina, Bodega Norton’s 1895 line celebrates the vineyard’s founding year. 126 years later, the 1895 Coleccion continues to honor Argentine vintner past while delivering an approachable, modern wine in the 2021 Chardonnay. Aroma strength takes a backseat to dry citrus and apple notes. It’s a Chardonnay that’s well-structured for an uncompromising pure showcase of the varietal’s characteristics, sourced from one of the finest terroirs in the country.

Bodegas Fabre Montmayou Reserva Cabernet Franc 2022

Argentinian Cabernet Franc Trophy winner at IWC 2023

Producer: Fabre Montmayou

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $18.00

On the outskirts of Mendoza is an area called Luján de Cuyo, where a host of old vineyards produce incredible wines. These old vines and extreme growing conditions provide grapes of unparalleled concentration. Produced by Argentine Winemaker of the Year Hervé Fabre, this wine is completely hand-harvested and 60% of the juice sees 12 months in French oak.

Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard Malbec

Producer: Catena Zapata

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $85.00

Cruz del Sur – Gran Austral 2021

Producer: Fecovita

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $ details unavailable

Fecovita winery in Mendoza is one of the largest producers in the world, made up of over 5000 vineyard growers (with 25,000 hectares of vineyards between them). On nose this wine is described as ‘lush and full aromas of blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, cocoa and leather’. 2021 was a in interesting vintage in Argentina and although the cool growing season robbed the resulting wines slightly of alcohol, it blessed them in other ways with fine aromatics, acidity and elegance.

Alamos Red Blend 2021

Producer: Alamos

Bottled in: Mendoza

Price: $15

Savor Argentinian wines with Luxury Gold

Uncork an unforgettable wine tasting experience in Argentina during Luxury Gold’s Classic South America 12 day tour. Not only will you spend time drinking up the sights of Chilean wine country, but you’ll also have ample opportunity for wine tasting in Argentina. 

Sip on award-winning wines during a private eight-course dinner in Buenos Aires. As you savor each glass, learn more about the best wineries in Argentina’s Mendoza region, why the Malbec is unlike any other grape varietal in the world and how to tell a vintage from La Rioja from your wines of San Juan.

Discover your favorite Argentinian wine with us. 

The Michelin starred establishments in Tokyo are among the best restaurants in the world. The total number of Michelin stars within Japan is second only to France’s dominant gourmet galaxy and Tokyo’s fine dining scene is as far-reaching as the city itself. Sushi, sukiyaki, yakitori, kamameshi, and other traditional Japanese staples are widely available, as is timeless French food, North American classics, and a host of other international cuisines both untouched and infused.

We peruse the Michelin guide to uncover some of the best luxury dining experiences in Tokyo, which you can enjoy on a luxury tour of Japan.

Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi

You may know Jiro Ono by name or by his reputation as one of the world’s greatest sushi chefs, but what you may not realize is that getting a coveted seat in his restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro is all but impossible for most diners. It’s actually one of the few Michelin starred restaurants in Tokyo to lose its three stars because the ten-seater restaurant was too exclusive. 

However, a visit to Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi is much more accessible to the dining public, serving up a two Michelin stars sushi experience from Jiro’s son, Takashi Ono. White fish, red fish, sea urchin, sashi, and toro are all plated at this eight-seater in Roppongi Hills.

Den

Photo credit: @keisui

3 letters, 2 Michelin stars, 1 Michelin green clover, and the #1 Best Restaurant in Asia according to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Run the numbers any way you wish: Den will all but disappoint. We’re also willing to bet that Den is one of the few Michelin starred restaurants in Tokyo with their own chihuahua mascot. Quirkiness in marketing, maybe; tradition in cuisine, definitely. A Hyper-seasonal kaiseki framework dictates the locally-sustainable menu so expect an eclectic mix of ingredients ranging from foie gras to ants. Let the premium sake flow as you make your way to the crowd-pleasing signature dish, Dentucky Fried Chicken wings.

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Kohaku

Photo credit: @tokyo_fazzari

This prestigious three star Michelin restaurant is renowned for its exquisite kaiseki cuisine. Under the helm of Chef Koji, celebrated as one of the youngest chefs to earn three Michelin stars in Japan, the restaurant dishes up traditional Japanese ingredients with innovative twists. The spectacular dinner menus at Kohaku changes seasonally, emphasizing rare ingredients like nodoguro (blackthroat perch). With private dining rooms and beautiful artwork adorning the walls, Kohaku is a true gastronomic treat in Tokyo.

L’Effervescence

Photo credit: @leffervescence

Of the many French Michelin starred restaurants within Japan, few rival the cuisine L’Effervescence is known for. Three Michelin stars and one Michelin green star make it one of the most distinguished Michelin restaurants on the planet. Chef Shinobu Namae trained under Bras and Blumenthal, two chefs who know a thing or two about hanging onto Michelin stars for the long haul. Settle in for a night of fine dining with Japanese ingredients sourced exclusively from local artisan producers. French and Japanese culinary techniques are blended into elegant creations like the La Mer, a combination of sea urchin, porcini mushrooms, and truffles. 

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Sazenka

Photo credit: @sazekna

Bringing mainland Asian inspiration to create Chinese-Japanese fusion dishes, Sazenka is the only Chinese restaurant across the globe with three Michelin stars. Chef Tomoya Kawada inspires all other Japanese Michelin star chefs to look beyond their borders and into ancient Japan’s history of Chinese cultural exchange. Kawada’s new Chinese cuisine infused with Japanese spirit is evident in Qingtang soup, sudachi, and the hot teas representing both countries.

Tapas Molecular Bar

Photo credit: @mo_tokyo

Another luxury Japanese dining experience that’s easy to miss if your eyes aren’t focused, the Tapas Molecular Bar offers an intimate gastronomic adventure within the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Tradition is all but abandoned in favor of an ultra-modern approach using science to cultivate an imaginative, sensory encounter. Leave your conventional concepts behind and instead bring an open mind and an open mouth for donuts made with caviar, a BBQ kenmi chicken “cigar”, and a lobster bourguignon made with coral. 

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Ginza Kojyu

Photo credit: @ginzaukatei

Private rooms, each with a dedicated chef, is why it’s impossible to walk through Ginza without securing dinner reservations. We’re not sure which is more mesmerizing: Ukai-tei’s opulent art-nouveau decor that nearly classifies it as a museum or the French-inspired teppanyaki dishes with Japanese Black Beef as its focal point. High quality seasonal produce is flown in from around the world at this 3-star Michelin restaurant, ensuring every ingredient is as poignant as the antique furniture surrounding you.

Tsuta

Photo credit: @tsutajapanofficial

You’re not visiting Tokyo without having at least a single bowl of Ramen. And if a single bowl is all that you have time for, make sure it’s from Tsuta – the-world’s first Japanese Michelin star Ramen shop. Chef Yuki Onishi’s Japanese soba noodles shop is known for its soy sauce Ramen, though you can’t go wrong ordering to your palate’s preference. The A5 Wagyu raw egg rice bowl with sabayon sauce and black truffle is as savory as the vanilla ice cream with balsamic truffle cream is delectable. There’s also a special vegan noodle bowl that lets discerning diners enjoy meat-free Michelin starred meals.

Satiate your curiosity for Japanese food and flavors on Luxury Gold’s Majestic Japan tour. This 11-day guided journey includes culinary-focused highlights like a lunch with a Geisha performance in Kyoto, Donburi street food tasting in Osaka, and a private sushi-making class in Tokyo. Plus, you’ll have free time to discover the Michelin starred restaurants Tokyo is renowned for. 

Which restaurant in Tokyo’s fine dining scene is at the top of your list? Let us know in the comments.