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Santiago City Tours

The VIK winery is one of the most important wine projects in the world at this time. With major foreign investment and innovative vineyard techniques, they will attempt nothing short of making Chile’s first 100-point wine. On a plot of 4,300 hectares - where modernity and the latest technology are fused with the oldest traditions of oenology - an A-team of winemakers is working diligently to produce Chile's top wine.

Only with Santiago Adventures will you be one of the first to know VIK and experience the excitement of watching a world class wine being born. Hear first hand from the winemakers about their passion for this project, taste the first year vintage with them from the barrel and spend the night in their exclusive guest house overlooking the magnificent property.

In the heart of Chile’s agricultural belt, the Cachapoal and Colchagua regions were 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. The valleys are predominantly known for their rich red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon near the Andes, award-winning Carménère near the center of the valley, as well as Syrah and small quantities of excellent Malbec.

Under the direction of Chilean-French wine maker Patrick Valette the VIK team performed an extensive analysis of no less than 6,000 soil samples identifying 12 distinct terroirs within six different valleys on their property. Each varietal will be grafted to one of six rootstocks and planted at a density of 7,000 plants per hectare. At double the normal vineyard density in Chile it was necessary to import special machinery to manage the vineyards.

 

Day 1 – Introducing Cachapoal and Colchagua
Our tour begins with a late morning departure from your hotel in Santiago, driving south on the Pan-American highway through Chile’s agricultural heart and into the magnificent Cachapoal Valley. Our first visit will be to Altair Winery. With only two labels – Altair and Sideral – boutique winery Altair was formed as a joint venture between Laurent Dassault, owner of Bordeaux’s Chateau Dassault and Chateau La Fleur, and industry giant Viñas San Pedro, the second largest wine producer in Chile. Altair achieves with finesse the delicate mix between cutting-edge technology and traditional character. With consistent 90+ point rankings in such prestigious publications as Wine Enthusiast and Wine Advocate, Altair has earned its place among some of the world’s top wines. You will enjoy a private tour of the vineyards and winery followed by a delicious lunch in a beautiful setting.

In the afternoon, we’ll arrive to the VIK property in the Cachapoal Valley. 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 of 4,300 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. 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 4x4.

Day 2 – Colchagua Highlights
After a leisurely breakfast at VIK, you will set out to experience firsthand why Colchagua has earned the reputation as the king of Chilean reds. Your first visit will be to Neyen de Apalta Winery, which focuses all its production on one Bordeaux-style blend from 115 year-old Carménère vines. Neyen is the perfect blend of tradition and modernity, founded by the Rojas family in 2002 on the site of one of the area’s pioneering 19th century wineries.

Only 20 minutes 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. 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. Following your tour and tasting, you will enjoy a gourmet lunch at the winery before heading back to Santiago or on to the next leg of your South American adventure.

Number of persons in group

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Price Per Person $US

$1,421

$1,141

$1,048

$1,019

$988

$967

$965

$952