10 must-see vineyards close to Santiago
Any time of the year is the perfect time to visit these vineyards near the capital of Chile. All of them are running tours that combine fresh air, gastronomy and, of course, wines of exceptional quality.
Located in the middle of Santiago, the Cousiño Macul vineyard with more than 100 years of tradition can be easily reached by Metro or other public transport.
They offer different types of tours, including one by bicycle, to get to know the vineyards, its parks, the centenary cellars built with bricks glued with egg whites (the famous “cal y canto”) and the underground cellars that date back to the 19th century.
The vineyard Haras de Pirque is part of the new wine tourism destination in the Maipo Valley and is worth a visit for its unique architecture and excellent restaurant. There are tours of the vineyard and how their wines are made, such as the Albaclara, a refreshing sauvignon blanc.
In the foothills of the coastal mountain range is the organic and biodynamic Veramonte vineyard, opened in 1989. It was built there precisely to produce cool-climate red wines, such as its Pinot Noir, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc. You can join tours where the history and production process of this winery will be explained.
The Concha y Toro winery is one of Pirque’s icons, with a 4,600 m2 mansion from the 19th century and a beautiful park surrounding it. There are guided tours with wine tasting, where you will also learn about the legend of the Casillero del Diablo: an underground wine cellar where the devil himself supposedly lived and protected the cellar.
Those who love sparkling wines should visit Casa Valle Viñamar, also known as the “House of Sparkling Wine”. The winery specialises in the production of this type of wine. During the guided tours offered, you can learn more about the production process and, of course, taste the wines.
The Chocalán winery is only about 40 minutes from Santiago and 15 minutes from the town of Pomaire, known for its pottery. There you can learn how to model clay in workshops and get to know the 100-hectare winery on guided tours.
Villard was founded in 1989 as the first boutique winery by Frenchman Thierry Villard. He did this with his family on more than 400 hectares in Casablanca, one of the most renowned areas for growing grapes in cold climates. Here, exquisite Syrah, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines are produced, which have been awarded more than 90 points by experts such as Descorchados or Tim Atkins. In addition to quality wines, Villard also offers excellent wine tourism programmes. There is also a 3-kilometre cycle path between the vines.
Santa Rita is about 45 minutes from Santiago. The winery, declared a historical monument in 1972, can be visited on a guided tour, such as a horse-drawn carriage ride through the vineyard’s historic park, ending with a tasting of three of Santa Rita’s emblematic wines.
The vineyard Tarapacá, formerly called Viña de Rojas y Viña Zavala, is located in the Maipo Valley. If you would like to take a wine tour, you have several options, including a visit to the emblematic manor house and the beautiful park. Here you can take a virtual tour of the winery.
Founded in the mid-1990s, the Casas del Bosque winery is located just 70 kilometres from Santiago, in the heart of the Casablanca Valley. Casas del Bosque is one of the most important vineyards in Casablanca. It has gained great prestige, and in 2010 it became the best winery to visit in Chile. The grounds cover more than 230 hectares with vineyards, hiking trails, restaurants and viewpoints that can be explored on the various tours.
