Susana Balbo Wines: Beyond the Vineyard in Mendoza

Where a pioneering spirit, family heritage, and the art of living well come together in Argentina's wine country.

Some places are worth visiting for their scenery. Others for their food, their history, or the remarkable things people create there.

And occasionally, you discover a place where all those elements come together around one extraordinary individual.

In Mendoza, Argentina, that individual is Susana Balbo.

As Argentina's first female winemaker, Susana challenged conventions, helped shape the international reputation of Argentine wine, and built a family enterprise rooted in innovation, determination, and a deep appreciation for the land.

But what intrigues us most isn't simply what she has accomplished. It's the world she and her family have created around those accomplishments.

A world where vineyards stretch toward the Andes, food becomes a conversation, wine tells the story of the soil, and hospitality feels less like a service and more like a personal invitation.

At Epic Explorations, we believe those are the stories worth traveling to discover.

And that's why Susana Balbo Wines and the family's remarkable hospitality experiences are On Our Radar.

The Woman Who Changed the Conversation

Susana Balbo: A Pioneer in Argentine Winemaking

Every great wine has a story. Sometimes, the most fascinating story belongs to the person who made it.

Susana Balbo entered Argentina's wine industry when opportunities for women in winemaking were exceptionally limited. Rather than accept the industry's expectations, she helped redefine them.

Her career became a story of perseverance, experimentation, and the courage to challenge established traditions.

In 1999, she founded her own winery in Mendoza, bringing together the knowledge she had acquired over decades with a distinctly personal vision of what Argentine wine could become.

Today, the family enterprise includes her children, José and Ana, who contribute to the continuing evolution of its wines and hospitality experiences.

The result is something much more interesting than a successful winery.

It is a multigenerational story of ambition, creativity, and the determination to leave something meaningful for those who follow.

Susana Balbo Wines: Where the Land Becomes Part of the Story

Discovering Mendoza Beyond the Tasting Glass

Mendoza has earned its place among the world's celebrated wine regions. Its vineyards, high-altitude landscapes, sunshine, and proximity to the Andes create extraordinary conditions for growing grapes.

Yet understanding Mendoza requires more than learning about Malbec.

It means discovering how geography shapes flavor, how generations of growers have adapted to the environment, and how winemakers balance tradition with innovation.

At Susana Balbo Wines, located in Agrelo in the Luján de Cuyo region, visitors can explore that relationship through the winery's vineyards, production facilities, and carefully developed wine experiences.

The winery's portfolio includes CRIOS, BenMarco, Susana Balbo Signature, and Nosotros—different expressions of the family's approach to winemaking.

But for Epic Explorations, the real attraction is not collecting tasting notes.

It is understanding the decisions behind the wine.

Why does one vineyard produce something so different from another? How does a winemaker recognize potential in a particular grape? What happens when creativity challenges conventional wisdom?

And perhaps most importantly, what can wine teach us about the people and places from which it comes?

Those are the conversations that transform an ordinary winery visit into an experience worth remembering.

An Invitation Into the Balbo Family's World

Susana Balbo's Winemaker's House & Spa Suites

Just beyond the vineyards, in the charming Mendoza community of Chacras de Coria, another dimension of the Balbo family's vision comes to life.

Susana Balbo's Winemaker's House & Spa Suites is not a conventional wine-country hotel.

Created by Susana and her daughter Ana, this intimate property combines contemporary design, Argentine hospitality, wellness, and a deep appreciation for wine culture.

Seven private spa suites, individual gardens, thoughtfully designed spaces, and personalized experiences create an atmosphere that encourages guests to slow down and appreciate their surroundings.

There is an intentional intimacy to the property.

It isn't about how much can be packed into a day. It's about having the freedom to savor the moments that make a journey special.

Perhaps that's a quiet morning in the garden, a conversation over breakfast, a restorative spa experience, or an evening discovering how exceptional wines and thoughtful cuisine can elevate one another.

We know firsthand how memorable this property can be. During our 2024 Argentina journey, our guests stayed at Susana Balbo's Winemaker's House, and the experience left a lasting impression. One guest described it as the nicest hotel they had ever stayed in.

That is the kind of response that gets our attention.

Not because luxury alone makes a journey exceptional, but because genuine hospitality, careful attention to detail, and a powerful sense of place can turn a beautiful stay into an enduring memory.

When Wine, Food, and Culture Share the Table

The Culinary Side of Susana Balbo's Mendoza

In Argentina, food and wine are inseparable from hospitality.

A meal is rarely just a meal. It is an opportunity to gather, share stories, celebrate traditions, and enjoy the company of others.

The Balbo family's culinary experiences embrace that philosophy.

At the winery, Osadía de Crear explores the relationship between regional ingredients, contemporary cooking, and the wines that emerge from Mendoza's vineyards.

At the Winemaker's House, La VidA offers an intimate dining experience built around carefully composed menus and thoughtful pairings.

Both provide opportunities to discover how the region's culinary identity continues to evolve.

Imagine exploring the traditions behind an Argentine asado, discovering unfamiliar regional ingredients, or discussing the choices that transform a simple local product into something extraordinary.

Imagine a meal where the conversation matters just as much as the food.

For us, that's the real attraction.

The best culinary experiences don't simply introduce you to new flavors.

They introduce you to the people who give those flavors meaning.

What Could an Epic Exploration Look Like?

Imagining an Experiential Journey Through Mendoza

We're not interested in creating another itinerary that moves travelers from one tasting room to the next.

We're imagining something more personal.

An intimate, hosted journey built around the stories, relationships, and experiences that make Mendoza distinctive.

Perhaps our exploration could include:

• The people behind the wine. Conversations with winemakers, vineyard specialists, and local producers about their craft, challenges, and ambitions.

• A closer look at terroir. Exploring how altitude, climate, soil, and human decisions shape the wines of Mendoza.

• A hands-on blending experience. Discovering the creative decisions behind winemaking through an interactive workshop.

• Argentine cuisine beyond the restaurant. Learning about regional ingredients, culinary traditions, and the people preserving them.

• An exceptional sense of place. Experiencing the hospitality of the Balbo family's Winemaker's House or another thoughtfully selected Mendoza property.

• The broader Mendoza story. Discovering local artisans, agricultural traditions, mountain landscapes, and communities beyond the familiar wine routes.

These are possibilities, not a published itinerary. The winery already offers experiences such as blending workshops, cooking activities, and curated wine visits that could help inspire a future journey.

The final experience would depend on the people we bring together, the opportunities available, and the relationships that make meaningful encounters possible.

We believe the most memorable journeys leave room for discovery.

And sometimes, the best moments are the ones nobody thought to put on the itinerary.

Why Susana Balbo Is On Our Radar

More Than Wine. More Than Luxury. A Story Worth Sharing.

At Epic Explorations, we're drawn to people who see possibilities where others see limitations.

People who pursue their passions, challenge expectations, and create something that reflects their own values.

Susana Balbo's story embodies that spirit.

Her achievements in winemaking are remarkable, but equally intriguing is the way her family's work has expanded into hospitality, culinary experiences, and opportunities for visitors to connect with Argentine culture.

It is a reminder that the most interesting travel experiences often begin with a person rather than a destination.

We're watching how this remarkable collection of experiences might become part of a future Epic Exploration.

Not simply a wine tour.

Not simply a luxury escape.

But a journey into the people, traditions, and creative spirit of Mendoza.

One that might change how we think about the relationship between the land, the people who work it, and the extraordinary things they create.

Could This Be Your Kind of Epic Exploration?

Join the Conversation About Mendoza, Argentina

Some of our favorite journeys begin with a simple conversation.

Someone shares an interest. Someone asks a question. Someone imagines what it might be like to experience a place differently.

And before long, an idea begins taking shape.

We're exploring the possibilities for an intimate, experiential group journey into Mendoza's wine country, with Susana Balbo's remarkable story helping inspire the experience.

Perhaps you're passionate about wine. Perhaps you love exceptional food, fascinating people, and places with stories worth discovering.

Or perhaps you're simply curious about what lies beyond the familiar.

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