Top 5 Chilean Wine Regions and Wine Tasting Tours
A trip to Chile is as popular with people who want to relish the good things in life, as it is with the adventure enthusiasts. Good wine draws as many crowd to this country as does its Andes mountain range. If you enjoy the finer things in life; walking in green fields, hearing stories, sipping on fine wine, and eating some delectable food, then a visit to the top Chilean wine regions should be on your list of things to do in Chile.
Let us walk you through the five primary wine regions (in no particular order) in Chile:
- Gwendolyn Thorne
Known for being one of the cooler Chilean wine regions, Casablanca Valley offers enthusiasts and connoisseurs top quality wines, especially Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
- Recommended Wineries:
- Casas del Bosque: A charming winery which has carved a niche for itself in the wine industry for sea salt-flavored white wines, Casas del Bosque will serve you some of the best you’ve ever tasted. Make sure you try Casas del Bosque Winemaker's Selection Sauvignon Blanc and take home the award-winning Casas del Bosque Syrah Gran Reserva, 2013.
- Viña Morandé: While they have a selection of amazing Pinot Noir and delicious Chardonnay, it is their Morandé Pionero Pinot that will create an unforgettable adventure for your taste buds. And if you want to take a bottle of their best wine home, go for Morandé Gran Reserva Pinot Noir.
- Things to Do: While you are here, don’t miss exploring the lovely Santiago and exquisite Valparaíso area.
- Best time to visit: September to June
- Suggested Wine Tours
- 4 wineries in a day
- Wine tour in Casablanca
Maipo Valley is an oasis of green fields surrounded by imposing mountains that screams for a short hike. And if hiking isn’t your cup of tea, the valley has so much to offer for those who prefer a glass of wine. The vineyards in Maipo offer Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, and Syrah as primary grapes. But the area is best known for the similarity between the full-bodied red blends produced in Alto Maipo and the Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.
- Recommended wineries:
- De Martino: Bringing tradition and innovation together in wine making, De Martino winery is a place with an incredible personality. Enhance your visit here with a taste of their spicy Estate Carménère; one of the best in the world. As for souvenir, take home a bottle of Legado Reserva Syrah.
- Aquitania: Another amazing vineyard producing bottle after bottle of high-quality wine since its establishment in 1990 is Aquitania. Be mesmerized by the elegance of their intense deep purple Carménère as you admire the picturesque landscapes the location has to offer. Don’t leave without buying a bottle of the famous Lazuli.
- Things to Do: This area is a paradise for hikers who want to get in touch with nature and explore the famous Cajon del Maipo.
- Best time to visit: September to March.
Elqui Valley is important for its role in the wine production of Chile. An amazing destination for great wine tastings, as well as vineyard tours, they valley is known for its primary grapes, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc.
- Recommended wineries:
- Falernia: A fantastic winery offering great products, a visit to Falernia is incomplete without trying their Chardonnay. Its rich, floral and fruity aroma will linger on your palate long enough to remind you to get a bottle of it. And while you are shopping don't leave without a bottle of Viña Falernia - Carmenere Reserva 2014.
- Cavas del Valle: It is an amazing vineyard and winery offering organic products created in the most traditional ways. Taste the velvety intense Cavas del Valle Alto del Silencio Syrah 2009 and leave only after buying a bottle of Gran Reserva Syrah 2011.
- Things to Do: Many trekking routes, horse riding opportunities, cycle paths and off-road tours are waiting for you here. End your adventure with a spectacular view of the stars – the location is famous for being the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary.
- Best Time to Visit: December to February
- Suggested wine tour: Elqui Valley wine tour
When you arrive in Colchagua Valley, you begin to wonder if Neruda was right when he said about this country, “Chile is a gentle grape.” The warm climate here is interrupted by the cool ocean breeze, making it the prime region for the Bordeaux variety to thrive. Known as Chile’s Napa Valley, it is definitely a must visit if you want to try some of the best wines in Chile.
- Recommended Wineries:
- Lapostolle winery: Pay a visit to the charming winery and make sure you don’t miss its elegant and fruity red wine. Also, don’t leave without taking home a bottle of the dark red Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon 2013.
- Viña Santa Cruz: A fantastic vineyard with an observatory where you can enjoy stargazing while tasting their delicious, intense Sauvignon Blanc. If you want to take one of its best wines home, go for Chamán Gran Reserva: Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Things to Do: Colchagua Valley is a great destination for all kinds of travelers, offering a variety of activities, from vineyards tours and wine tasting to camping, biking or horseback riding.
- Best time to visit: October to May
5. Limarí Valley
Known for its fabulous landscapes, delicious tropical fruits and the amazing white wine, Limarí Valley is another wine region in Chile you should visit. Thanks to the Napa Valley-like weather, with cool, wet mornings, and warm, dry afternoons, the primary grapes found in the vineyards of Limarí Valley are Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and the star - Chardonnay.
- Recommended Wineries:
- Viña Tabalí: A great vineyard and winery located on the southern bank of Chile's beautiful Limarí Valley, you don’t want to miss trying a glass of their Pinot Noir. You are bound to fall in love with its earthy and juicy flavor. And if you still want to take home something other than the Pinot, take an exclusive bottle of Tabalí Payen.
- Maycas del Limarí: An exquisite boutique winery, this is where you will find another very fine glass of Pinot Noir to enjoy. Savor every sip! You might also want to take home the deep and intense purple Maycas del Limari Sumaq Reserva Syrah 2015 to share with your loved ones.
- Things to Do: Visiting the well-known Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park and relaxing on Playa Los Lobos can definitely enhance your trip to Limarí Valley.
- Best time to visit: October
These are the top 5 Chilean wine regions where you can get closer to the bewildering diversity and the extraordinary taste of the wine produced in this country. Find the perfect wine tasting tour in Chile for yourself, or head alone to the wineries for a wine tasting during your trip to Chile.
Alternatively, you can ask our travel experts to include a visit to one of these wine destinations on your customized tour to Chile.
