In wine [there is the] truth, goes the old Latin saying. We have been traveling and
discovering the terroir of Chile’s Mediterranean Central Valley for years. The
hallmark of Chile is its diversity and purity—in landscape, foodstuffs, wines, people.
Where else can you scale towering mountains and take in the roaring Pacific at sunset?
Drive through green rolling valleys and past stony, rushing rivers. This trilogy of
Mountains, Ocean, and Valleys is the canvas on which the intense, unique, and varied
foods and wines of this Garden of Eden are created. Here, you’ll taste wines from
earthy Pinot Noir and zesty Sauvignon Blanc on the foggy coast to robust Syrah and
Bordeaux-style blends. Meet passionate “garage” vintners to grand cru classé projects.
You’ll saunter through markets exploding with seasonal produce and choose
just-out-of-the-sea fish. Connect with artisan cheese makers, olive oil producers, and
organic farms making a difference in locals’ lives. In the Chilean campo, countryside,
locals measure time by the seasons. We’ll calculate it by each meal and wine.
Inspiring? Absolutely.
Day 1
Explore cosmopolitan, modern Santiago on your own. In the evening, receive an informal
lesson in Chilean wines and foods with owner/chef/Author, Liz Caskey at her private
residence over tapas and boutique wines. Lodging: Hotel The Aubrey
Day 2
Jump into Santiago’s lively local markets exploding with seasonal produce, indigenous
foodstuffs, and seafood. Learn the pillars of Chilean cuisine, savor a snack at an
authentic picada, then head to a non-profit organic farm for a homegrown
lunch. Lodging: Hotel The Aubrey
Day 3
Head to the foggy coastal appellations and saddle up for a ride in the Pinot Noir
planted hills. Understand the nuances of Chile’s stellar Sauvignon Blanc with resident
winemakers. Savor superb culinary creations by young chef sourcing everything from the
valley’s estates, then onto the vintage UNESCO port of Valparaiso. Lodging:
Hotel Casa Higueras
Day 4
Ride the century-old funicular elevators amid the Victorian hills. Drive up the scenic
coast along the crashing turquoise waters of the Pacific. Stop to try the best seafood
empanadas before lunching on fresh fish on the “Chilean Riviera”. Lodging: Hotel
Casa Higueras
Day 5
Sip and swirl Chile’s finest coastal whites in San Antonio before journeying south
into the Colchagua valley with orchards, vineyards, avocado groves, shiny lakes, and
rolling hills. Stop to visit friends who make addictive aged cheese and manjar, milk
caramel, on their dairy farm. Stay on for a typical Chilean asado with a tasting of
lush red wines. Lodging: Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza
Day 6
Tour Colchagua’s crème de la crème wineries in the sub appellation of Apalta from
boutique wineries with 115-year-old vines to the gem, Clos Apalta. Dine as private
winery guests overlooking the Andes, valley…heaven. Tonight, an intimate farewell
dinner with the Malbec pioneers in Chile. Lodging: Hotel Santa Cruz
Plaza
Day 7
Taste peppery, green olive oil by Andean foothills, then watch in awe as Chilean
huasos, cowboys, show their horsemanship with a traditional rodeo show. Lunch at the
valley’s oldest winery, and before saying adiós, visit a chateau concept wine with
stunning views—and wines.
Need more details? Get in touch with LCCWE for a detailed copy of this
itinerary, which includes a day-by-day breakdown, pricing, and other helpful
information. Contact us
