Mendoza Cooking Class & Wine Pairing: Argentine Cuisine

Cook three courses, drink three wines, hear family recipes that shaped a chef

A private cooking class in Mendoza at Gaston's home where you prepare traditional Argentine dishes with a creative twist, using fresh local ingredients, then sit down to eat what you've made alongside wines from a nearby winery. The 3-hour hands-on experience includes red, white and sparkling varieties, plus stories about Mendoza's food culture and Gaston's family traditions.

The experience

You arrive at Gaston's home in downtown Mendoza with a refreshing drink and snack, then move into his open kitchen to learn how to cook. Over the next few hours, you'll prepare 3-4 dishes: artichoke pâté toast, zucchini carpaccio in citrus sauce, humita (an aromatic corn stew), roasted lamb in grape leaves, ricotta and spinach fagotini pasta, and white chocolate pistachio tart, using locally sourced meats, vegetables and spices. Gaston guides you through each step, drawing on family recipes passed down through generations but executed with a creative edge that sets his menu apart.

What makes this different from a cooking demonstration is the hands-on work: you're doing the prep, the cooking, the plating. For groups of five or more, Gaston switches to a demonstration format so everyone can still participate and learn, just in a different way. Once the cooking is done, you sit down to eat the meal you've helped create, paired with Argentine wines: white, red and sparkling varieties sourced from a local winery. Between courses, Gaston shares stories about Mendoza, the food, and his family's relationship to cooking.

Gaston accommodates vegan, vegetarian and lactose-free diets when you mention them at booking. The class runs in English or Spanish, and the whole experience fits into an afternoon or a lunch slot depending on which option you choose.

What’s included

• Private cooking class with Gaston in his home kitchen.
• red, white and sparkling Argentine wines paired with your meal.

Options for this experience

2 options

Cooking class with dinnerGuide in English or Spanish · Available from 1 Aug 2027

Cooking class with lunchGuide in English or Spanish · Available from 1 Aug 2027

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 3h, from US$ 109 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Aug 20272 departing soon ›

GroupPrivate1 group tour ›

Live guideEnglish and SpanishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Book the lunch or dinner option depending on when you want to eat: both fit the same 3-hour cooking and dining experience into your day. Groups of five or more will learn through a demonstration format instead of hands-on cooking, which works better for larger groups while keeping the meal and wine pairing intact.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★Exceptional7 verified traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What dishes will I actually cook during the class?

You'll prepare 3-4 dishes: artichoke pâté toast, zucchini carpaccio in citrus sauce, humita (aromatic corn stew), roasted lamb in grape leaves, ricotta and spinach fagotini pasta, and white chocolate pistachio tart. The exact menu depends on the season and what's fresh, but Gaston always draws from family recipes with his own creative twist.

Do I cook everything myself, or is some of it a demonstration?

For groups under five people, it's fully hands-on: you do the cooking in Gaston's open kitchen. For groups of five or more, Gaston leads a cooking demonstration so everyone can still learn and participate, just in a format that works better for larger numbers.

What wines come with the meal?

You'll taste red, white and sparkling Argentine wines from a local Mendoza winery, paired with the courses you've cooked and any additional dishes Gaston has prepared in advance.

Can Gaston accommodate dietary restrictions?

Yes. Gaston can prepare vegan, vegetarian and lactose-free versions of the dishes. Let him know your dietary needs when you book so he can plan the menu accordingly.

Is this class in English?

Gaston teaches in both English and Spanish, so you can choose whichever language works for you.