Itinerary

Day 1, the Wine Adventure Starts!

Maipo Valley, Santiago

 

Early in the morning the van pick us up from our hotel in Santiago and we head out of the city, across the Maipo Valley towards Viña La Montaña, located in the feet of the Andes Mountains, ever growing closer and more visible as we continue.  We take some of the fast roads heading to the south passing by the Santiago borders.  When we leave the highway we are surprised how quickly the grand metropolis of Santiago turns into country side. Viña La Montaña, the most novel project in the Maipo Alto zone took its name from one of the fundamental geomorphologic elements of this territory: La Montaña. (The Mountain) It was founded in year 2000 with a different concept linked to the search for elevation with significant presence of native flora, not at all similar to what occurs in the flatlands.

 

After an hour driving we reach the vineyard, and we are welcomed in the reception house and given a short introduction about the wine house and its marvelous surroundings, followed by a short description of the excursions we are going to do. Later on we go out to receive specific indications on how to do the canopy in a safe way. When we are ready we board the “old buddy” –a reconditioned truck from the 50’s- that will take us through the vineyards property to the point where the trekking trail starts. The trail will take us through a small and beautiful precordillera (low mountain) forest where most of the local fauna and flora are fully representative of Chile. As we advance the curly trail will take us to different spots where we can admire the local environment and learn more about the zone. We finalize the trek reaching the first canopy launching platform located in a spectacular cliff from where we enjoy a magnificent landscape. The following four segments of the canopy complete a one-kilometer experience of excitement!

 

When we have completed the last canopy line we are just some meters away from the point where a tasty Chilean style barbecue waits for us together with a tasting of the remarkable La Montaña Wine. Now we have plenty of time to talk about the experience and relax with a wonderful lunch and wine. When we finish we have a while to rest or get in touch with the surroundings. Now it is time to leave the winery and head to our next destination.

 

Just a few minutes driving from Viña La Montaña we reach Paseo del Vino, an entertaining Winery-School-Museum where his energetic owner teaches the visitor on how to produce wine. Here we are going to learn all about the Chilean artisan way of making wine and also about how nature cycles and geography affect the wine production in Chile. This didactic and fun tour finishes with a superb wine tasting of the home wine! We will then head south towards Santa Cruz, nestled in Colchagua Valley. After driving a couple of hours we’ll arrive in the town, in time for check-in, and then we are free to look for a delicious dinner.

 

 

Day 2. Great Moments in the Heart of Colchagua

Colchagua Valley, VI Region

 

We’ll start the day with a visit to the world-renowned Montes winery located in Apalta Valley, a first-quality terroir within Apalta. Once we arrive we meet our guide and receive a brief introduction about the natural trail we’ll hike during the morning. The trail will take us up to the summit of one the few hills surrounding the valley. During our hike we will watch abundant local wildlife, specially birds and native flora. In the summit we will have a spectacular sight of the entire Apalta Valley! We stay here admiring the landscape and afterwards we initiate our way down to the winery. Back in the vineyards we do a short visit of Montes modern cellars and then we go to their cozy Alfredo’s Coffee-Rest where we enjoy a light lunch and taste some of their famous wines, which are a perfect example of the high quality wines of this area. After lunch we have some time to relax or just walk around this magnificent place. We board the van and drive back to Santa Cruz Town.

 

Our next activity is a visit to Museo de Colchagua (Colchagua Museum), home to one of the most surprising art and artefact collections in Chile. We’ll take as much time as we need to walk through its corridors, while we become acquainted with the Chilean quintessence of this exposition. Now we are ready to go for the cherry of the pie... the beautiful house “Espiritus de Colchagua” (Colchagua Spirits), an old and cozy house where its owner -Cristian- and his family prepare some of the most delicious liquors in the Valley, entirely prepared with natural ingredients and following traditional artisan techniques. Cristian himself will welcome us and invite us to walk around the house spaces while we learn about the spirits, Colchagua Valley and his own life there. The homely atmosphere and conversation will definitely ease our rhythm and let us connect with our host and his home: there is no script here, just a flow with the moment! When we are ready we go out and walk back to the hotel, or perhaps stop over somewhere to have dinner on our own.

 

 

Day 3, Back to Santiago

Santiago

 

Today we get up with plenty of time to relax, enjoy a nice breakfast and then pack. We board the van and start driving back to our hotel in Santiago. We will remember these lands each time that we taste at home a delicious wine from Chile!!

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