Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Los Andes

Upon your arrival at Santiago International Airport you will be welcomed by your host. From here we will make our way to the town of Los Andes, our base camp north of Santiago, where we will be spending the next two nights. Along the way, we will stop at Errazuriz, one of the Aconcagua Valley’s finest wineries, to take a Don Maximiano Icon tour of the property and taste our first Chilean wine of the trip. In the late afternoon, we’ll check in at the Casa San Regis hacienda. Raise your glass and toast to the beginning of this authentic South American experience at an evening tasting of MOVI wines at the hotel. Here we will get a feel for the boutique wineries operating out of the Aconcagua Valley, such as Flaherty and Von Siebenthal. Both these independently owned vineyards are run by foreigners who came to Chile, fell in love with the terroir and stayed on to try their hand at winemaking. The grapes that thrive in this region range from Chile’s signature Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere to Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Tempranillo.

Hotel: Casa San Regis

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

 

Day 2: Ski Portillo

Today you will visit Portillo, South America’s oldest and most famous ski resort, first opened in 1948. Portillo has the ambience of a “boutique” ski resort, with limited hotel capacity, no lift lines and wide-open slopes.  There are trails to accommodate any level of expertise, and skiers and riders with more experience have access to a variety of back-country bowls. Don’t miss the special edition craft beer from local brewery Guayacán commemorating Portillo’s 65^th anniversary. This evening we will taste a selection of wines from the New Chile ie coastal plantings and modern styles, including crisp whites and cool climate reds. Discover the sophisticated, complex wines that reflect the passion poured into them by small-batch winemakers like power couples Garcia & Schwaderer and Attilio & Mochi, critically acclaimed Kingston Family Vineyards and the Montsecano Pinot Noir project of Julio Donoso and Alsace legend André Ostertag.

Hotel: Casa San Regis

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

 

Day 3: Cat Skiing at Ski Arpa

Experience Snowcat Skiing at the incredible Ski Arpa. Unlike anywhere else in the world, Valle el Arpa is sweet music to the skier’s soul. Unparalleled vertical snow conditions and views of both Mt. Aconcagua and the Pacific Ocean make for an unforgettable adventure. Over the course of just one day you will ski over 13,000 vertical feet of some of the best untracked powder in the world. Intermediate or advanced level of skiing experience required.  At the end of the day we will drive down to Santiago, two hours from the Arpa base area, and head to the bohemian Bellavista neighborhood at the foot of the San Cristobal Hill. Here we will sip northern Chilean wines from Limari such as De Martino, Tabali and Falernia at the hip new eatery White Rabbit, which offers a playful interpretation of American comfort food made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Tonight you will rest up at The Aubrey, Santiago’s first true boutique hotel located just steps from White Rabbit.

Hotel: The Aubrey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Box Lunch at Arpa

 

Day 4: Ski Valle Nevado

The stretch of the Andes mountain range which lies just to the east of Santiago is home to some of the best skiing in the country. Modeled after the style of European resorts, the Valle Nevado complex straddles the imposing peak El Plomo and has the largest skiable domain in Chile. The complex provides a complete experience, including shops, three hotels, private apartments, six restaurants, a spa and fitness center, cinema, library, bars and lounges, and a pub with live music, all set to the breathtaking backdrop of the magnificent Andes. The quality and size of the terrain, good chair lifts, and service make the resort a very worthwhile destination. At an altitude of 3,670m/12,040 feet and with average snowfall of 7m/276 inches, Valle Nevado has some of the most consistently great snow conditions among the major resorts in the region. In the evening we will return to Santiago to dine at the brand new 99 restaurant where the fresh, innovative menu changes daily and the wine list brings together a selection of unusual wines from some of the most experimental winemakers in Chile today. Derek will introduce you to his own Garage Wine Co. creations such as the Old Vine Pale, a chilled-red rendition of the Carignan grape. You will also have the chance to taste the wine made by some of his cohorts making original wines a more natural way. This is the night we get experimental and go natural.

Hotel: The Aubrey

Meals Included: Breakfast

 

Day 5: Back to the Basics in the Maule Valley

Deep in the heart of the Maule region, a largely undeveloped swath of agricultural land spread between the Andes and the Pacific 3-4 hours to the south of Santiago, there is a new movement taking hold – a quiet rediscovery of traditional winemaking practices which have survived since colonial times. Rather than buying the shiniest new equipment and depending on the latest technology, independent winemakers in the region have begun to turn to the past for inspiration. Small projects between friends and family have started to emerge which are focused on a simplification of the process. Grapes are handled by actual hands. Vines receive winter rains and survive warm dry summers by deep roots alone. One grape in particular, Carignan, has been brought out of relative obscurity to shine on its own for the first time. Today we will arrive at Mingre, the family estate of winemaker Julio Bouchon. The colonial-style home dates back to the mid-19^th century. A recent top-to-bottom renovation has transformed Mingre into the wine property to stay at in Maule. The adobe walls and wood beams welcome guests to relax by the fire and experience country life as if in 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 many wines of the Maule letting the complex flavors in both food and drink complement each other fully. We will lunch at Caliboro, the vineyard of Count Francesco Marone Cinzano. Caliboro produces a small portfolio of estate-bottled reds under the label of Erasmo, which is known for its bright red fruit and a sophisticated texture with firm tannins. After a tour and tasting we will head back to Mingre and enjoy a signature homemade dinner. After the evening meal you might choose to soak in the uniquely-crafted Bouchon barrel hot tub.

Hotel: Mingre Guest House

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Days 6: Travel to Chillán

A private transfer will bring you to the Santiago train station to depart on a scenic train ride through the Central Valley to the town of Chillán. When you arrive, another private transfer will be waiting to take you to our hotel for the next three nights, Hotel Nevados de Chillán. Tonight we will take a break from wine and venture into a comparatively young field for this country: that of Chilean craft beer. The number of small companies turning to small-scale craft operations has grown exponentially over the last few years. While traditionally Valdivia has held the title of beer capital of Chile, breweries can now be found as far north as Valle del Elquí, and everywhere in between.

Hotel: Nevados de Chillán

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 7: Ski Chillán Five hours south of Santiago, eruptions and lava flows from the Chillán Volcano have formed unique pistes, bowls, and natural half pipes at Nevados de Chillán.  The resort enjoys some of Chile’s best snow conditions with an average snowfall of 10m (nearly 400in) and a diverse spread of terrain offering something for all ability levels, including some incredible backcountry opportunities.  Tree skiing can be found on the lower slopes, and lift lines are short if not nonexistent. In addition to great skiing, Nevados is home to thermal hot springs which are perfect for relaxing tired muscles after a day on the slopes. And wait, there’s more wine! Even in the deep south of Chile, distinctive wines are being produced by passionate people. Tonight we will sip offerings from the Malleco Valley, including Aquitania’s surprising Sol de Sol Pinot Noir and learn about the exciting projects from wine gurus William Fevre and Pedro Parra.

Hotel: Nevados de Chillán

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Days 8: Ski Chillán 

On our final night we will surprise you with some of the best Chilean wines of all times. Close your eyes, open your taste buds, and enjoy.

Hotel: Nevados de Chillán

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 9: Return by Train to Santiago

Our last morning will be spent on the slopes before we depart for Chillán and board the train that will get you back to Santiago in time for your international flight home or for whatever your next adventure might be.  

 

Derek Mossman will share his insider knowledge on Chilean snow, wine, beer, and everything in between. Derek originally ventured to Chile as a ski coach when he started following the snow down to the southern hemisphere during summer breaks to pay his way through university. Simply put, it was “a great summer job if you like snow and wine.” Eventually Derek moved to Chile full-time, married a local winemaker and began making small lots in the garage with friends and family. Word spread and the wines became a coveted urban myth. The name Garage Wine Co. was coined and soon stuck. Ski Portillo, our first stop of the trip, soon sought out bottles for their cellar and the Garage began to grow to fulfill export inquiries. Today the label produces 125 barrels a year in Caliboro in the Maule – the cradle of winemaking in Chile. Over the past 5-6 years GWCo has also been busy helping to form MOVI, The Movement of Independent Vintners, many of whose wines we will be sampling on this tour.

Dates:

Program available from August 9, 2014 to August 17, 2014

 

Price Per Person:

US $4,795 per person in double occupancy

*Price valid through the 2014 ski season. Please inquire for 2015 prices.

Includes:

• All transportation
• 2 nights lodging in Casa San Regis with Breakfast & Dinner
• 2 nights lodging in The Aubrey with Breakfast
• 1 night lodging in Mingre Wine Lodge with Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• 3 nights lodging at Nevados de Chillán with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & 2 days of lift tickets
• Skiing at Ski Portillo
• Skiing at Valle Nevado
• Cat skiing at Ski Arpa with lunch
• Winery visits
• Scenic train ride through Chile’s Central Valley

• Casa San Regis: A beautifully maintained 18^th-century hacienda, Casa San Regis provides a traditional Chilean experience hard to find at the main ski resorts. This bed & breakfast style hotel is theclosest to Ski Arpa cat skiing (about 1 hour away). The staff is warm and welcoming, embodying the best of Chilean hospitality, while the comfortable dining and lounging areas showcase the original architecture and allow any guest to feel right at home.

 

 

 

 

 

• The Aubrey: On the 2010 Condé Nast Hot List and ranked one of the best hotels in Chile by National Geographic, this boutique hotel is truly an exquisite place to stay. The Aubrey is situated in the heart of the chic and eclectic Bellavista neighborhood, where good restaurants and nightlife thrive. The original building dates to 1927 and was home to an influential Chilean politician and businessman who made his fortune in the railway business. The home was restored and converted to a hotel in 2010, with 15 beautiful and uniquely-styled rooms. The Aubrey is also home to a restaurant with delicious, upscale dining options. It is a stunning, urban retreat at the base of Cerro San Cristobal, with an inviting patio, and piano bar.

 

 

 

 

 

• J. Bouchon Mingre Guest House: The Mingre Guest House is located on the private family estate of Julio Bouchon and family, and anchored by a beautiful colonial hacienda dating back to the mid-19th century. Visiting Mingre is like taking a step back in time to colonial Chile, where traditions thrive and huasos are still commonly seen on horseback. Mingre is the perfect rural retreat where guests are welcomed as warmly as family. Activities like mountain biking and horseback riding are available and recommended, and the hacienda’s unique wine barrel, wood-stove heated hot tub is a must. 

 

 

 

 

 

• Nevados de Chillán: Opene A comfortable place to relax and refresh after a long day on the slopes, the Ski Hotel and Thermal Spa offers a delightful mixture of all travelers’ desires and an unforgettable experience. With a spa, thermal pools, and cozy romos, hotel Nevados de Chillán is a great affordable option atop the mountains.