The Wine Route in Chile - World Wine Tourism

Vines arrived in Chile in the 16th century via Spanish conquistadors and religious orders who needed wine for Mass. Today, the industry has grown considerably, producing some of the best wines in the world. In fact, did you know that the official wine of the Tour de France is Chilean ? The Bicicleta cuvée from the Cono Sur winery was chosen to represent this sporting event. The Chilean travel agency Chile Excepción suggests we land in Santiago, where our wine route begins: a loop around the capital, between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. Are your taste buds ready? Let's go!

The Maipo Valley: homage to Cabernet Sauvignon

Santa Rita

This valley, bordering the capital, has specialized in Cabernet Sauvignon, much to our delight. The climate is Mediterranean, with some variations between the vineyards of the western plains and those of Maipo Alto at the foot of the Andes, which benefit from cooler temperatures. Here you'll find Chile's two oldest and most important wine producers: Concha y Toro and Viña Santa Rita . The former offers a tour of the vineyards and a stroll through its vast landscaped grounds, where a tasting is also offered. We recommend trying the Almaviva , a wine produced in partnership with Baron Philippe de Rothschild, head of Château Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux. Near the latter winery, you'll find the Doña Paula restaurant, housed in an early 19th-century hacienda. It offers dishes that perfectly complement the region's typical wines.

The Colchagua Valley: Carménère, the king of grape varieties in Chile

Montes Cellars

In the area surrounding the city of Santa Cruz, the Colchagua Valley is the most dynamic in the country for wine tourism. Several climatic factors are favorable to grapevines: the significant temperature difference between day and night, and the warm climate that doesn't cool down thanks to the coastal mountain range, which blocks the winds from the Pacific. It's a perfect climate for intense wines like Syrah and Carménère, the quintessential Chilean wine. The Montes Winery produces one of the country's highest-rated wines. The building is integrated into the hillside, was built according to the advice of a feng shui master, and uses the principle of gravity for winemaking —no less! Its labels, Montes Alpha M, Montes Folly, and Purple Angel, are particularly striking.

The wines from the Viu Manent winery are of very high quality and are unique in that they are made from Malbec, a grape variety normally reserved for Argentinian wines. A horse-drawn carriage ride is planned before visiting the 1902 hacienda and enjoying a delicious food and wine pairing at the La Terraza restaurant.

Casa Apostolle

A local curiosity is Casa Apostolle , owned by the Grand Marnier family, which in 2006 inaugurated a building entirely dedicated to the production of its Clot Apalta, a very high-end blend of Carménère, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Its architecture is quite unique, resembling a nest or the staves of a burst barrel. Inside, a seven-story ellipse allows the wine to be made using gravity flow, a technique decidedly popular in the Chilean wine world.

The Casablanca Valley: White wine takes center stage in Chile

Indomita

We head back towards Valparaíso to explore the Casablanca Valley, which holds some wonderful surprises. The strong Pacific winds create a climate particularly conducive to the production of Chilean white wines: we particularly enjoyed some excellent Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Several wineries offer high-quality wines. We were particularly drawn to Indómita for its exuberant white palate that stands out from afar, and Casas del Bosque for its superb Sauvignon Blanc. A bonus of the latter: it's possible to participate in the grape harvest!

The Aconcagua Valley: from wineries to the peaks of Chile

Casas del Bosque

Even the roof of the Americas has its own vineyards! This valley, nestled in the Andes, is home to a small number of wineries, but those that exist are of exceptional quality. The Errázuriz winery , founded in 1870, is a prime example. Maximiano Errázuriz Valdivieso was the first to import his vines from France and settle in the Aconcagua Valley to begin his winemaking journey. His wines, such as the single-varietal Don Maximiano and Single Vineyard, or the Max Reserva blend, have won numerous awards and are widely exported. A visit to the estate begins with a stroll through the vineyards, surrounded by avocado orchards—a regional specialty—and culminates in a delightful tasting of Chilean wines.

Errazuriz

Want to learn more? Pack your bags and fly to Chile to get a feel for Chilean grape varieties!

Agathe (Argentina Excepción)