Patagonian wines meet Swiss Alpine traditions

Bariloche combines Swiss Alpine charm with Patagonian adventure. Founded by European immigrants, the town features chocolate shops and wine bars alongside stunning lake and mountain scenery. Patagonian Pinot Noir is the rising star of Argentine wine.

What to do there

4 things to do

1. 1 Find the Swiss Town That Shouldn't Exist Here History · Free

   In 1895, the Goye family arrived from Switzerland's Valais canton at Colonia Suiza, 20km west of Bariloche. Argentine government offered FREE LAND. They built Swiss chalets identical to home — and Berlina Brewery voted #1 in Argentina 2017. Walk the main street and count Swiss chalets, find Feria Colonia Suiza (weekends), and ask locals why it looks like Switzerland. The answer is free land, Swiss homesickness, and the Andes looking exactly like the Alps they left behind.

   Backup: If Feria closed, walk streets — architecture tells the story.

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2. 2 Taste Patagonian Pinot Noir — Argentina's Answer to Burgundy Wine · Price: moderate

   Río Negro valley Pinot Noir grows 90 minutes northeast of Bariloche — Argentina's answer to Burgundy. Bodega Humberto Canale (1909, Patagonia's OLDEST) made the first oak-aged Pinot here in 1999. Civil engineer Canale built the irrigation systems that made viticulture possible in this desert. At Patagonia Vinos in downtown Bariloche (600+ Argentine wine labels), request a tasting (~$15-25 USD) and ask for Humberto Canale. Notice: cherry, raspberry, bright acidity — NOT Mendoza Malbec. This is Patagonia's signature grape.

   Backup: Any restaurant, request Patagonian Pinot.

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3. 3 Hunt the Italian Who Built the Chocolate Empire History · Price: low · Optional

   Aldo Fenoglio arrived in 1948 from Turin with an innovation: chocolate en rama (tree bark style). His legacy: Rapanui, del Turista — all founded by Fenoglio relatives on Avenida Mitre in downtown Bariloche. Walk Avenida Mitre, find Rapanui or del Turista, ask about the Fenoglio connection, and buy chocolate en rama. One Italian immigrant built Bariloche's chocolate empire.

   Backup: Buy any Bariloche chocolate, ask hotel who started the tradition.

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4. 4 Toast Two Continents in One Glass Wine · Price: high · Optional

   Swiss architecture + Italian chocolate + Argentine wine + Patagonian mountains = five places at once. At any upscale Bariloche restaurant with a Patagonian wine list, order Río Negro Pinot Noir and toast: To the Goye family (1895), Humberto Canale (1909), Aldo Fenoglio (1948) — the immigrants who built this impossible place where Europe meets South America in a wine glass.

   Backup: Order wine at a bar, ask bartender about Bariloche's identity crisis.

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Insider tips

• Familia Schroeder and Bodega del Fin del Mundo produce excellent Patagonian Pinot Noir

• Combine chocolate and wine - Rapa Nui and Mamuschka are legendary chocolate shops

• The lakefront Circuito Chico drive offers wine tasting stops with Andes views