When the rest of the world is slipping into spring, retreat south to the fall to experience the magic of the annual grape harvest in the Southern Cone. On this trip, the ultimate food-and-wine triple-header, move from the misty morning valleys of Chile and soaring Andes Mountains to the sun-kissed wine country of Argentina, and into the verdant hillsides of coastal Uruguay. Begin in Chile where wines are diverse as the topography from coastal Pinot to Riesling and heady Cabernet inland (trust us, you’ll find out soon enough). Then, it’s eastward to Mendoza, land of Malbec, where you may savor the best steak in this lifetime. In Uruguay, be indoctrinated in the school of Tannat, their hearty local red. Between the succulent feasts and almost daily wine tastings, experience some of South America’s finest landscapes through Alamo-studded lanes, snow-capped mountains, gauchos tending their cattle. But it’s the people—those winemakers and artisans who will be long lost family by the time you say tchau. Your palate wants to go already.
Day 1
Touch down in cosmopolitan Santiago and unwind at Santiago’s hippest boutique hotel. Get some local flavor in the evening with a private tapas and wine tasting event at owner, chef, and sommelier Liz Caskey’s private apartment. Lodging: The Aubrey
Day 2
Jump into Santiago’s pulsating fresh markets to explore local produce, seafood, and indigenous foodstuffs. Head to an organic farm outside of town for a farm-to-table al fresco lunch paired with sublime wines. Lodging: The Aubrey
Day 3
Drive towards land end to the chilly Pacific coast. Talk terroir with vintners growing pinot noir, syrah, and aromatic whites and sip their art. Adventure down the cliffs to a fishing village and cross the sand to lunch—here, the fish is so fresh it never hits ice. Lodging: The Aubrey
Day 4
Journey into the countryside with patchwork fields, the jagged peaks of the Andes, and babbling rivers. Get an education in Chilean reds as winemakers bring in their crop at harvest. Slumber in the sleepy town of Santa Cruz in your new colonial digs, then meet with friends who have brought the tradition of artisan liquors back to life. Lodging: Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza
Day 5
Take a 101 class in olive oil tasting with friends producing peppery green liquid gold. Meet with a cheese maker out in the far-flung countryside and get down with a traditional asado, barbeque, with all the fixings from empanadas to chorizo and estate lamb. Lodging: Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza
Day 6
Hop across the Andes to Argentina’s wine country. Get personal with owners of Mendoza’s top boutique projects to discover local Malbec gems meant to be treasured by your palate. Lunch with Malbec paired five ways, and then settle into your cozy hotel surrounded by vines. Could it get any better? Not really. Lodging: Finca Adalgisa
Day 7
Venture south to the high-altitude Uco Valley. Visit a futuristic winery making stellar blends then journey into an internationally known “wine condo”. Lunch at a private estate where the house wines are only rivaled by the views of Andes. Lodging: Finca Adalgisa
Day 8
Moving, moving, moving. Jet set from Mendoza Argentina to Montevideo, Uruguay via Buenos Aires. In Uruguay, walk the sandy shores of the Río de la Plata or sip your mate and chill out, like the locals do. Lodging: MySuites Montevideo
Day 9
Tan-what? Tannat. The flagship grape of Uruguay Drive into the rolling verdant hills where cattle graze, gauchos roam, and vines grow. Learn from Uruguay’s finest winemakers the art of growing their earthy, European wines. Lunch at an estate where antique cars and estate lamb go hand-in-hand. Delish. Lodging: MySuites Montevideo
Day 10
Train your palate to the nuances of not only Tannat but also local sparklers and zesty Sauvignon Blanc. One last luncheon at a breezy vineyard near the sea where with the owners. Savor zingy Gerwurztraminer blend; a silky Malbec, or the exquisite Amarone-style red with a grilled feast. Leave room for the licor de tannat, a fortified dessert wine. Bid farewell to your new (Uruguayan) family and off to the airport.
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
