Arrive in Santiago and expedited check in on Club Level at the elegant Ritz Carlton Santiago, located in the posh area known as El Golf. Unwind after the long journey in the hotel’s spa with a rejuvenating massage.
After a light lunch, venture out with your personal guide who will take you on a foodie tour of Santiago, connecting the local cuisine to its history and vibe. Starting in the heart of the downtown, the Plaza de Armas, walk the city’s bustling pedestrian center to the government palace, La Moneda. Along the way, stop to knosh on Santiago’s favorite cheese empanadas dating back to 1920; down a frothy cortado at one of the classic “Café with Legs” with barmaids in minidresses; and for the brave, sink your teeth into a completo, a hot dog covered with copious amounts of avocado, tomato, and mayo.
Continue walking west towards Santa Lucía hill where the city was founded. A gorgeous garden oasis in the city, climb the top to its castle for an inspiring view of the city. After, check out the surrounding hipster Fine Arts neighborhood where cafés, art galleries, swanky restaurants, and cultural life are teeming. Pop in for a visit at the city’s best new contemporary art gallery where the owner shares his collection.
Just a block away is Santiago’s favorite artisan ice cream. Order a cone of the sticky-sweet milk caramel or nutty native fruit lucuma and head out to bask in the tranquility of Santiago’s main park, Parque Forestal. One last stop before returning to the Ritz. Tea time and bread are much loved in Chile and you must visit a classic bakery that makes hot, crunchy marraquetas the old fashioned way. Delicious—especially with jam.
Return to the Ritz in the afternoon.
Tonight, join Liz Caskey for tapas at her private home overlooking Parque Forestal with her husband and business partner, Francisco. They love to entertain and share favorite local wines from their cellar with guests. Salud!
Day 2
Be sure to eat a lean breakfast, as the morning’s agenda is the exploration of Santiago’s sprawling wholesale market, La Vega. Dating back to the late 1800s, take in the piles, heaps, and displays of brilliant seasonal produce and native foodstuffs. Banter with the friendly caseros (friendly vendors) who will tempt you with their best offering. Snack as you go on everything from fresh olives to dried peaches and tangy goat cheese.
Nearby in the bustling eateries, visit our friend Carmencita who is the talented third generation cook of a small restaurant. Let her teach the classic dishes like restorative cazuela (chicken stew); sweet corn tamales in the summer; or fresh cranberry bean stew. Cross the Mapocho River to the Mercado Central, a historic monument and the local fish market. Break to sample regional cheeses at our favorite cheese shop. Then, venture into the Market to visit our monger and his ultra fresh catch of the day like tender razor clams or Chilean sea bass.
For a late lunch, you are invited to atelier of one of Chile’s top chefs for a private luncheon. He creatively employs primo ingredients: from Patagonian king crab and grass fed lamb to the indigenous pine nuts and smoked chili, merkén. The quality and depth of Chile’s cuisine will dazzle you. Simple. Rustic. Intense. Flavorful.
Return to the Ritz for a relaxing afternoon. Dine tonight in splendor at Astrid & Gastón, one of Santiago’s finest restaurants, blending new world flavors with European technique.
Day 3
Journey south to the valley closest to Santiago, the Maipo, renowned for its Bordeaux-style reds. Visit the personal project of Chile’s pioneer organic and biodynamic winemaker. A “garage” winery producing a few thousand cases each year, learn about their sustainable philosophy with the passionate owner. Savor these authentic, robust wines overlooking their lovely property dotted with wild flowers, almond trees and horses plowing the vineyards.
A little farther south in the village of Pirque, drop in on friends at a non-profit organic farm and ecological high school. First get to know the farm’s organic vegetable garden, meet the goats and chickens responsible for the delicious cheese and free range eggs, and finally, get an up close look at bee hives with an apiculture professor to understand how honey is produced (protective suits provided). After whetting your appetite, have an intimate lunch in the 19th century villa where all ingredients are homegrown. Dig into creamy Chevre-style goat cheese, juicy vine-ripened tomato pebre, bread baked in a mud oven, as you wait for the simple and fresh full course meal. Delicious. The charismatic owner will stop by to share her story of how this inspiring project came to fruition.
Before heading back to the hotel, climb abroad a helicopter for a stunning aerial tour of the Andean Cordillera east of Santiago. Cruise by the ski resorts of Valle Nevado, past the jagged peaks, millennium glaciers, Mt. Aconcagua, and touch down briefly by an emerald lagoon for an impromptu champagne toast to the beginning of your unforgettable vacation.
Return to Ritz. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 4
Travel towards the Pacific over the coastal mountains to the Casablanca valley, revered for its excellent whites and Pinot Noir. Stop to visit a family-owned American-Chilean enterprise making a limited amount of lip-smacking Sauvignon Blanc, satiny Pinot Noir, and electric Syrah. Tap into their passion and talent with the winemaker who will show you the vineyards, teeny winery, followed by an interactive barrel and bottle tasting.
The adventure continues towards the tiny fishing village of Quintay. Snaking down a windy mountain road through a pine forest, hairpin turns slowly reveal the cliffs and turquoise waters of Chile’s rugged coastline below. At road’s end, a colorful jamble of clapboard houses cling to the rocks overlooking the wild Pacific. Welcome to Quintay, where artisan fishing is a way of life. Lunch is across the sand and past the fishing boats at a simple restaurant overlooking the ocean. Run by an extraordinary woman, Zuni, the house specialty is über-fresh seafood. Join her sons in the kitchen as they share the art of cooking in greda, clay pots to prepare exquisite dishes like classic razor clams, fresh abalones, or seared grouper. The meal includes a sampling of our favorite coastal wines. Heaven.
Drive back to Santiago. Dinner tonight is at one of Santiago’s institutions, a Chilean bistro serving up old school cuisine and great draft beer. Cheers!
Day 5
This morning, set off to explore the Colchagua Valley and the countryside where so much of the phenomenonal produce is grown. Along the way, stop in the Cachapoal region to visit a cutting-edge winery that melds into the Andean foothills. Here, the terroir of the Alto “High” Cachapoal and its stony soils produce outstanding Cabernet with velvety tannins and bright acidity. Tour the winery followed by a special vertical tasting of their spectacular 2003 and 2004 vintages.
Down the road, dig into a casual lunch at a classic roadside joint serving up country classics like marinated pork ribs, cazuela, and marinated quail. After lunch, continue south to the eastern area of the Colchagua Valley. Nestled in the folds of the Andes, visit with friends who produce premium olive oil. Walk through the fascinating process of growing the olives, extracting the oil, and finally tasting the different varieties like Arbequina and Picual. Chile makes extremely high-quality low-acid extra virgin olive oils for export so this is a unique opportunity to learn about this art.
Arrive shortly after to the luxurious Clos Apalta/Casa Lapostolle Residences in the area known as Apalta. These handsomely appointed private casitas boast astounding views of the valley and vineyards below. The rest of day is yours to relax.
Private dinner tonight is at the estate, tailored to your specifications with paired house wines including Clos Apalta.
Day 6
Heading west towards the coast, visit our friend Patricia’s dairy farm in Marchigue. Patricia is a passionate artisan cheese maker and gifted cook. She invites you to see how her addictive manjar (milk caramel), jams, and exquisite fresh and mature cheeses are hand made every day. You can even feed the baby calves with a bottle! Connect with her family in a casual tasting of her products with fresh juices.
Next, you are invited to discover one of the valley’s newest and most prestigious boutique wineries. With only a handful of bottled vintages from 115-year old vines, they make a single Cabernet-Carménère blend with remarkable finesse and balance. Visit the terrain and restored colonial cellar where you taste the components from the barrel followed by a comparative tasting of the 2003 and 2005 vintages.
Break for an al fresco lunch at a traditional area winery in their chirpy hacienda garden. Try the luscious wines along with simplistic gourmet dishes like succulent grilled meats, crunchy green salad, and satisfying soups.
Before returning to Clos Apalta, drop in at a traditional hacienda for afternoon tea, known as onces, brought to Chile by the English in the 19th century. A bakery producing colonial-style pastries, let the elegant owner tempt you with her mouthwatering sweets and country charm.
Dine this evening at a relaxed yet sophisticated bistro serving up Colchagua’s most refined fare paired with a tasting of more valley wines. Cheers to Chile’s wine country!
Day 7
Today is market day in the colonial town of Santa Cruz, the epicenter of the Colchagua Valley. Join a local cook on his morning shopping for ingredients at the farmers market. Return to his private, restored 19th century home to prepare the day’s menu. Learn to make pisco sours, empanadas, pebre (salsa), and rustic desserts like leche asada, a type of flan. He will show you the art of cooking with a wood-burning stove. While you cook, sip away his handmade artesian liquors and talk about cooking, life, and the universe. Lunch is the fruits of your labor.
The afternoon is free for you to spend time in the town of Santa Cruz, visit the Clos Apalta winery, or rest.
Dinner tonight is an education in art of the Chilean asado (barbeque). The pit masters at a favorite local restaurant show off their succulent grilled meats, including Patagonian lamb slow-roasted over a spit.
Day 8
To celebrate your last day in Chile, attend a bonified rodeo in the cowboy area of Santa Cruz, Lolol. First, get in the mood with a morning horseback ride with a huaso, cowboy, who will explain the nuances of the Chilean rodeo and show you some moves.
Break for a country luncheon at a hilltop winery, featuring a spectacular view of the vineyards and the mountains from their look out. Afterwards, it’s time to see the action at the rodeo (as long as you would like to stay).
Drive to Santiago for your connecting flight back home.
Inclusions:
• Round-trip first-class transportation with professional driver throughout duration of itinerary
• English-speaking wine-specialized host throughout duration of itinerary
• 4 nights in Club Level at Ritz Carlton Santiago
• 3 nights in Casa Lapostolle Residences
• Winery visits and all tastings as per itinerary
• Other activities and visits as per itinerary: market visits, cooking classes and demos, cheese making, rodeo, olive oil, city tour, etc.
• Gourmet a la carte meals with wine and gratuity: 8 lunches, 6 dinners, daily breakfast at hotel
