Premium Empanadas Cooking Class & Wine Tasting Experience

Empanadas are everyday Argentine food, and this class lets you move from eating them to making them. You’ll prepare a traditional recipe, then taste Argentine wines while your guide explains the grapes and the methods behind them.

I like the hands-on cooking and the focused tasting of three classic varieties: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. The small-group format also makes it easier to ask questions and talk with the people around your table.

One consideration: $49 is a meaningful price for a two-hour activity, and one participant found the empanada filling heavy on onions. If you dislike onions, ask about the recipe before booking.

Key points before you book

• Make the empanadas yourself: Ingredients and instruction are included, so you take part in preparing the food rather than simply watching a demonstration.
• Taste three Argentine wine varieties: The guided tasting covers Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, with discussion of grape characteristics and winemaking in Argentina.
• Expect a small-group class: Group sizes can vary. One class had seven people, while another was just a couple, so the experience may feel social or quite personal.
• Plan for about two hours: The advertised duration is two hours, though one participant described a session lasting about two and a half. Leave a little breathing room in your schedule.
• Check the exact address: The meeting information gives both Gorriti 4882 and Gorriti 4886 in Palermo. Confirm the correct door before setting out.
• Adults only: The activity is not suitable for children under 18.

A Palermo cooking class with dinner-table appeal

This experience combines two things that can make a Buenos Aires visit more vivid: learning to prepare a familiar local dish and tasting wines from Argentina with someone there to explain what is in your glass. You don’t need cooking experience. The empanadas are described as easy to make, and the class supplies the ingredients.

The format is practical, not just a talk about food and wine. You’ll work through a recipe with an instructor, then eat what the group has prepared as part of the experience. That shared effort gives the meal a little more meaning than ordering empanadas at a restaurant and moving on.

The class takes place in Palermo, a neighborhood with plenty of places to continue your afternoon or evening. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you’ll need to make your own way to the meeting point. The experience runs rain or shine.

First, learn how Argentine empanadas come together

The cooking portion centers on a typical Argentine recipe. Your guide walks you through making the empanadas, with the ingredients provided. You’ll get a chance to handle the process yourself, and the finished food becomes part of the meal.

That hands-on element is the class’s strongest practical benefit. Recipes can seem simple on paper, but watching the steps and trying them yourself gives you a better chance of repeating the dish at home. The class is also a low-pressure way to get a feel for a staple of Argentine eating without needing to know your way around a kitchen.

You should keep expectations realistic about the level of cooking instruction. The experience is a short social class, not a professional culinary course. The supplied details do not specify the precise recipe, fillings, or techniques, so don’t book expecting a particular regional style or a long lesson in pastry craft.

One participant felt the filling was unusually onion-heavy and said the flavor dominated the empanadas. That is one person’s experience, not a guarantee of what you’ll be served, but it is useful to know if you are sensitive to onions or prefer a different balance of ingredients. Ask the instructor about the recipe before the class if this matters to you.

The goal is not to produce picture-perfect pastries. One person noted that their group’s empanadas did not look polished, but they tasted good. That is part of the charm of making them together: the finished meal is yours, even if the folds are not all identical.

Then taste Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc

The wine portion adds useful context to the food. The tasting focuses on Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, and the guide discusses the characteristics of each grape, Argentine winemaking methods, and how different varieties develop distinct flavors.

That explanation helps you make more sense of wine lists later in your trip. Instead of treating Argentine wine as one broad category, you get an introduction to three varieties and some of the choices that shape what ends up in the glass. The experience is described as a guided tasting, so you can ask questions as you go.

The class is a good fit if you enjoy wine but don’t have much technical knowledge. It’s also suitable if you already know a little and want to connect grape varieties with Argentine production. The available details do not specify the labels, wineries, vintages, or number of pours, so don’t expect a formal sommelier course or a tasting built around particular bottles.

Food and wine together give the session a natural rhythm. While you prepare and eat, the instructor can connect the dishes and drinks to broader Argentine culture. The best version of this activity is not a lecture followed by a meal, but a shared table where questions, cooking, and conversation fit together.

Small groups make room for conversation

The experience is designed for small groups, though the exact size can change. One participant described a group of seven, while another couple had the instructor to themselves. That variation matters: you could meet other visitors and share the table, or have a more individual lesson.

The instructors named by participants include Catalina, Valentin, Lourdes, Fernando, and Tomás. Their approach is a major part of the class: people appreciated clear explanations, background on empanadas and wine, and practical suggestions about Buenos Aires. Instructors and availability can vary, so don’t assume you’ll have a particular person unless the operator confirms it.

The social side is worth factoring into your decision. The class is not simply a cooking task with a tasting added on. Its structure is intended to encourage conversation, and sharing the food gives people an easy subject to talk about. If you’re arriving in Buenos Aires on your own or want an activity that brings you into contact with other people, that can be a real plus.

The venue has been described as clean, spacious, and well lit, with easy access. Those details matter in a class where you’ll be preparing food and spending time around a table. Still, the experience is centered on the activity itself, not on a restaurant setting or a tour of Palermo.

Two hours, with a little room for timing changes

The stated duration is two hours, which makes this easy to fit into a day of sightseeing. It can also work well as an activity before an evening flight or during a free afternoon. One participant used it to fill time before a flight and found it a good way to make the afternoon count.

Allow a buffer if you have a tight connection or a timed reservation afterward. One class was described as lasting about two and a half hours, a little longer than the advertised duration. That may not be typical, but it is sensible to avoid scheduling another activity immediately after the class.

Starting times depend on availability. The activity is offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. When booking, check that the language and time you want are available rather than assuming every session runs in every language.

The meeting point is in Palermo, but there is a small address discrepancy in the supplied directions: one place gives Gorriti 4882, while the know-before-you-go information says Gorriti 4886. Confirm the exact number with the operator, and arrive five minutes early as instructed. The class takes place rain or shine.

Is $49 a fair price?

At $49 per person, you’re paying for more than a plate of food. The price includes the cooking class, ingredients, a professional guide, and the wine tasting. You also get a guided introduction to the empanada recipe and Argentine wine, which makes the experience more informative than a meal alone.

Value depends on what you want from the afternoon. If you would happily pay for a wine tasting and enjoy doing something hands-on, the combined format can justify the cost. If your main goal is simply to eat empanadas cheaply, you can spend less at a restaurant and skip the instruction.

There is also a difference between a class with a full group and one with just a couple. A small group can make it easier to speak with the instructor and ask questions, though it may feel less lively if you hoped to meet other people. The group size is not fixed, so treat the social atmosphere as a possible benefit, not a promise.

One participant felt the experience was expensive. That is a fair point to weigh, especially if you’re choosing between this class and other food activities in Buenos Aires. I’d judge the price by whether you value the guided wine context and the chance to make your own food, not just by the amount you’ll eat.

Who should choose this class?

This experience suits adults who like food, wine, and a little cultural context, and who would rather take part than sit through a demonstration. It is a particularly sensible choice if your time in Buenos Aires is short and you want one activity to combine a meal, a cooking lesson, and a wine introduction.

It also works for couples or solo visitors who enjoy conversation around a table. Because group size varies, you may get a lively shared session or a more personal class. If you prefer a quiet, private lesson, confirm the format before you book.

Skip it if you’re under 18, don’t drink wine, or mainly want an extensive cooking course. You may still enjoy the empanadas, but wine tasting is one of the central parts of the experience. And if onions are a concern, ask about the filling first.

Should you book it?

Book this class if you want to learn a simple Argentine recipe, taste three well-known local wine varieties, and spend a couple of hours in a small-group setting. The combination is its main strength, and the instructors’ food, wine, and city tips can add welcome context to a short stay.

Think twice if $49 feels steep for a short activity, if you want precise control over the empanada filling, or if your schedule cannot absorb a possible half-hour overrun. Confirm the meeting address, check the available language and start time, and ask about the recipe if you have food preferences. If those details suit you, this is a practical and sociable way to bring a taste of Argentina into your trip.

FAQ

How long does the class last?

The stated duration is two hours. One participant described a session that lasted about two and a half hours, so leave some extra time if your schedule is tight.

What wines are included in the tasting?

The tasting focuses on Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. The guide discusses grape characteristics and winemaking methods in Argentina.

What languages are available?

The class is offered in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Check availability for your preferred language and time when booking.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is in Palermo on Gorriti Street. The directions give two different numbers, 4882 and 4886, so confirm the exact address with the operator before you go.

Are ingredients and wine included in the price?

Yes. The $49 price includes the empanada cooking class, ingredients, a professional guide, and wine tasting. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Can children take part, and what happens if it rains?

The activity is not suitable for children under 18. It runs rain or shine.