Chilean Wine Experience
The region has a long viticulture history for a New World wine region dating to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors brought Vitis vinifera vines with them as they colonized the region. In the mid-18th century, French wine varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were introduced. In the early 1980s, a renaissance began with the introduction of stainless steel tanks and the use of oak barrels for aging. Wine exports grew very quickly as quality wine production increased. The number of wineries has grown from 12 in 1995 to over 70 in 2005. Chile is now the fourth largest exporter of wines to the United States. The climate has been described as midway between that of California and France. The most common grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère .
Day-1, Sunday: Santiago
Day-2, Monday: Santiago - Tierra y Fuego Vineyards
Day-3, Tuesday: Itata Valley - Quinamavida Spa - Gilmore Winery & Vineyards
Day-4, Wednesday: Gillmore Vinery - The Maule Train - Gillmore Vinery
Day-5, Thursday: Gillmore Vinery - Casa Donoso
Day-6, Friday: Casa Donoso - Casa Silva
Day-7, Saturday: Casa Silva - San Fernando - Tren del Vino - Viu Manent - Santa Cruz
Day-8, Sunday: Santa Cruz - Montes - Tarapacá
Day-9, Monday: Tarapacá - Almaviva - Santa Rita
Day-10, Tuesday: Santa Rita - Santiago
Chile Wine Experience Tour
Day-1, Sunday:
Santiago
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by your wine expert guide and
transferred to the Ritz Carlton Hotel. In the afternoon you will start
the exploration of the city at the San Francisco Church built between
1572 and 1618. Then you will visit the "Club Hípico" horse-racing track,
which is considered one of the most beautiful tracks in South America,
before passing the Palacio de la Moneda, currently seat of the
government and continue on to visit the Plaza de Armas where you will
see important national monuments such as the Cathedral, the Main Post
Office and the City Hall. You will go on to the beautifully landscaped
Santa Lucia Hill where the city was founded in 1541. After crossing the
Mapocho River, you will pass through different residential districts to
gain a general impression of the city. You will enjoy your exclusive
dinner at the Ritz Carlton, not only famous for its excellent cuisine
but also for its supreme selection of fine Chilean wines. While sampling
some of Chile's premium wines, you will be introduced to the Chilean art
of winemaking by your wine expert tour guide. (D)
Day-2, Monday:
Santiago - Tierra y Fuego Vineyards
After breakfast you will be transferred to Santiago's Airport to board a
short flight to Concepción where the legendary Bio Bio River meets the
Pacific Ocean. Upon arrival at Concepción, your journey continues east
towards Bulnes. Here in the Itata Valley - one of Chile's southernmost
wine growing regions - you will be welcomed at the first of the many
surprising wineries throughout your trip. Much of the vine planting is
located on the eastern slopes of the coastal mountains amongst pine
forests. The climate is similar to the Maule Valley but tending to be
more humid. Soils are predominantly reddish-brown volcanic sand,
suitable for red and white varieties.
The winemakers of the Tierra y Fuego Winery will show you their facilities and you will participate in a premium wine tasting. Organic production here include 16 different grapevine stocks; this allows you to sample the majority of all wines grown in Chile. The Swiss-owned and award winning Tierra y Fuego is the vineyard that produces the greatest variety of Chilean wines, it is the only one that has produced white wines from Malbec and Merlot grapes, they produce French cask wines of grape and also produce traditional vine stock such as Carmenère, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel, Semillón, Hermitage and Gewürztraminer. Lunch and dinner at the winery's homely restaurant with its exquisite culinary offer. Overnight at the colonial-style winery. (B,D,L)
Day-3, Tuesday:
Itata Valley - Quinamavida Spa - Gilmore Winery & Vineyards
In the morning you will continue your journey leaving the Itata Valley
to head up north to the
distinguished Maule Valley. The Maule Valley is the most extensive winemaking region in Chile with the greater part of its vineyards in the valley and on the slopes of the coastal mountains. Many white varieties, predominantly Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, and many red varieties, mainly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and recently Carmenère, are produced here.
Before entering the Maule Region, you will stop for lunch at the colonialstyle Quinamavida Spa & Resort to enjoy lunch and the hot springs. Once you arrive at the idyllic Maule River Valley with its rolling green hills, you will visit one of Chile's prime boutique vineyards strategically located in the heart of the valley, home to Chile's most extensive wine growing region. The Gillmore Winery & Vineyards are a family business created in 1990 by Francisco Gillmore, in joint venture with his daughter and his son-in-law. The annual production of the Gilmore vineyard is 25,000 bottles, consisting exclusively of ultra premium red wines. Wine tasting, superb meals and overnight in the very exceptional Hotel Tabonkö that belongs to the vineyard, characterized by its gardens, lagoon, pool, private zoo, creative architecture and activities being offered. (B,L,D)
Day-4, Wednesday:
Gillmore Vinery - The Maule Train - Gillmore Vinery
After an early breakfast you will leave for the nearby train station in
Talca. Today you will discover part of the genuine Chilean country life
on board a very remarkable train ride alongside the beautiful Maule
River Valley. The tracks between Talca and the coastal city of
Constitución are some of the last ones in Chile still used by passenger
trains. The laid-back convoy consisting of the engine and a single car
follows the Río Maule and sometimes stops in the middle of a field to
let people get off and on. It reaches Constitución after 2.½ hours. Upon
arrival in Constitución, you will be driven to the beautiful beach where
you can walk on the black lava sand and appreciate its high imposing
rock cliffs. For lunch, you will enjoy recently caught fish in one of
the small restaurants along the waterfront. After lunch your vehicle
will take you back to Tabonkö Hotel,where you can enjoy the facilities
of the hotel, ride a Chilean horse or relax by the pool. Dinner and
overnight at Tabonkö Hotel. (B,L,D)
Day-5, Thursday:
Gillmore Vinery - Casa Donoso
After breakfast you will visit a very particular and traditional
vineyard. After a short drive you will meet a unique wine-making artisan
who will introduce you to his age-old means of making a traditional
wine. Using ancient tools and without any kind of technology or
artificial ingredients, he produces excellent wine. It is truly a
must-see! You won't find anything of this kind anywhere else. You then
will continue your trip north on the Maule Wine Route. The vineyards in
this area are experienced in the art of wine growing and making, with a
long winemaking tradition dating back to the times of the Spanish
colonization. Today, this region has over 20,000 hectares / 49.421 acres
of wine plantations. You will visit the ancient Hacienda Huilquilemu
with its beautiful gardens and colonial patio, now a cultural center and
museum. Here you will enjoy lunch at the refined restaurant El Antojo,
located near the Casa Donoso Vineyard. This restaurant specializes in
typical Chilean cuisine. After lunch you continue to the Casa Donoso
wine property. The vineyard is Frenchowned and one of the oldest
vineyards in the country; it is blessed with good lands and produces
mainly top-quality red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère and
some exceptional white wines - mainly Chardonnay. Once owned by the
reputable Donoso Family, Casa Donoso estate was purchased in 1989 by a
group of French investors who live in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and who
were amongst the first foreign investors to introduce modern technology
to the wine making process in Chile. Sample some of their premium wines
before dinner at the restaurant with its great atmosphere. Overnight at
Casa Donoso's own colonial-style guesthouse right on the vineyard. (B,L,D)
Day-6, Friday: Casa
Donoso - Casa Silva
Today you will leave the Maule wine region and continue your wine trip
to the celebrated Colchagua Wine Valley. This valley standsout as the
zone par excellence for the Carmenère variety and remarkable Syrah and
Cabernet Sauvignon. The valley is home to Chile's new boutique wineries
that produce almost exclusively for export. At the heart of central
Chile, Colchagua combines the best of country traditions, hospitality
and modern winery, setting new standards in wine production as well as
an example in local development and integration through cooperation at
all levels. Colchagua Valley now can be experienced aboard the historic
"Tren del Vino" a steam engine train offering wine tasting and folklore
entertainment while passing by the valleys most famous
vineyards.Traveling up north on the Panamerican Highway, it will take a
little less than 2 hours to arrive at Casa Silva near San Fernando where
Emilio Bouchon arrived from Bordeaux to Chile in 1892. He was a pioneer
of Colchagua Valley and responsible for the planting of high quality
vineyards.
Some of the vines still in production date back to 1912. Viña Casa Silva has become widely recognized as one of the most significant producers of premium wine from Chile. It has won important international recognitions and over the last few years has been amongst the most highly awarded Chilean wineries. The wines are hand crafted, highly personalized and unique in themselves. The family's intimate knowledge of their land allows for grape separation prior to and during the harvest. The recognition of even the smallest details helps produce complex wines of excellent body and color, soft tannins and pure fruit working in harmony to allow for elegant, unique terroir wines. At Casa Silva, you will be able to sample some of their award-winning premium wines. Lunch will be served on the estate. Enjoy the rest of the day on the idyllic estate with its colonial ambiance and charm. Dinner and overnight at Casa Silva. (B,L,D)
Day-7, Saturday:
Casa Silva - San Fernando - Tren del Vino - Viu Manent - Santa Cruz
After breakfast you will continue to the San Fernando train station to
embark on a fantastic trip back in time. The nostalgic wine train - a
steam engine from 1913 - starts in the city of San Fernando and the trip
takes 90 minutes to the historic town Santa Cruz, passing some of
Colcahgua Valley's main vineyards on the way. During the excursion you
will have the opportunity to taste wines accompanied by abundant
appetizers while a characteristic Chilean folklore singer entertains you
with his songs and poetic compositions. From the Santa Cruz station,
where a folklore group will welcome passengers, you will go on to visit
the first of two exclusive vineyards of the Colchagua Valley. After only
a short ride you will arrive at Viu Manent Vineyard - it played an
important part in the history and tradition of Chilean wines. The
company has been exclusively owned by the family since its inauguration
in1935 and it is famous for its outstanding reds and enchanting whites.
After tasting of some of their premium wines, lunch will be served at
Viu Manent's new restaurant located in an old colonial construction
called "La Llaveria." This restaurant offers a menu that reflects the
exceptional gourmet tradition of the Colchagua Valley. In creating the
menu, these masters of fine cuisine were inspired to find the best food
pairings for the Viu Manent wines. The restaurant offers a fascinating
ambience, with tables both indoors and outside, and an excellent service
to make your visit an unforgettable experience. Later in the afternoon,
you will visit the Colchagua Museum, which is around the corner of your
hotel. It is the biggest private collection in South America, exhibiting
paleontological, archaeological, pre- Colombian and colonial Spanish
artifacts. Apart from these samples, it includes thematic pavilions
about the modernity, history, and development of arms, Huaso riding
gears, coaches and carriages, agricultural machinery and pavilions on
railways and automobiles. Overnight and dinner at the colonial-style
Hotel Plaza Santa Cruz. (B,L,D)
Day-8, Sunday: Santa
Cruz - Montes - Tarapacá
After breakfast, you will leave for the
reputed Montes Vineyard. After sampling Montes first-rate premium wines
you will explore local flora on the vineyard's estate; during your hike
you will be able to distinguish more than a hundred varieties of trees,
shrubs, and flowers, always accompanied by the spectacular view of the
Colchagua Valley. A delicious lunch will be served on the vineyards
lookout. Your trip then continues up north on the Panamerican Highway.
Close to Santiago, in the Maipo Valley, you will visit the Tarapacá
Vineyard and Winery. The small hotel with its beautiful park is one of
the very special places in Chile. Viña Tarapacá Ex Zavala S.A. is one of
the most traditional and experienced wineries in Chile. The
establishment of the first vineyards, on the foothills of the renowned
Maipo Valley, dates back to 1874. Today, the winery consists of 850
planted hectares with fine grape varieties designated to the production
of top quality wines. In recent years, efforts have been focused on
establishing non-traditional varieties, such as Mourvedre, Syrah,
Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Viognier, Malbec, and others, with excellent
results, as the wines themselves prove. First-class wine tasting and
dinner at the vineyard. For the remainder of the day, enjoy the
beautiful setting of the hotel and its facilities. Casa Tarapacá has a
swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, tennis courts, games room and a golf
course. Dinner and overnight at Casa Tarapacá. (B,L,D)
Day-9, Monday:
Tarapacá - Almaviva - Santa Rita
After breakfast you will leave to visit another of Chile's most famous
wineries, Almaviva. This is an out of the ordinary joint project of
Concha y Toro and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. Following our sampling
of this exceptional wine, we will continue our trip to nearby Casa Real
at Santa Rita Vineyard, on the outskirts of Santiago but still in the
Maipo Valley, world-renowned for its Cabernets. Don Domingo Fernández, a
distinguished politician, founded Viña Santa Rita in 1880 and promoted
the introduction of the finest French vine stocks. Viña Santa Rita then
established itself as a modern wine producing enterprise. At the same
time, it became known as an important cultural, political, and spiritual
center. You will visit the Santa Rita property and sample some of the
premium wines and enjoy a delicious lunch at the restaurant Doña Paula.
Tonight you will stay at the Casa Real. Built in the 1880s, the Casa
Real has been converted into a luxury country hotel. The large house is
kept in a Pompeian style; combining old and modern features. Tear lamps,
heaters, pictures, tapestry and armoires are combined in a contemporary
decoration, yet the classic style is not abandoned. The trip made by one
of the restorers of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel from Florence, Italy to
recover this temple was not in vain. Here you will enjoy a delicious
farewell dinner prepared by the excellent chef. (B,L,D)
Day-10, Tuesday:
Santa Rita - Santiago
Time allowing, depending on you onward travel connections, enjoy the
morning at Casa Real at Santa Rita's Vineyard. Transfer to Santiago in
due time. End of a spectacular Chilean wine adventure! (B)
Other Chile Tours
Magic of ChileChile Nature Tour
Self Drive Wine Tour
Chile Wine Experience
Torres del Paine Trek
Huilliche Cultural Trek
Skorpios Cruise Peuro Montt
Atacama Easter Islands Tour
Adventurous Andean Crossing

Duration | 10 Days |
Best time | September to March |
Accommodation | Hotels |
All of these trips are arranged on a private basis. Costs vary based on the number of people.
For current prices
Price includes
Accommodation at selected hotels including breakfast.
All meals as specified on the itinerary.
Transfers, tours and excursions as per itinerary with local English speaking guides.
All Entrance fees.
Prices excludes
International flights
Required airport taxes
Visa's
and vaccinations
Items of clothing, sleeping bags and miscellaneous drinks, etc.