Holidays in Wine Country

Chile's Wine Regions

Chile's various wine regions offer different characteristics, both in terms of the wines produced and in the scenery and activities you can enjoy.

Northern Regions: Elqui and La Serena

In the north of the country there are vineyards as far north as the Atacama Desert, but they are especially found in the popular Elqui Valley. They have only recently started producing wines, specifically cool-climate Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc, but are most famous for producing Chile’s national liquor, Pisco. These vineyards distil a clear spirit which the Chileans know as brandy, although the Western palate probably wouldn’t agree! The paler varieties are less sweet and similar in taste to some white tequilas, while the barrel-aged varieties are golden in colour with a sweeter aroma and could be compared to cognac. The Mistral Distillery is a great choice if you want to learn how Pisco is made and taste a few varieties.

Central Regions: Maipo and Colchagua

The Maipo Valley, closest to Santiago, is known for its Cabernets and is easy to visit from the capital. Concha y Toro is one of the oldest and largest wineries in the whole of South America and is just over half an hour from the city; it produces the famous Casillero del Diablo line. If you are planning a trip to Valparaíso or Viña del Mar then it’s worth stopping-off in the Casablanca Valley for a taste of Chile’s first cool-climate wines, grown in the saltier ocean soils. This area excels with its whites, including crisp Sauvignon and Chardonnay. One of the best wineries to visit in this area is Loma Largo which is almost a boutique wine producer. And nearer the coast is the up and coming region of Lo Abarca where some of the wineries are just a couple of miles from the sea.

Approximately 100km south of Santiago is the Cachapoal Valley and it’s slightly bigger neighbour the Colchagua Valley, the second being a world renowned wine producing region and a very popular spot for tourists to visit. The grapes grown here are mainly red varieties especially Cabernet Sauvignon, although Malbec and Bordeaux are also produced in this area. One of the country’s oldest and grandest vineyards can be found in the Colchagua Valley, Casa Silva, which is worth a visit to taste its fabulous Carménères.

Southern Regions: Maule and Itata

Further south you’ll find the largest wine region in the country, the Valley of Maule, where a huge variety of grapes are grown, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Carignan, Merlot and Carménère, among others. There are a huge selection of great vineyards to visit in this area, notably Balduzzi, Gillmore and Botalcura. An hour or so further is the Itata Valley, thought to be the oldest and southernmost wine region in Chile, with some of the first vines arriving in the port of Concepción in colonial times.