Day 1 – Curicó Valley
The J. Bouchon Guest House and wine barrel hot tub
Your guide will meet you in your Santiago hotel, and you will be driven approximately 3.5 hours south of the bustling capital to the tranquil Curicó and Maule Valleys, where vineyards flank the roads and long-standing traditions as well as a focus on sustainability produce consistently excellent, flavorful wines. Curicó is home to some of the biggest names in the Chilean wine industry, including San Pedro, the second largest winery in Chile. You will first stop for a tour and tasting at Casa Silva, the oldest winery in the Colchagua Valley, which was founded by French immigrant Emilio Bouchon in 1892. Casa Silva is known for its award winning Carménère, Chile’s signature grape. Here you will enjoy a delicious lunch that features authentic Chilean food in the main house.
Afterward, you will spend the afternoon at J. Bouchon, the family estate of Julio Bouchon who will be hosting you during your time in the Maule valley. The winery’s Mingre Lodge is a colonial-style family home dating back to the mid-19th century. The adobe walls and wood beams welcome guests to relax by the fire and experience country life from the perspective of a bygone era. The traditional dishes served at meal times offer an especially compelling tribute to the past with lovingly prepared renditions of Chilean “liebre,” or hare slow-cooked in red wine and “ciervo,” venison from deer sustainably hunted on the property. These delicious, time-tested recipes are paired with one of J.Bouchon’s excellent small-batch reds, letting the complex flavors in both food and drink complement each other fully. You will arrive in time to visit the bodega, experience a premium tasting, and afterward enjoy a signature homemade dinner. After the evening meal you might choose to soak in the uniquely-crafted Bouchon barrel hot tub.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Mountain biking is just one of the outdoor excursions available at J. Bouchon’s Mingre Estate
Day 2 – J. Bouchon and Mingre Life
Today starts off with a mid-morning visit to the Gillmore Winery & Vineyards. Gillmore is a family-run business founded by Francisco Gillmore in 1990. These days Francisco’s son-in-law Andrés Sánchez heads up the winemaking operations, using artisanal practices and dry farming like many of his peers. Andrés’ philosophy toward winemaking is characterized by his close attention to the grape, making sure each plot of vines gets what it needs to render the best flavor and concentration. Gillmore wines have been recognized with high marks from several prominent organizations, most recently receiving 90 points from Robert Parker Wine Advocate for their 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. You will enjoy a complete tour of the property and tasting. Lunch will be served back at the Mingre lodge.
Following lunch, you will visit the Caliboro Reserve winery, which is home to Erasmo, the winery’s only wine. Erasmo is a premium combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The vineyard was created in 1995 by Count Francesco Marone Cinzano, owner of the Col d’Orcia estate in Montalcino, Tuscany, and Andrés Solar O’Reilly, and is one of the founding members of MOVI (the Movement of Independent Vintners). Following the tour and tasting you will return to J. Bouchon for another not-to-miss homemade dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – Maule Valley
Today, enjoy a fresh country breakfast before saying goodbye to your gracious hosts and continuing with your wine valley exploration. We will visit the Laberinto vineyards for a tour, tasting and lunch. The name of the winery comes from the form in which the vines are planted. Rather than the straight, uniform lines used in conventional wine cultivation, the owners set out to find a shape that would reflect the complexities and cyclical patterns of nature itself. Laberinto was a project conceived and realized by Rafael Tirado and his father-in-law Georg Andreson on the shores of Colbún, a crystalline lake which was created by the government by blocking off a section of the Maule River in the 1980s. The family enterprise began with a half-hectare crop of Cabernet Sauvignon in 1993 and, although it has grown, still maintains its experimental spirit, planting in circles rather than rows, and a small-scale production. From here you’ll depart for Santiago.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Recommended trip combinations:
A picture perfect afternoon at J. Bouchon’s estate
This itinerary is available to begin every day, all year round.
We recommend October thru April as the best time of year to enjoy this tour.
Price per Person (US$): $1,643
*based on a minimum of 2 travelers
*Prices valid through April 30th, 2015.
