Argentina and Chile Blend
Argentina & Chile Wine Tour – What a Wine Combo!
Sheer wine pleasure. This Argentina and Chile wine tour is a superb opportunity to experience differing terroirs on both sides of the Andes. We take you to iconic, famous and quirky vineyards on a private, exclusive tour – everything is organised to suit you, with all of the days being fully customizable.
Argentina & Chile Wine Tour Highlights:
- Arrive in Santiago, Chile – enjoy a city tour if timing allows.
- Tour Santiago & Casablanca wineries – visits & pairing lunch at a winery.
- Aconcagua Valley – visits & traditional lunch in the countryside.
- Drive down to Colchagua – cooking class with lunch plus broad tasting.
- Full day in the Colchagua Valley – a choice of iconic visits and great gastronomy.
- Drive to Santiago airport and fly to Mendoza – free evening in Mendoza.
- Tour wineries in Lujan De Cuyo from Mendoza – pairing lunch opportunities.
- Drive down to the Uco Valley – lunch and winery visits during the afternoon.
- A full day of visits in the Uco Valley – traditional lunch stop and farewell dinner.
- Back to Mendoza – fly to Santiago (from here, home or extend your trip?)
You can start this tour in either Argentina or Chile, and end anywhere; we design the schedule around your flights and hotel preferences. You will use the short, direct flight from Santiago to Mendoza and back to complete the international route. Or you can extend to Buenos Aires from Mendoza.
Day 1 | Your First Night in Santiago
You have been picked up by us at the airport, driven to, and checked into your comfy hotel, enjoyed a hot shower, and you are now ready for a drink and to have something to eat. We recommend staying in the “El Golf” area of the city for great hotels and easy access to restaurants, wine bars and shopping – we will give you all the details during the planning stages.
Remember: Below are just suggestions – if you have some “must-do” wineries in mind, simply let us know.
Day 2 | Historic vs. Cutting Edge – Maipo
Today we start our exploration of Chilean winery contrasts. Firstly, we will take you on a tour and tasting at an iconic Santiago winery that is a national treasure, Cousiño Macul. Later, you will enjoy a great lunch, then tour and taste at the high-tech, modern architectural marvel that is Haras de Pirque. Along the way, we will add another visit to add extra interest and fun to your day, which will remain a surprise for now.
The Cousiño Macul winery was founded in 1856, and obviously at that time it did not lie within urban Santiago. When we arrive, we will enjoy a morning glass of wine to get our motors running, and then it’s off to have a look at some of the vineyards.
Onward we go, back to the vehicle and driving out into the nearby countryside for around 40 minutes. There are several options we can opt for en route, and the beauty of a private tour is that we can adapt to your interests. Many clients ask to visit the powerhouse, which is Concha y Toro, for example.
Arriving at the impressive Haras de Pirque, we will have lunch in the lovely restaurant first (other lunch options are also available), as you will probably be hungry at this stage, and then enjoy a tour and tasting of this Antinori property. The rest of our afternoon is spent here with some time to simply relax and sip with the view you see above before we head back into the city and drop you at your hotel.
Day 3 | The Aconcagua Valley
We build our time on this part of Argentina and Chile wine tour around the Errazuriz Winery as a “must-do” visit, and the benchmark for other wines in the country. Meltwater from the Aconcagua peak, the highest mountain in the Americas at nearly 23,000 feet above sea level, gives life to this valley. During our tastings throughout the Aconcagua region, you will have several chances to experience the effect of, and the difference between, coastal and mountain terroir.
After enjoying some of the Errazuriz wines, we will fit in another tasting at one of the wineries (Von Siebenthal, El Escorial, Sanchez de Loria, etc.) en route to the Viña San Esteban winery. The “In Situ” vineyards cling to the steep slopes of Mount Paidahuen, which provide increased drainage and vine stress while these same fields also benefit from healthy cool breezes and plenty of sunshine at great angles. With the selection and production techniques employed here, high-quality fruit is a given.
During the day, we will choose a place to eat that has local character and where you can try more traditional Chilean food.
Day 4 | The Casablanca Valley
This is a great day out, and there are so many wineries in the region that we won’t go into them here. When we are planning your trip, we can go into them with you. This cool climate region is home to many impressive set-ups that produce lovely wine. Some of our favourites are Bodegas RE, Villard, Casas del Bosque (a lovely lunch venue), Atillio y Moche, Emiliana and ViñaMar. But there are several other options too.
Day 5 | Drive down to the Colchagua Valley
Today we broaden your horizons even more on this Argentina and Chile wine tour when we pick you up after breakfast and head down to the lovely Colchagua Valley, the heartland of Chilean wine. The drive down from the capital will take around 3 hours.
There are several great lodging options in the town of Santa Cruz if you don’t choose an outlying vineyard hotel (speak to us about the options). This small town serves as a great base for exploring the Colchagua Valley, as there are wineries and vineyards a short drive in all directions. The very well-appointed Santa Cruz Plaza is a very popular hotel choice, and it has a great museum. The NOI Blend is also popular.
The winery visits will depend on our conversations about the options, but in any case, we will cover plenty of tours and tastings to keep your palate entertained.
Day 6 | A full day in the Colchagua Valley
In addition to some smaller, more rustic wineries, Colchagua is home to some heavy hitters such as Montes, Mont Gras, Maquis, Estampa, Lapostolle, Viu Manent, Santa Cruz and Casa Silva.
Another winery that clients often mention they would like to include in our Argentina and Chile wine tour is VIK. Massive investment has been made in this site, and the winery is very impressive, as are the wines. If you feel like splurging and treating yourself to something very luxurious, you could ask us to book you into the Vik Hotel.
Day 7 | Colchagua to Santiago
Today we will make our way back to Santiago for one more night before flying to Mendoza. We will visit two wineries on our way back, and either have a sit-down lunch or grab something on the fly if you would like to take advantage of the extra time. We will drop you off at your hotel, and you can enjoy Santiago nightlife once more.
Day 8 | Over the Andes to Mendoza
Today is a short travel day with the hop over the Andes Mountains. We will welcome you to Mendoza and offer you a chance to change some money (or use the ATM) and then whisk you off to check into your wine country Posada or city centre hotel. The neighbourhood of Chacras de Coria is popular among our guests, where small cafes, restaurants and plazas bustle with life, but some people prefer staying in the heart of Mendoza city, where a bigger range of hotel options exist.
Day 9 | Exploring Luján de Cuyo
Following a hearty country breakfast, our driver and guide will meet you for the start of your private Lujan de Cuyo wine tour and a day of exploring the area. We will begin at Bodega Benegas where we step back in time, touring a traditional winery owned by Federico Benegas, grandson of one of Mendoza’s most prominent wine industry players, Tiburcio Benegas.
Wineries are quite tightly grouped in this area, so we are driving very short distances between them, giving you maximum time at each. Next, we suggest a visit to Bodega Kaiken. The owners of Montes winery in Chile decided to extend their reach with a winery in Argentina and bought a winery originally built in 1920 and refitted it to modern standards. The wine is superb and benefits from different estate terroirs scattered around Lujan and Uco, according to the wishes of the Kaiken winemaker.
Bodega Lamadrid is next on the list. Experience which Bornardas, Cabernets, and Malbecs you like best in an exclusive tasting in the lovely underground cellar. The talented winemakers here blend different styles to capture the hearts and palates of wine enthusiasts looking for clean, balanced wines. Either here or en route, we will grab a late lunch or a snack – remember that this tour is private, hence flexible. If you are hungry at any time, just let your guide know; there are a great number of options to keep you fueled.
We will then drive west on a scenic drive through the splendid lower Andes. Now, during the days with us, if you need to stretch your legs, we can stop for short walks, and of course photo ops abound. In the late afternoon, we will drop you at your hotel and leave you free to relax.
Day 10 | From Lujan de Cuyo to the Uco Valley
Following breakfast, we will meet you, load your bags, and then your Argentina and Chile wine tour ventures into the Uco Valley.
During a technical tasting (or non-technical) led by one of the Matervini sommeliers, you can indulge yourself to the ultra-premium single-vineyard Malbecs made in 5 different native soil structures of Argentina’s western slopes of the Andes. Geology in a glass simplifies the experience of learning more about the expansiveness of Malbec’s potential.
To learn more about this incredible development, we visit Bodega Catena Zapata, a showcase winery designed like a Mayan temple overlooking dramatic views of vineyards and mountains. Taste from the barrels and later taste the same bottled wines with their team of Sommeliers. A visit to Catena Zapata requires booking well in advance, so please talk to us about this at the planning stage.
We will then head to Bodega Renacer for a delicious three-course wine pairing lunch. Revel in the warmth and beauty of the landscape as you enjoy the perfectly paired wine with each course.
After we have run the gamut of wines, we could check you into Posada Alpasion, one of our suggested hotels for this section of the tour. Another option would be the more expensive Casa de Uco if you have the budget to cover it.
Day 11 | The Uco Valley Experience
Firstly, we will be delighted with the wines and hospitality at Bodega Corazon del Sol. This is a small, yet ultra-modern winery where you can sip through the boutique collection and taste the vigour and uniqueness of his high altitude single vineyards. We will continue on for a traditional lunch of grilled meats for lunch at Gimenez Riili. Enjoy their delicious 5-course menu effortlessly paired with well-extracted, high-altitude Malbecs and Merlots in the company of the owners.
If you wish, we can add a dimension of art and architecture at three unique showcase wineries in the Clos de Los Siete. Begin with an introductory tasting in Bodega Cuvelier Los Andes. Next, explore the big diamond inside Bodega Diamandes, a winery owned by a French family, the Bonnies (owners of Château Malartic-Lagravière and Château Gazin Rocquencourt).
This winery elegantly pairs deeply complex wines with state-of-the-art architecture, designed by Bórmida and Yanzon studios. A play on words – Diamond and Andes – the winery celebrates the natural Andean landscape and ultra-premium Bordeaux-style wines. Next, marvel at the architectural masterpiece where old world meets new world in the remarkable winery Bodega Monteviejo. Enjoy a wine pairing lunch where world-famous winemaker Marcelo Pellereti’s unique portfolio of wines can be enjoyed with Chef Nadia Haron’s wonderful fusion dishes.
Depending on your departure time and arrangements, we may drive to Mendoza City this afternoon and check in at Casa Lila or a similar place, or you may stay overnight again in Uco.
Day 12 | Farewell to Mendoza
Unfortunately, at some point your Argentina and Chile wine tour comes to an end. What you do next will very much depend on if you want to combine any more destinations while you are down here. If you are travelling on to other wine regions or countries (Brazil, for example?), then we will deal with continued arrangements for you and pick you up when you arrive at your next destination.
If you are going home, we will check you in and wave goodbye to you and your accumulated knowledge, memories and bottles stashed in your luggage.