Chile
Uncovering the riches of Chile's wine country
With wine and scenery this delicious, you don’t need a pushy tour director trying to hurry you onto a smoky, idling bus. Your private AutoVenture guide keeps your itinerary as flexible as you wish it to be, so you can relax and relish in the riches of Chile’s wine country the way it’s meant to be enjoyed.
The Alto Maipo Valley is the closest wine region to Chile’s capital, Santiago, with a climate perfect for producing red wines — notably some of the country’s finest Cabernets. It is located in the Andean foothills, 1,300 – 2,600 feet in elevation. The vineyards are warmed by the afternoon sun and cooled by the mountain breezes at night, creating the perfect conditions for Chilean reds.
Your knowledgeable AutoVenture guide first will drive you to Cousiño-Macul vineyard, which was founded in 1871 using vinestock from France, and French cask makers, vault managers and encologists. Today it is one of the best-known wineries in South America and many countries throughout the world, making wine only from grapes grown on the estate.
After touring and tasting at your leisure, the journey continues to the Las Vertientes resort for views of the winding Maipo River and the Chilean Central Valley, and then lunch in the village of Pirque. Your excursion proceeds to the Concha y Toro winery, one of Chile’s largest exporters of its finest wines. The Marquis of Casa Concha, who founded it in 1883, also brought over vinestock and an enologist from France. It’s regarded as one of the prized stops on any wine-tasting itinerary.
Perfection may be an elusive prize, but you’ll come pretty close to finding it with AutoVenture in a full-bodied, Chilean red wine.
FUN FACT
Chile is the longest country in the world from north to south at 2,647 miles.
FUN FACT
Spanish conquistadors brought vines with them in the 16th century when they colonized Chile.
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