Raising A Glass To The Best Wineries In The Chilean Wine Country
Red, bold and full-bodied. Yes, we’re talking about Chilean wines, and what better way to savor them than in the wineries themselves? Journey to the exquisite Chilean wine country and raise a glass to some of the best wine tasting experiences Chile has to offer.
The Chilean wine country is vast and boasts a plethora of incredible wineries, so narrowing down which ones to visit during your luxury wine tour of Chile can be challenging. To help guide you, our team of travel experts journeyed into the heart of the region in search of the best viticultural experiences…
Wine Tours In Chile
Chile has been producing wine since the 1550s, longer than any other country in the Americas. Today, it’s the seventh largest wine supplier in the world.
With hot summers, moderate rainfall and cool Pacific winds, this long, skinny country stretching down South America’s western coast has an optimal climate for growing grapes. Its most famous varieties are Pinot Noir, Carménère, Cabaret and Sauvignon Blanc, but the lesser known Pais, Carignan and Petit Verdot are also typical of Chile.
It’s a relatively short drive to the wineries in the dry and sunny Central Valley region, just south of Santiago. Many of the best are scattered around the Colchagua Valley – dubbed the ‘Napa Valley of Chile’ – and are open to the public.
After a few days exploring, swiveling and sipping, we bring you our five favorite Chilean wineries perfect for any wine tour in Chile…
Viña Almaviva
Viña Almaviva is no doubt one of the best wineries in Chile, offering a collaboration between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro. It is a charming chateau-style bodega boasting modern wood-paneled rooms and doors made from oak barrels. It’s also the closest winery on our list to Santiago.
Viña Almaviva releases one Bordeaux blend per year which marries the unbeatable Chilean terroir with traditional French winemaking. Almaviva has received worldwide acclaim, including an outstanding rating of 95/100 from Wine Spectator for its 2005 Carménère, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
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Viña Vik
This boutique hotel-bodega in Millahue produces top-quality wine and features a unique avant-garde design – it’s a must for modern architecture buffs. What’s more, as its nestled deep in the valley and surrounded by the Andes Mountains, it feels alluringly remote.
The state-of-the-art facility uses advanced technology and progressive methods to produce excellent wines. Best of all, visitors can enjoy a tour of the expansive vineyards on horseback or mountain bike, followed by lunch on the restaurant terrace overlooking the infinity pool and the green valley below.
Viña Lapostolle
This traditional Chilean hacienda-style winery was co-founded by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle of France, whose family owns the world-renowned liqueur Grand Marnier. A must-see on your luxury wine tour in Chile, Viña Lapostolle is known for producing world-class wine that unites French expertise with Chile’s excellent terroirs.
With 370 hectares spread across three separate vineyards, Viña Lapostolle produces a total of 200,000 cases a year of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Carmenère. Today, the winery’s main focus is the production of its signature wine, Clos Apalta.
At the superb on-site restaurant, resident chefs prepare a special menu for each wine, using organic vegetables gleaned from the winery’s own garden.
Neyen Vineyard
Nestled in a horseshoe-shaped ring of mountains in the Apalta Valley, Neyen’s 300-acre winery is protected from harsh westerly winds by the surrounding mountains. Its ideal location has helped the vineyard build a strong reputation for producing spectacular red wine.
Neyen Vineyard is the oldest bodega in the Apalta Valley and one of the most atmospheric. Its beautiful products are complimented by authentic design touches; we loved the original tiled walls.
During your wine tour, Neyen will put on a gourmet picnic lunch and host hikes into the valley that end, of course, with a private tasting of their wonderful wines.
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Montes Winery
Located in the heart of Apalta in the Colchagua Valley, Montes is a large, modern winery with a choice of luxury wine tasting tours. Our favorite wine tour featured a 4×4 trip up a hilltop with panoramic views of the winery and surrounding rural landscape.
The wine tours here are captivating, especially when visiting the barrel room as Gregorian chants are played to the wine-filled barrels 18 hours a day. The guides explained this is said to add soft vibrations to the wine and improve the end product. It must work, as the wine itself is phenomenal and several Montes labels have been awarded scores of more than 90 points by the Wine Advocate and Wine Enthusiast.
Another reason to visit Montes Winery on your luxury tour of Chilean wine country is the on-site restaurant. The menu was created by Argentina’s most charismatic chef, Francis Mallmann, and offers you the chance to sample his signature smoked and roasted meats, cooked on an open-air spit in front of you.
For more details on our luxury wine tours in Chile, contact one of our travel experts today.
Tailor-Made Wine Tours In Chile
Embark on a tantalizing, tailor-made wine tour in Chile.
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