Chilean wines
Chilean wines and culinary delights
Chilean wines are loved all over the world. And with its sun-drenched, warm climate and fertile soil, you can enjoy a wonderful tour of Chile’s wine regions. Visit the finest wineries, enjoy a wine tasting and a delicious dinner in the evening.
Discover the wine regions
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Colchagua Valley
This region is situated 180 km south of Santiago, in the southernmost part of the Rapel Valley. Here, wonderful, full-bodied Cabernet, Carmenère, Syrah and Malbec wines are produced – winners of international awards!
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Maipo Valley
Not far from Santiago lies the Maipo Valley, one of Chile’s best-known and most important wine regions. Here, visit the Santa Rita winery, set in an idyllic location on a beautiful estate. You can tour the estate and the bodega, and you can even stay overnight.
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Carmenère
Due to the phylloxera epidemic in the 19th century, this grape variety was completely wiped out in France. Fortunately, the grape had already been exported to Chile by then. Incidentally, this was only discovered much later, as people thought it was the Merlot grape. Today, Carmenère is Chile’s national wine grape. Wines made from the Carmenère grape pair well with red meat.
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Driving through the vineyards
The sun is shining in a blue sky as you drive through the vineyards of various wineries in your rental car. You’ll stay in the most beautiful spots and be thoroughly pampered. Doesn’t that sound lovely? Chile’s wine regions are perfect for exploring by rental car.
Chile, a wine country par excellence
When it became apparent in the 19th century that the soil types and climate were ideal for grape growing, wealthy Chileans travelled to Europe in search of interesting grape varieties and to expand their knowledge. Since the 1980s, wine exports from Chile have increased enormously. The country is now one of the world’s leading wine-exporting nations. Chile has a total of 14 wine regions, the two best known being the Colchagua Valley and the Maipo Valley.
The wine regions
The main wine regions near Santiago are the Colchagua Valley, the Maipo Valley and the Casablanca Valley. These wine regions are easier to reach and offer a wide range of wine tastings and guided tours of the vineyards.
Colchagua Valley
The Colchagua Valley lies some 180 km south of Santiago. The climate in this region is warmer, which has a beneficial effect on the complexity and diversity of the wines produced here. This region is particularly renowned for its high-quality red wines, which are based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Syrah.
Maipo Valley
The Maipo Valley lies south of Santiago and is one of Chile’s most traditional and oldest wine regions. The Maipo region is situated somewhat closer to Santiago, about 45 km from the Chilean capital. It is about an hour’s drive away. The valley is best known for the production of quality wines, particularly red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon. The Mediterranean climate is favourable for grape growing in this region.
Casablanca Valley
The Casablanca Valley is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes. It lies a little further from Santiago, some 83 km west of the city. The climate in this region is influenced by (cool) sea breezes, making the area ideal for the production of white wines. The region is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, but the Pinot Noir from this area is also an excellent wine.
Wineries
It will come as no surprise that there is a wide range of wineries scattered across Chile’s wine regions, some of which are even among the world’s leading wineries. With a focus on outstanding quality and innovation, Chilean wineries have gained international recognition for a range of wine varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère and Sauvignon Blanc.
In 2023, Viña Vik ranked third in the top 10 best wineries worldwide, making it the highest-ranked Chilean winery.
The Montes winery is also doing well, coming in at number 7 in this top 10! A visit to one of these wineries is well worth it.
We’ve put together a list of a few other interesting wineries for you, which are also well worth a visit:
- Concha y Toro
- Cousino Macul
- Viña Maquis
- MontGras
- Laura Hartwig Winery
- Viña Santa Carolina
- Perez Cruz
- Casa del Bosque
- Viña Indomita
Important to note: most of the wineries mentioned are wineries only, with no accommodation facilities. In most cases, you can visit the wineries independently or via a tour organised by your hotel in the vicinity of the specific winery.
Drive through the Chilean vineyards
Chilean wines are delicious and the regions where the grapes are grown are stunning. Drive through the vineyards in your own rental car and stop here and there for a guided tour, a tasting or a delicious dinner. Please do bear in mind that you mustn’t drive after having a glass of wine!
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13 days of wine and culinary delights in Chile
13 days of wine and culinary delights in Chile13
wine regions – driving – culinary
Drive through Chile’s wine regions, enjoy the world’s finest wines and treat yourself to some culinary delights
From €5,195 per person -
Unique accommodation
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Casa Real
The luxurious Casa Real is situated in the Maipo Valley on the historic Santa Rita vineyard. Viña Santa Rita is renowned for its range of premium wines, particularly its Cabernet Sauvignon. A stay at Casa Real guarantees an exclusive experience in a beautiful historic building, exquisite local cuisine and superb wine tours and tastings. A lovely base from which to explore the Maipo Valley.
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Matetic Vineyards
A typical colonial country house with ten stylish rooms, situated in the San Antonio Valley. The country house has over 100 years of history and has been furnished by Max Cummins. This is the ideal place for the ultimate wine experience. During your stay, you can visit the vineyard, explore the estate and, of course, sample the delicious wines.
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NOI Blend Colchagua
This charming boutique hotel is situated in the Colchagua Valley and combines the warm hospitality of Chilean culture with modern luxury. The rooms are stylishly furnished, and your taste buds will be delighted too. The NOI Blend Colchagua is a wonderful base from which to explore the local wine traditions. After a visit to the nearby vineyards, relax by the pool or unwind in the spa!
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Viña Vik
At Viña Vik, everything is exceptional: the hotel’s architecture, its own world-class wine and its refined cuisine. The hotel stands on a hill, overlooking the surrounding lush vineyards that owe their existence to owner Alexander Vik.
Fancy a tour of Chile?
Would you like to organise your own tour of Chile, including a visit to the wine regions, and are you curious about the options? Then do take a look at the itineraries we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have a question? Please feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’ll be happy to help.