Bodega La Rural – Wine Museum: History and Heritage in Maipú

Some wineries are mainly visited for their wines. Others offer a chance to understand where part of Mendoza and Argentina’s winemaking history comes from. Bodega La Rural – Wine Museum belongs to both categories, thanks to the quality of its wines and its deep historical heritage.

Located in Coquimbito, Maipú, this historic winery was founded in 1885 by Felipe Rutini and preserves, on the same property, a space dedicated to the history of winemaking. For travelers exploring the Maipú Wine Route, it is an interesting stop for combining wine, history and heritage.

A winery with more than a century of history

The history of Bodega La Rural began in 1885, when Felipe Rutini, an Italian immigrant from Ascoli Piceno, founded the winery in Coquimbito.

Rutini arrived in Argentina with knowledge and experience related to winemaking and developed his project in one of Mendoza’s historic wine-producing areas. After his death in 1919, his family continued the legacy he had started.

One important chapter in this history came in 1924, when the Rutini family began planting vineyards in the Uco Valley. That decision eventually connected the family with the development of a region that would become one of Mendoza’s most important wine-producing areas.

La Rural’s historic facilities were renovated during the 1990s, incorporating modern technology into a structure connected to winemaking since the 19th century.

The Wine Museum: a unique collection in Latin America

One of the main attractions of La Rural is its heritage collection.

The Wine Museum is located on the same property and is now part of the Historic Winery experience. Its collection includes more than 5,000 original pieces related to the history of winemaking, spanning from the colonial period to modern times.

Because of the scale and variety of its collection, the Wine Museum at Bodega La Rural has been considered the most important wine museum in Latin America and one of the most significant of its kind internationally.

The collection includes historic wine presses, including old noques made from cowhide, cooperage tools, fired-clay vessels, laboratory instruments, winemaking books and catalogs, as well as around fifty historic carriages.

Rather than simply visiting a historic winery, travelers can explore the evolution of winemaking through the objects, tools and knowledge that helped shape Mendoza’s wine culture.

A visit combining heritage and wine tasting

Bodega La Rural’s current tourism experience consists of a self-guided visit through its heritage gallery.

The experience is complemented by a tasting of the emblematic Bodega Histórica Malbec range, with the possibility of discovering and tasting other wines connected to the evolution of the winery.

This gives the visit two different dimensions. On one side, there is the heritage and history. On the other, wine provides a way to connect everything you have seen with the present.

It is worth allowing approximately one to one and a half hours for this stop, although the actual duration may vary depending on the experience chosen and each visitor’s pace.

Bodega La Rural by bike with Maipu Bikes

Bodega La Rural is part of the recommended Maipu Bikes circuit and is one of the stops located relatively close to the starting point.

From Maipu Bikes, it is approximately 1.6 kilometers to the winery, around 6 minutes by bicycle according to the recommended route planning.

The advantage of including it in your bike route is that you do not need to dedicate your entire day to this one stop. Depending on your reservation time, it can work well as a cultural stop after visiting other wineries or experiences along the Maipú Wine Route.

When is a good time to visit Bodega La Rural?

La Rural can be a particularly good fit for a day that combines different types of experiences.

If you are interested in wine history, heritage and wine culture, the museum adds something different from a visit focused mainly on wine tasting.

And if you are traveling with someone who is not particularly interested in wine tasting, the historical side of the experience can give the visit an additional appeal.

Practical information

📍 Address: Monte Caseros 2625, Coquimbito, Maipú, Mendoza.

🚴 From Maipu Bikes: approximately 1.6 km and around 6 minutes by bicycle, following the recommended route.

🍷 Experience: self-guided visit through the heritage gallery and wine tasting.

🕐 Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

📅 Reservation: advance reservation is required to arrange your visit.

• 📅 Book your visit here

💰 Price: please check the current price when making your reservation.

Why include La Rural in your Maipú itinerary?

Bodega La Rural adds something different to the route: it gives you a chance to pause and look at the history behind Mendoza’s wine culture.

Its combination of a historic winery, heritage, museum and wine tasting can be particularly appealing if you want your day on the Maipú Wine Route to include a cultural element as well.

Its proximity to Maipu Bikes also makes it an easy stop to incorporate into a cycling day around Coquimbito.

If you are interested in discovering how winemaking in Mendoza evolved while also enjoying a wine tasting, La Rural can be an interesting part of your day in Maipú.

Visit the official Bodega La Rural website

You may also be interested in

• Bodega Domiciano
• Casa de Campo
• Bodega Alandes
• Bodega Trapiche
• Entre Olivos
• Bodega Tempus Alba
• Viña El Cerno
• Bodega Mevi

Keep discovering Maipú

If you are planning a full day along the Wine Route, you can also check our general guide to wineries and restaurants in Maipú and our guide to things to do in Maipú, Mendoza in one day.