Bodega Jean Rivier

Wines

Visiting

Getting there

History

Founded in 1956

Bodega Jean Rivier is a family-run winery in San Rafael, southern Mendoza, founded in 1956 by Juan Felipe Raimundo Rivier, a Swiss immigrant from Lausanne. The family calls itself "viticultores criadores" — they grow their own grapes in Rama Caída (San Rafael) and Casas Viejas (Valle de Uco, San Carlos) and vinify them through to the bottle. San Rafael sits roughly 230 km south of Mendoza City, so most visitors plan it as a full-day excursion rather than a quick stop. The winery produces Bivarietal, Varietal, Reserva and Alta Gama lines built around malbec, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and whites such as tocai and chenin blanc. The 45-minute guided tour covers the production areas and ends with a tasting of three wines in the underground cellar; paid add-on experiences include a "Queso & Blancos" wine-and-cheese pairing and the interactive "Vino Test" game. An on-site shop sells the wines directly.