Final Up to date on February 7, 2026 by Eve Dawes

Chile vineyard excursions, vineyards, eating places & lodging in Colchagua Valley

Colchagua Valley, Chile is among the greatest wine areas in Chile, famend for producing a few of the greatest Chilean wine. The Colchagua Valley wine area is known worldwide, notably for its crimson wine, with iconic producers comparable to Lapostolle placing Chile firmly on the worldwide wine map. Whereas researching one of the best Chilean wine area to go to for Chile vineyard excursions, Colchagua Valley constantly got here out on prime due to its excellent vineyards, surroundings, and wine experiences. On this Colchagua Valley journey information, I’m sharing one of the best wineries together with a cease at Concha y Toro in Maipo Valley en route, wine excursions, genuine eating places with views, the lodge we stayed at, and a advised itinerary that can assist you plan your journey.

Chile has a number of unimaginable wine areas, however this information explains why we selected Colchagua Valley and the best way to go to with out becoming a member of an organized group tour. I’ll additionally cowl one of the best eating places, lodging, and wineries to go to in Colchagua Valley, Chile, so you possibly can expertise the area at your individual tempo and profit from this world-class wine vacation spot.

When you don’t have greater than a day to spare, you are able to do a wine tasting day tour to Maipo Valley, one other fantastic Chilean wine area, from Santiago. We selected to go for longer and set up winery and vineyard excursions ourselves so we might go the place we wished and at our personal tempo.

Chile Wine Areas: The Prime 5 wine areas in Chile

These are considered the highest 5 wine areas in Chile:

• Colchagua Valley – is known for it’s Chile vineyard excursions. It’s truly within the Rapel Valley in Chile’s central valley simply South of Santiago however has turn into extra well-known than the area it’s in.
• Maipo Valley
• Limari Valley
• Aconcagua Valley
• Casablanca Valley

Is Chilean wine good?

Sure, you could find many wonderful wines in Chile, no matter your palate. Chile is thought primarily for it’s crimson wine, the commonest being Cabernet Sauvignon and the preferred being Carménère. Though, they’ve so many grape varieties all through their wine areas together with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blancs for my white wine drinkers. They

Tips on how to Spend 3 Days and three Nights in Colchagua Valley and Maipo Valley Wine Tasting in Chile

You’ll be able to e book someday Colchagua Valley wine excursions and Maipo Valley wine excursions from Santiago. Nevertheless, all of my household loves wine and winery landscapes so we knew we wanted greater than a day to go to in all places. We like totally exploring areas, relatively than simply bouncing from winery to winery at break neck pace. We did that sufficient the primary couple of instances we went to Napa!

We additionally added a cease at Concha Y Toro in Maipo Valley because it’s en path to Santa Cruz, Colchagua Valley. It’s some of the widespread Chilean wines within the UK, the place my mother and father and I are from. Not solely is Concha Y Toro among the best wineries in Maipo Valley however among the best wineries in Chile, well-known for his or her ‘Casillero Del Diablo’. So we made this our first cease and I extremely suggest doing the identical.

That is how we spent our 3 days in Colchagua Valley, Chile wine tasting.

Colchagua & Maipo Valley wine area tour: Day 1

Tips on how to get to Colchagua Valley from Santiago

We flew into Santiago on Copa Airways (utilizing our United miles) and spent a few days there on the Icon Resort. When you’re planning on visiting there, learn the Santiago journey information for journey ideas and strategies.

Santa Cruz within the Colchagua Valley wine area is a couple of 2.5-3 hour drive south of Santiago and referred to as the “Napa of Chile”, producing primarily Cabs, Carmenere, Syrah and Merlot. Additionally they do some nice whites and rosés for non crimson wine lovers.

We drove from Santiago all the way down to our lodge in Santa Cruz. This gave the impression to be the closest place to remain to the wineries in Colchagua Valley that we’d determined we wished to go to after a lot of analysis.

Tips on how to get to Concha Y Toro Vineyard Tour

Concha Y Toro vineyard is a couple of 45 minute drive South East of Santiago in Maipo Valley, Pirque. It may be complicated which of Concha Y Toros addresses to go to however its Avenida Virginia Subercaseaux, 210 Pirque.

TIP: Don’t use WAZE in Chile. It doesn’t actually work anyplace in Chile and gave the longest route in comparison with Google or Apple maps.

Greatest vineyards in Maipo Valley: Concha Y Toro vineyard tour and tastings

Most likely some of the well-known Chile vineyard excursions and wine producers. It’s actually a should see vineyard if you happen to’re visiting Maipo Valley, Colchagua Valley, or Santiago. The Wine Tour at Concha Y Toro we did included a tour of the grounds and wine cellar, in addition to wine tastings. It’s undoubtedly a must-do vineyard tour within the Maipo Valley wine area.

The primary wine tasting they gave us was their Sauvignon Blanc which is completed on their terrace with views of the vineyards. I’m positive the views and solar made it style higher as I don’t usually like Sauv Blanc however this was beautiful. I even purchased a bottle to go. This sauvignon blanc doesn’t style of Elderflower which some can however extra like a light-weight French chardonnay.

Don’t fear, they don’t simply do reds, in addition they do whites (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Brut). In addition to a wonderful rosé wine which we stocked up on for pool aspect on the lodge.

The grounds at Concha Y Toro, Chile are completely stunning! It’s like strolling by means of an English nation backyard, so we felt proper at residence. With an ornate residence, giant lake and magnolia bushes overlooking their vineyards.

The opposite tastings have been performed simply exterior of their cellar. Their cellar is named the ‘Satan’s Cellar ‘and the legend is that the Satan lives in them, which was to guard the wine from thieves. For the reason that earthquake in 2010, all barrels are solely saved 2-3 barrels excessive. If you wish to maintain consuming, they promote a very good Sangria of their courtyard café.

Concha Y Toro is widespread worldwide and straightforward to get to from Santiago so one of many busier vineyards which implies you have to e book your Concha Y Toro Vineyard Tour upfront. We booked the 11:40 am tour figuring that allowed us to be leisurely within the morning and get 1 wine tour in earlier than lunch earlier than persevering with the drive.

Lunch en route from Santiago to Santa Cruz

Be warned, there isn’t actually anyplace to eat between Concha Y Toro and Santa Cruz in addition to a service space. Your greatest wager is to eat lunch on the Concha Y Toro café. I’d hoped to eat lunch at Vina El Priñcipal however nobody responded to our e mail and the guard on the gates wouldn’t allow us to in, so we resorted to the service station restaurant. Don’t do what we did!

Subsequent vineyard: You would try to e book the final tour of the day which is at 4 pm at Clos Apalta/Lapostelle however I’d suggest doing it the subsequent day so that you’re not rushed. Lapostelle was solely an 18 minute drive if you happen to keep on the lodge we did in Santa Cruz (La Perla, extra concerning the lodge later on this publish). That is one other winery that’s by reservation solely which just about appears the usual for the entire vineyards right here. You’ll be able to’t simply rock up and hope they’ll squeeze you in. Most require that you just to do a tour and don’t supply tastings solely.

We selected to simply chill by the pool and play playing cards earlier than dinner after the drive from Santiago.

The place to eat dinner in Santa Cruz, Colchagua Valley Chile

We ate dinner on the first night time at Casa Colchagua which the lodge concierge had suggest to us. It felt essentially the most genuine out of the three eating places we had dinner at and the parts are big. Glad husband and Dad! The Empanada Trio have been one of the best empanadas we had throughout our journey and the pork stomach was lean and completely cooked. Evidently we slept nicely, particularly because the lodge is so quiet, and possibly because of a little bit wine.

Day 2: Colchagua Valley Chile Wine Tasting

The following day we had two Colchagua Valley wine tour scheduled: Vina Casa Silva and Viu Manent wineries. Up to now, we’ve performed the speeding round and doing 5 wineries a day factor and determined to be extra leisurely this time. We have been bouncing round Chile sufficient over 2 weeks and in addition wished to go away time to be spontaneous.

1. Vina Casa Silva: Conventional model Chilean wine tour

When you’re in search of a conventional Chile wine tour, this might be my prime advice. Our day began right here at Casa Silva (your sat nav might direct you to their lodge however simply maintain happening the street a little bit additional and also you’ll discover the vineyard). Vina Casa Silva is about an hour from Santa Cruz however so definitely worth the drive. It was my favourite of the entire wineries for a lot of causes and surprisingly, a type of wasn’t the wine!

It’s the oldest and most conventional vineyard in Colchagua Valley and some of the stunning vineyards in Chile. Casa Silva’s recognized for its Carmeneres but in addition does white and glowing wine. The Beginner Expertise is $19.000 pp (Chilean not USD) and features a brief video historical past, a tour by means of cellars of the Angostura Property, and ends with a tasting of three Reserva Cuvée Colchagua wines: 2 crimson & 1 white or 1 glowing wine.

Fortunately, we’d given ourselves enought time to be spontaneous which meant we had time for a scenic lunch on the terrace of Casa Silva’s Polo Membership. This has gorgeous views of the mountains and vineyards and fabulous meals (get the pulled pork sopapilla and espresso). We even stumbled throughout an genuine rodeo subsequent to the Polo discipline.

Actually, none of us preferred any of the wines and even the glowing however that didn’t take away from the expertise. We ended up spending about 3 hours right here in complete. Casa Silva lodge could also be one other good lodge possibility if you happen to’d relatively be on this space.

A couple of Polo details I realized…and also you thought this was going to be all about Chilean wine:

• You want not less than 32 horses to play Polo
• You could play proper handed.
• Polo ponies are literally full-size horses.

Viu Manent Wine Tasting Tour Colchagua Valley

Our subsequent Chilean vineyard tour was at Viu Manent which we’d selected over others as they embrace a horseback carriage tour by means of their vineyards, which I believed could be romantic. In addition to a tasting of unfinished wine from their chrome steel tanks. We deliberate the route this solution to end up on the vineyard closest to La Perla lodge because it’s solely a 12 minute drive away.

The horse carriage tour wasn’t as I’d imagined as we have been crammed in with 8 different vacationers. So not fairly so romantic however nonetheless value doing. Tapping the wine within the chrome steel tank was an attention-grabbing expertise. It wasn’t completed so we knew to count on it to not style good nevertheless it was attention-grabbing to style it by means of the processes earlier than ending up within the classroom for the Chilean wine tasting.

I truly actually loved doing the wine tastings in a classroom setting. One factor I keep in mind from the category is that wine with screw caps don’t final so long as these with corks created from one piece. I believed it was the opposite approach round.

Viu Manent Chilean wines you’ll get to style

We obtained to attempt 5 wines throughout this tour:

Viu Manent Sauvignon Blanc: That is from their secret line and 100% Sauvignon Blanc grape. I usually don’t like Sauv Blancs as they’re too floral (Elderflower) for me however the Chilean Sauvignon Blancs don’t appear to have that taste. I’m actually liking their vivid stone fruit and citrus flavors with out being candy.

Reserve Chardonnay by Viu Manent : I preferred each of their whites and that is a straightforward consuming summer season white with no oakiness.

Viu Manent Malbec Grand Reserve 2017: I’m not likely the fitting individual to evaluate reds. What I can let you know is that this spends 12 months on a French Oak Barrel. I used to be anticipating it to be easy nevertheless it appeared sharp and acidic to me.

Viu Manent ViBo Mix (Cab/Malbec): Easy and low in tannins. This one spends 18 months on oak, is fruity and never smoky. It was my favourite of their reds.

Single Winery Line Carmenere 2017 by Viu Manent: Smoky, oaky and peppery. I don’t like pepper in order quickly as there’s pepper within the tasting notes you’ve misplaced me. For others it’s a well-liked taste. That’s what I like about wine, there’s one thing for everybody.

Dinner at Viu Manent restautant, Colchagua Valley

We went again to Viu Manent’s Restaurant within the night after seeing it through the day and having it on my record of the place to eat within the wine valley. It overlooks the horse paddock and vineyards however is the mistaken course for sundown. It was nonetheless completely stunning although.

The oysters have been buttery and never briny which is how we like them. The ceviche and tartare have been recent and flavorful particularly washed down with some extra of their Sauvignon Blanc!

Dinner and wine among the many vines at Viu Manent Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile.

Day 3 Colchagua Valley wine area: Chile vineyard excursions

We spent the morning poolside on the lodge with an enormous lunch and the Chilean rosé wine we’d introduced from Concha Y Toro earlier than doing the ultimate vineyard tour. The poolside bar at La Perla Resort is the one place to eat after breakfast on the lodge and doesn’t open till 2pm.

It took about an hour for lunch to be ready recent, so be sure you permit sufficient time if you happen to’re planning on doing a day tour or are used to consuming lunch earlier. Lunch in Chile is all the time later than we’re used to within the US and England, and usually round 2pm. With dinner being round 9pm and plenty of eating places not opening for dinner till 7.30pm. Our final vineyard tour was at Clos Apalta and Lapostelle.

See Additionally

Clos Apalta and Lapostelle Colchagua Valley Vineyard Tour

Clos Apalta and Lapostelle are excessive up on the hillside in a very fashionable vineyard constructed to seem like a birds nest, it seems to be like a wine barrel to me. It affords a few of the greatest views of Colchagua Valley. Their vineyard spans over 5 flooring and also you get to go to all of them earlier than the tasting on the underside degree. Properly the underside degree to the general public, there’s 2 extra flooring beneath that, which might be a personal cellar.

The tasting room is freezing so carry a blazer/cardigan and seize one of many blankets they’ve on the entrance. This was one of many dearer vineyard excursions as their wines retail for the next value.

Clos Aplata/Lapostelle Chile wines

Lapostelle Sauvignon Blanc: My husband doesn’t like whites however he tried and preferred this! Darn it, now if I purchase a bottle I’m going to must share. It’s much less acidic than some and tastes of pineapple with out being candy.

Lapostelle Merlot: the reds have been served too chilly right here and I couldn’t heat them up in my fingers as a result of I used to be chilly however each Mr. Dawes’s preferred this one.

Restricted Launch Clos Alpalta Property Bottled 2012: Sadly this was served on the identical temperature because the white wine so we couldn’t actually admire it. It was essentially the most unique and costly of the wines supplied through the tasting however none of us preferred it. Their ideas have been it was an costly wine however didn’t style prefer it, and so they felt they may discover $10 wines for higher (RSP $129.99).

When you’re in search of luxurious lodging in Colchagua Valley you possibly can keep at Clos Apalta which is a Relais and Chateau property and runs at about $900 per night time.

Greatest Dinner in Santa Cruz Chile: Vino Bella restaurant

The dinner we had on our final night time within the Colchagua Valley was our greatest by far. For the sundown, setting and meals. Vino Bella is subsequent to Laura Hartwig’s vineyard and serves Italian meals to take in the entire Chilean wine you’ve been consuming.

The sundown over the winery is spectacular. A cute spot for a photograph is behind the restaurant terrace in entrance of the gate surrounded by pink flowers. I’m a fussy eater, my husband would most likely say fussy interval, however the carpaccio, meatballs, Salmon, and risotto have been all improbable. When you solely have 1 night time in Santa Cruz, go right here.

Different Extremely Rated Chile Vineyard Excursions in Colchagua Valley

If in case you have extra time or need to transfer at a quicker tempo than us, take a look at these Colchagua valley wineries:

• Montgras – Additionally they have a make your individual Chilean wine tour and permits picnics. They promote the picnic meals and supply glasses and blankets, and so forth.
• This article has some good information on the Chilean wine path.

Greatest Eating places in Colchagua Valley

Greatest Place for Lunch in Colchagua Valley

The Polo Membership at Casa Silva which seems to be like an outdated ranch and is surrounded by vineyards on one aspect and the Polo discipline on the opposite was our favourite lunch on this space. Make a reservation as this place is admittedly widespread, or not less than it was on a Sunday once we went.

Greatest Place for Dinner in Colchagua Valley

Vino Bella, Santa Cruz (see above for particulars).

Greatest Colchagua Valley Inns | The place we stayed in Santa Cruz

We selected Resort La Perla, primarily for it’s location in Santa Cruz, Chile. It was underneath $150 per night time together with breakfast.

Additionally they served my favourite breakfast of the three accommodations: The chef was a candy lady who cooked the eggs to order, not from a buffet. Even higher was the choice of freshly baked muffins for breakfast! Sure, I’m all for muffins for breakfast on trip. Particularly once they embrace chocolate and dolce de leche, plus a lot of totally different cereals, yogurts together with lactose free, fruits and juices.

Unsure how nicely this follows on from meals, however on a aspect notice, in lots of locations on this space you possibly can’t flush rest room paper down the john!

Different Eating places near La Perla lodge.

What to Pack for Colchagua Valley wine tasting and vineyard excursions

Depart your wedges and heels at residence, I wore mine as soon as in 2 weeks. Follow sneakers, loafers, flats, and cute sandals as an alternative. It’s actually informal so don’t fear about packing good garments. Clearly add the conventional garments, footwear, underwear, toiletries, and so forth to this record!

• Sunscreen & hat.
• Coverup of some kind because the temperature drops at night time and the cellars may be chilly.
• Card video games (we performed Wizard at night time as there isn’t a lot of a nightlife and as one thing to do earlier than dinner).
• Convertor plug.
• Worldwide roaming information plan so you should utilize your telephones maps
• Mosquito repellant.
• Mild coloured garments as mosquitoes right here go for black! As my husband realized the arduous approach!
• A bottle opener if you happen to’re planning on bringing chilean wine again to the lodge for a pre dinner drink.

What’s the climate like in Colchagua Valley

One of many causes we went to Chile over Christmas and New Years was as a result of it’s their Summer season and we have been chasing the solar. The warmest time to go to Colchagua Valley is December-February when it’s round 88.4°F (31.3°C) through the day and 55.4°F (13°C) at night time. The newest climate.

Subsequent Should-See Locations to Go to in Chile

From the Colchagua Valley wine area we drove again to Santiago after which flew to the Patagonia Lake District in Chile which was tremendous simple. I’ve shared our flights, lodge, and the whole lot we did within the area in this text, in addition to the tour that was 1 of our 2 greatest days in Chile.

The final cease for us in Chile was San Pedro De Atacama desert which was one other big change in panorama and value making time to spend a day or 2 at. In hindsight we’d have performed the desert in a different way. So undoubtedly go by how I want we’d deliberate it versus what we did.

PIN this to avoid wasting for later.