South American Wine Country - Chile & Argentina
8 days / 7 nights
Let us join you to this trip to the new wine - growing region and experience the authentic savor and aroma of South America. You can't miss the opportunity to enjoy, live and be excited with this amazing program that will capture your senses with the majestic Andes blessed with mountains, valleys, wine regions of sheer beauty. Let us show you the marvels that we were priviliged to experience!
Day 1: Santiago (Chile).
Arrival at Pudahuel International Airport. Transfer in to the Hotel and Check in.
Free day for optional activities or just to relax yourself.
Day 2: Sightseeing around Santiago city.
After lunch, we pick you up to discover Chile's main city.
We will visit the most important historical sites of Santiago including the downtown area surrounding the Plaza de Armas and the Presidential Palace. We will also pass by the Mercado Central, one of
Chile´s largest fresh seafood markets and take a stroll by the many bustling stalls to see the tremendous variety available from
Chile´s beautiful sea. We will visit some of the lesser know barrios of
Santiago including, Republica and Concha y Toro. Initially constituting the outskirts of the city, the capital's constant growth transformed the area into a privileged neighborhood and home of
Santiago's high society. There will be time to walk around and take photos of the many styles of architecture from dating back to the 19th and early 20th century. Continuing through the Lastarrias neighborhood we will walk through the Parque Forestal passing by the
Bellas
Artes
Museum. For a scenic vista of the city, we will visit the top of Cerro San Cristobal hill
600 feet above the city.
During the tour you will have the option to visit one Santiago´s many excellent museums such as: The Cousino Mansion, the former home to one of Chile's wealthiest 19th century families; or, the
La Chascona Museum, the former home of Pablo Neruda, Chile's most famous Nobel laureate; or, the Pre-Colombian Museum, containing one of the richest collection of Pre-Columbian culture of Latin America.
Day 3: Maipo Valley -
Classic Chilean terroir
Departing
Santiago at 9:00 a.m. we will drive south along the foothills of the Andes and stop by some exciting new wineries in the
Maipo
Valley
. This old and most famous of
Chile's wine valleys, is home to many of
Chile's famous wineries such as Concha y Toro, Cousino Macul and Santa Rita and is also famous for its Cabernet Sauvignons. An informative and fun experience is in store at our first stop in the small winery of Roberto Muñoz. Aptly named Paseos del Vino (Wine Steps) he passionately describes his artisan winemaking process where everything is done by hand. Perez Cruz is our next stop. With its ultra-modern architecture, state-of-the art technology and their diverse soil conditions from clay texture to smooth pebbles & sand, they are producing highly acclaimed Malbec, Carmenere & Cabernet Sauvignon. We will stop for lunch in the town of
Pirque in the eclectic Septimo Cielo. Finally, we will visit the small boutique winery Aquitania where two well-known agronomists and wine makers from Bordeaux, France, Paul Pontallier (of Chateau Margaux) and Bruno Prats (former owner of Cos d'Estournel) are producing delicious wines and still labeling bottles by hand.
Day 4:
Trip to the Andes Mountains
After breakfast, we departure to Mendoza wine growing area. During our trip, we will sightsee the wine area of Aconcagua Valley in the Andes.
The Aconcagua Valley is Chile's smallest wine valley but very well known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah production.
Then, we continue to the International Tunnel "Cristo Redentor", through a meandered path "The Snails of Portillo" that in only
16 Kms it rises
1000 meters and it counts on 32 curves of 180º. It is an exciting experience you can´t miss!
Once in Mendoza, a wonderful viewpoint allows us to see the Aconcagua Mt in all its splendor, wich stands at
6,962 meters (
22,841 feet) above sea level. The mountains in the Andes of Mendoza are the highest in the world outside of the Himalayas.
The trip continues towards several other small mountain towns, Puente del Inca, a natural bridge where Las Cuevas river has drilled into the mountains forming this incredible natural attraction. Thermal water emerges from different areas and several pools are being used by the climbers as a free spa.
The following section of the route leads us to Uspallata, framed by mountainous landscapes with changing colours, filled with various geological formations and many tunnels on the road. The famous film "Seven years in Tibet" was filmed in this valley.
Continuing the tour to Mendoza, we will discover the residential area of Chacras de Coria, a quiet village surrounded by vineyards and ancient wineries.
Accommodation at a well located boutique hotel.
Day 5: Sightseeing around Mendoza City
We pick you up at 10.00 am for a City tour, where you will visit the most important attractions of Mendoza City: the foundation area -known as The Old Town-, and the new city with its beautiful squares and main streets. It ends at the Cerro de
la Gloria, where a monument in memory of the Andes´ Army is located. From there you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
Then,
we will visit the Ayllu Handcraft Market, a new store where you can find interesting things related to the Southamerican culture.
Return to the lodge.
Day 6: Lujan de Cuyo: The Land of Malbec
We pick you up at 9am to enjoy a full day tour around Lujan de Cuyo and Maipú wine regions, the first wine growing area, and to
discover Argentina's most prestigious bodegas (wineries).
Our first stop is at Bonfanti, a boutique winery located in Perdriel, Lujan de Cuyo. Since he was a child, Roberto Bonfanti, son of italian inmigrants, took interested in the cultural works of the vineyards. His passion and dedication throughout the years, can be nowadays appreciated in his awarded wines.
Then, we continue to Finca Decero, a new winery with a superb view of the Andes mountain range. The privileged characteristics of the terroir and the weather conditions of the area allow the cultivation of outstanding red grapes.
After our tour and tasting we are going to have an exclusive gourmet lunch at Ruca Malen, enjoying its delicious cuisine as well as a vertical wine tasting. Ruca Malén works with the key concept of quality, in order to produce wines of style, elegance, and distinction.
Your tour ends with a visit to the Bodega Tapiz, owned years ago by Jess Jackson and his Kendall-Jackson wine group. Carolina Fuller is a charming Anglo-Argentine guide with a great passion, expertise and infectious enthusiasm for wine making. She will show us the vineyards and explain planting, pruning and harvesting techniques,
encouraging tastings at every stage of the process, from grapes to bottle. Tapiz usually include a horse ride through the vineyard...so be prepared for this adventure !
We return to the hotel by 5:30pm.
Day 7: Uco Valley: Wine tasting in the Andes
We pick you up at 09.30 from your hotel to visit the exclusive high-altitude wine growing area of Valle de Uco (1 and half hour-drive from Mendoza City).
Well inside the first mountainsides of the Andes foothills, the Uco Valley presents the highest altitudes at which wines are produced in the province of Mendoza: up to
1,400 meters above sea level. The best wines are produced from grape varieties that have short ripening cycles, especially Chardonnay, Semillon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.
Our first visit will be to Bodega Salentein, a modern winery located at the foothills of the Tupungato Mountain. They are producing one of the best Pinot Noir Reserves. We will also visit The "Killka" Convention Center, their cinema and Art Gallery.
We continue for lunch at one of the great rising stars of the region, ¨La Tupiña¨, located at Bodega Altus. We
will have the opportunity to enjoy the regional cuisine of the well-known chef Lucas Bustos. The lunch begins with tapas and white wine, then moves on to the dinning room where we have a stew (locro), then a meat course (baby goat ¨a la tupiña¨ and lamb comfit, accompanied with pureed potatoes and leeks, baked tomatoes and lemon and mint sauce), and finally an amazing dessert (bitter chocolate terrine with raisins). Each course is served with a different Altus wine. The whole lunch experience takes about three hours !
Our last stop is
La Azul,
a boutique winery
from argentinian capitals. It
produces high-end red wines, with the smallest production in the Uco Valley: just
35,000 total bottles a year.
We will return at
approximately 6:30pm.
Day 8: Mendoza.
After breakfast, you will be escorted
to Mendoza International Airport "El Plumerillo".
Price per person:
USD $2890. - PRIVATE TOUR-
Please note:
This exciting
package
is a totally private wine experience and is NOT a group tour. Available all year round.
Our tour includes:
Mendoza
Holidays Winner ¨Best of Wine Tourism Awards 09/10¨
Note:
Early reservations for this tour are recommended.
Visits to different wineries or restaurants may vary at times according to season but we guarantee the highest standards to ensure that our customers find the best wines and enjoy a fantastic visit to the Mendoza Wine Country.
