Chile is an agricultural paradise whose bounty of fruits and vegetables supplies the world’s marketplaces and whose wine graces tables on every continent. A Mediterranean climate and increasingly organic, sustainable farming practices combine to create high-quality wines which are the purest expression of their privileged terroir.
Statue of the Virgin Mary atop Cerro San Cristobal overlooking Santiago
Day 1: Santiago
Welcome to Chile! Your Santiago Adventures representative will meet you at the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport to transport you to your hotel in the heart of the city. After you’ve had time to refresh and relax a bit, your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel around 12:30pm to begin your tour of the city. You will begin with a phenomenal gourmet lunch in the private home of well-known local chef Maria Eugenia Terragno. Formerly the executive chef of LAN airlines, Maria welcomes you into her kitchen to share with you her passion for and knowledge of Chilean cuisine.
After a relaxing meal, we will head out to see the highlights of Chile’s dynamic capital. Chosen by the New York Times as 2011’s #1 destination to visit, Santiago is a vibrant city full of character, with a thriving arts culture, trendy restaurant scene, and lively nightlife. Embraced on all sides by mountains – the mighty Andes to the east and the smaller coastal range to the west – on a clear day Santiago boasts one of the most incredible city views in the world. Old-world colonial mansions and the eclectic neighborhoods of Lastarria and Bellavista transition seamlessly to the skyscrapers and modern structures of Las Condes, Vitacura, and Providencia.
Our tour will lead us to Santiago’s most important historical sites, including the downtown area surrounding the Plaza de Armas and the La Moneda Presidential Palace. We will also pass by the Mercado Central, one of Chile’s largest fresh seafood markets, and stroll by the many bustling stalls to see the tremendous variety available from Chile’s bountiful sea. We will visit some of the lesser known barrios of Santiago including República and Concha y Toro. Initially constituting the outskirts of the city, the capital’s constant growth transformed the area into a privileged neighborhood and home to Santiago’s high society. There will be time to walk around and take photos of the varied styles of architecture dating back to the 19th and early 20th century. Continuing through the cobblestoned Lastarria neighborhood, we will walk through the Parque Forestal and pass by the Bellas Artes Museum. For a panoramic vista of the city, we will visit the top of Cerro San Cristobal, 984 feet above the city.
You will have the option to visit one Santiago’s many famed museums, La Chascona, former home to beloved poet and Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda. The whimsical residence the poet shared with his mistress (later his third wife) provides a snapshot into the life and mind of Neruda, filled with art, eccentric collections, and even his Nobel Prize.
Meals Included: Lunch
Day 2: Biking The Casablanca & San Antonio Valleys
Chile’s move toward cool-climate viticulture began 25 years ago when innovative winemakers dared to suggest planting in the pre-coastal Casablanca region. The valley is now world-famous for its technology and commitment to terroir, producing some of Chile’s best white wines and cool-climate reds.
Your bilingual guide will meet you at the hotel at 9:00 am to depart for the Casablanca Valley. The valley’s cool coastal breeze makes the climate ideal for growing Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Pinot Noir—and also for comfortable cycling. We will first drive west towards the Pacific Ocean to fit our bikes and review our trip before departing on two wheels through vineyards and past scenic vistas.
After a one-hour drive from Santiago, you will begin your biking adventure at the winery Emiliana, a true leader in the concepts of biodynamic and organic agriculture. The winerary aims to create the highest quality wines while promoting sustainability and social responsibility. Emiliana’s wine portfolio is backed by major national and international awards and recognition, and its wineries are certified Fair Trade and Carbon Neutral.
We’ll hop on our bikes and head to Loma Larga Vineyards. Named “Winery of the Year 2011” by Wine & Spirits magazine, Loma Larga continues to represent the best of the Casablanca Valley. Loma Larga sets the bar for quality cold-climate red wines with several award winners and consistent 90+ point ratings by such prestigious publications as Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Here, we’ll enjoy a tour through the winery and a tasting.
For lunch we will enjoy a picnic among the vines at Loma Larga vineyards before riding through the back roads of the San Geronimo Hacienda, arriving to the Matetic Winery in the San Antonio Valley, where you will spend the night in their beautiful historic hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
*Note: This excursion involves moderate biking conditions.
Wine tasting at Matetic Vineyards
Day 3: Valparaiso & Viña del Mar
Our coastal tour next leads us to historic Valparaíso, one of the first Chilean cities founded by the Spanish. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003 for its architectural and cultural significance, the city is also one of Chile’s most interesting. We will start in the downtown sector, learning about the history of “Valpo” and its importance in South American trade and commerce. Century-old hillside ascensores (elevators) will transport us up into the city’s steep hills, where a labyrinthine maze of streets reveals brightly colored buildings, bohemian cafes and elegant restaurants, and spectacular views of the harbor below. We will explore two of the most famous and eclectic neighborhoods, Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre.
Our lunch in Valparaíso will be at one of the city’s top restaurants nestled in the hills. With a privileged vista of the bay and a varied menu paired with a fresh pisco sour or a glass of excellent wine, what could be better?
In the afternoon, we will continue our tour in the resort city of Viña del Mar, also known as “the garden city” for its lush gardens and palm-lined boulevards. We’ll pass by the “Reloj de Flores” (flower clock) and the inviting beaches while learning about the colonial history of the city as well as its contemporary flair.
In the afternoon, we’ll return to Matetic for a relaxing evening among the vines.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: The Cachapoal Valley
In the heart of Chile’s agricultural belt, the Cachapoal region was originally declared the Rapel Valley by Chile’s Denomination of Origin system. A subsequent recognition of geographic differences resulted in a subdivision of two separate zones – Cachapoal in the north and Colchagua in the south. With very little maritime influence, Cachapoal is predominantly known for its rich red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon near the Andes and award-winning Carménère near the center of the valley.
Our tour begins with a late morning departure from Matetic to arrive at the VIK property in the Cachapoal Valley by mid-day. Upon arrival, you will be met by the winery lodge host to plan the afternoon’s activities visiting the vineyard property by bike, horseback or 4×4. After a tour through the vineyards, you will sit down to a picnic lunch with a fantastic view over the VIK estate.
The VIK Winery is currently one of the most important wine projects in the world. With major foreign investment and innovative vineyard techniques, VIK will attempt nothing short of making Chile’s first 100-point wine. On a plot of4,300 hectares – where modernity and the latest technology are fused with the oldest traditions of oenology – an elite team of winemakers is working diligently to produce Chile’s top wine.
After your visit to the vineyards, you will arrive to the small, modern winery. The real winery is still on the drawing board for now, as the project is still in the early stages, and the improvised barrel cellar is where the select 2009 vintage is aging under careful watch. It is here that you will enjoy a barrel tasting of the first VIK wines. This wine represents four years of hard work building a new vineyard in Chile, and you will be one of the first to try this soon-to-be famous Chilean wine.
Along with the vineyards, VIK’s team has built the “perfect four room cottage”. Sitting atop a hill in the middle of the property, it provides a 360-degree view only made better by the cozy common area with its fireplace and delicious dinner offered to guests.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Vik is currently one of the most important wine projects in the world
Day 5: The Colchagua Valley
The southern extreme of the large Rapel Valley is best known as the Colchagua Valley, a zone that has traditionally been highly celebrated for its ripe and juicy red wines. Cabernet Sauvignon continues to hold the lead, although it is more often Syrah and Carménère that steal the show, along with relatively small quantities of excellent Malbec. Recently, vineyards have expanded toward the coast and broadened the repertoire of fine wines to include cool-climate varieties.
This morning, we will drive to the eastern end of the Colchagua Valley. In the late 19th century, during the era of immense mining wealth in Chile, important families introduced fine wine varieties of French origin – primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Merlot and Malbec – to the long, thin country. Since then, and especially during the mid-1990s during Chile’s rebirth as a quality wine producer, this area has developed into one of the most important wine regions in South America.
Our first visit is to the Montes winery, founded in 1988 by esteemed Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes and three business partners with years of experience in oenology. Over the past two decades, Viña Montes has played a key role in reviving the Chilean wine industry and launching it to the level of international acclaim it enjoys today.
A short drive away is our next stop, Casa Lapostolle Winery, established in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle (of the Grand Marnier family), which produces some of the best QPR (quality/price ratio) wines in Chile. Since its outstanding debut 1997 vintage, Casa Lapostolle’s Clos Apalta bottling has helped to establish Colchagua as a premier red-wine producer. With cutting-edge techniques such as hand de-stemming berries and constructing a gravity-flow winery, it was no surprise that in 2008, Casa Lapostolle was awarded 96 points in “Wine Spectator” for their Clos Apalta vintage, which was also chosen as the Top Wine of the Year. After a tour and tasting, we will enjoy a delightful lunch at Clos Apalta before returning to VIK for the evening.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Return to Santiago
After a leisurely breakfast, our memorable journey through the heart of Chilean wine country comes to an end as we head back to Santiago in time for your international flight or connection on to your next South American adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
Recommended trip combinations:
Vineyards at Montes Winery
Price per Person (US$): $4,499
*based on a minimum of 2 travelers
Grapes on the vine at Viña Vik
Price Includes:
Boutique Hotel Lastarria: A charming boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Santiago. Just blocks from the cobblestoned, eclectic Barrio Lastarria, the hotel’s 14 rooms have been updated and restored, adding modern amenities while preserving the beauty of this stunning residence which dates back to 1927.
Lastarria Boutique Hotel
Casona Matetic: Built in the early 1900s, the beautiful casona at Matetic is characteristic of the typical Chilean countryside of colonial times. The casona offers severn spacious and elegantly decorated rooms. Be sure to take time to relax poolside in the lovely outdoor gardens, surrounded by the thriving vineyards.
Casona Matetic
Vik Hotel: Chile’s newest luxury property and the third of the VIK Retreats collection belonging to businessman Alexander VIK. After success in Uruguay with Estancia VIK and Playa VIK, Vik entered the world of wine in 2007 with the purchase of this 11,000 acre property in the secluded Millahue Valley two hours south of Santiago. His ambition, nothing less than to produce South America’s first 100 point wine. In addition to the architecturally stunning wine cellar, the 1,000 acres of manicured vines producing some of the highest quality grapes in Chile, the hilltop hotel provides a 360 degree view of the estate. The Andes Mountains, while not actually constructed by VIK, are a worthy backdrop to this truly over the top project.
Viña Vik Hotel
