Snow, wine and, if you have some time left, the Pacific Ocean. This is the triple desire of every Brazilian who visits Santiago for the first time. If the snow depends on the season and the Pacific involves a day trip to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, Chilean wines are always there. In this text, I have separated some experiences I had involving wine in Chile, from wineries to themed bars. All of them on the outskirts of Santiago or even within the Chilean capital.
Where to drink wine in Chile: Vinolia
Even the closest wineries are about an hour’s drive from Santiago. For those who have little time or difficulty getting around, but still want to know a little more about Chilean wines, a type of bar/restaurant offers to take its customers on a “wine adventure”. It’s Vinolia, which is located in the Vitacura neighborhood, one of the most interesting in Santiago.
The visit begins with a presentation of the main Chilean wine producing areas, such as the Colchágua Valley. Then, we move on to another area, the Senses Room, one of the highlights of the house – there are several aromas, separated by type. You walk around the area smelling the smells and trying to guess what it is – from peach to oak. The training helps with the next stage, which is the tasting, held in a kind of movie theater and accompanied by (many) cheeses.
The tour has scheduled times (12:30 pm, 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm). It costs 45 thousand Chilean pesos per couple. Afterwards, you can still end the day with a meal – and more wine – at the restaurant. You can buy and reserve online. Details on the Vinolia website. The address is Alonso de Monroy 2869, Local 5, Vitacura.
Photo: Disclosure
Where to drink wine in Chile: Emiliana
Halfway there is an organic winery – the first in the country. Emiliana is on the road between Santiago and Valparaíso, Ruta 68, a little closer to the port city than the Chilean capital. For this reason, it is a good stop for those who intend to do this day trip (and are willing to taste wines shortly after breakfast).
Emiliana’s wines do not use pesticides and pest control is carried out naturally. Notice the chickens that roam the vineyards, which have the dual function of plowing the land and eliminating pests that could affect the grapes.
The tour follows the classic pattern of vineyards, bodega and tasting and chat with winemakers, but there is a different option: at the end of the class, the traveler can determine the percentages of three types of grapes and thus create their own wine, mixing the Carménère, Cabernet Sauvinon and Merlot wines. Then just bottle it, label it and take it home.
Emiliana is located on Ruta 68, km 60.7, in Casablanca. Details and prices on the official website.
Where to drink wine in Chile: Concha Y Toro
“When Brazilian tourists come to Chile, they want to do two things: see the snow in the mountain range and visit Concha Y Toro”, says Maurício, a guide who accompanied me on my most recent visit to the country. Given the ubiquity of green and yellow travelers there from winter to summer, it’s hard to argue. The largest winery in Chile, with exports to more than 100 countries, Concha Y Toro is just over an hour from the center of Santiago, which makes it possible to do the tour in half a day.
See too:
Tour of the wineries of the Colchagua Valley, Chile
Concha Y Toro – visit to the famous Santiago winery
Visit and bike tour at Santa Rita winery, Chile
Where to eat and drink in Santiago – restaurant tips
The traditional visit passes through the vineyards, tells the story of the winery, which was opened in 1883, goes to the bodegas and ends with a wine and cheese tasting. The legend surrounding Casillero Del Diablo, the brand’s most famous line, is told through an animation, in a small cinema-bodega.
You can go to Concha Y Toro using public transport in Santiago. Just take the blue metro line and get off at Las Mercedes station. From there, another 10 minutes by taxi will take you to the winery. It is also possible to do this final stretch by bus. Lines 73, 80 and 81 stop nearby. You can book the tour on the official website, which is recommended in high season. Another alternative is to hire an agency tour. If you prefer this convenience, check out the options at your hotel counter.
Concha y Toro is one of the most famous wine producers in Chile. By Jess Kraft, Shutterstock.com
Where to drink wine in Chile: Santa Rita Winery
In Brazil, the Santa Rita winery is known for its 120, the house’s best-selling wine and whose name is linked to the history of Chile. Decades before producing wines, the Santa Rita mansion and land were already functioning as a farm. In 1814, 120 men from the army fighting for independence sought shelter there. Among them was General Bernardo O’Higgins, who later became Chile’s first president. And this is told in a creative way in the mansion where the soldiers took refuge, in a scheme similar to that used by the Concha y Toro winery to present the story of Casillero del Diablo wine.
Santa Rita offers seven types of tours to visitors. The classic tour is, as the name suggests, similar to what exists in any winery in the world. Groups of up to four people can take the private tour, while the premium tour includes a walk through the winery’s gardens, including a friendly little church and other farm buildings, as well as a wine and cheese tasting.
If you are driving, the route is via Autopista 5 Sul. It is also possible to go by public transport, combining metro and bus. See information on how to get there on the official Santa Rita website.
