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‘Escorted by the most charming wine experts, Michelle Bouffard & Michaela Morris of house wine, our wine tour is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience!’
Tour Duration : 8 Nights And 9 Days
Destinations Covered: Santiago - Santa Cruz
Package Inclusions:
| • all airport transfers on private group basis |
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• 08 nights accommodation |
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• daily breakfast |
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• 4 special lunches |
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• tours and sight seeing as per itinerary |
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• winery tours |
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• entrance fees as per the itinerary |
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• local english speaking tour director |
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• guest wine expert from house wine |
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• domestic flights |
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Package Exclusions:
| • flights not mentioned above |
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• airport taxes if applicable |
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• personal expenses such as laundry |
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• tips and gratuities |
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• early check in late check out |
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• optional tours |
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• visa fees if applicable |
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• services or meals not mentioned in the program |
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| Day 1, 08 FEB, Tuesday Santiago (-/-/-) |
| Arrival at Santiago airport (SCL). Welcome by local guide and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Santiago.
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| Day 2, 09 FEB, Wednesday Santiago (B/-/-) |
| Half day city tour of Santiago (4 h)
Many of Santiago’s colonial buildings have survived to this day, including the Cathedral (which is from the eighteenth century), the City Hall, the building of the former Royal Court (now the National Historical Museum) and the Post Office with its French style architecture. Our visit today will start with Plaza de Armas, where you will see these magnificent structures. We will then pass by the Civic Center and Plaza de la Constitución, where you can find the headquarter of the national government, La Moneda.
Afterwards we will cross the Forest Park and the Mapocho River towards Cerro San Cristóbal, from where you will have one of the best panoramic views over the city. Today we will also include a visit to the magnificent Precolumbian Museum
Afterwards return to the hotel through the modern districts of Providencia and Las Condes.
Overnight in Santiago.
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| Day 3, 10 FEB, Thursday Santiago (B/-/-) |
| Full day excursion to the Maipo Valley
The Maipo Valley is the world’s only wine region with vineyards within the urban limits of a capital city with more than 5.500.000 inhabitants. The valley is home to the highest numbers of wineries in Chile, many of which have a long tradition in wine industry and 19th century cellars, such as Cousiño Macul, Concha Y Toro, Undurraga, Santa Rita, and others. In particular, the Maipo Valley has been recognized internationally for its Cabernet Sauvignon for many years.
This day the tour include visit to Cousiño Macul & Concha & Toro wineries.
VIÑA COUSIÑO MACUL
Established is 1856, Viña Cousiño Macul is one of Chile’s oldest family operated wineries and the vineyards are the oldest plantation of vines in Chile. The winery has a long-standing reputation for its high quality wine, especially for its Cabernet Sauvignon. They would put many high price Bordeaux to shame! This is the winery that convinced the house wine girls of the ageing potential of Chilean Cab. During the visit you will have a chance to visit the traditional old ageing room. Things were very different in 1856!
CONCHA Y TORO
Concha y Toro Vineyard was founded by Marques de Casa Concha in 1883. Nowadays, it is the most important company in Chile with more than 750 hectares of vineyards in different areas of the region. A constant focus on the environment and making wines that over deliver for their price point set Concha y Toro apart. Here you’ll have a chance to try a wide range of wine including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir as well as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. A walk through their stunning property and vineyards will make you want to move to Chile!
Overnight in Santiago.
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| Day 4, 11 FEB, Friday Santiago – Santa Cruz (B/-/-) |
| Transfer to Santa Cruz
Today you will be transferred to Santa Cruz, which is approximately 120km south of Santiago. We will follow the course of the Tinguiririca River down from the Andes into the Colchagua Valley. The river provides a ready source of irrigation water that is essential in this dry area. The regular, warm climate combined with high fertility, meant that for years the valley floor was considered ideal for a large production of bulk wines. But, as with most of Chile, in the past decade the emphasis has been on switching to quality rather than quantity.
Arrival in Santa Cruz Town. Rest of the day free at leisure.
Overnight in Santa Cruz
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| Day 5, 12 FEB, Saturday Santa Cruz (B/L/-) |
| Full Day visit to three vineyards in Colchagua
Today the tour includes visit to three wineries: Viña Montes, MontGras & Casa Lapostolle
Colchagua is a sub-region of the Rapel Valley, one of the most important wine regions in Chile. The region contains some of the most highly regarded wineries in Chile and it has gained a reputation for high quality full-bodied reds. Merlot, Carmenère, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon all excel in Rapel’s warm climate.
VIÑA MONTES
Located in Colchagua, Montes is home to one of the most well-known and beautiful vineyards: Apalta. A fairly recent winery in the area (1987), Montes has been responsible for many innovations including planting Syrah. Montes crafts a range wines at all price points but they have distinguished themselves with their premium wines made from Syrah, Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon. The barrels for their Ultra Premium wines rest in a room where Gregorian Chants play year round. Could this be the secret to their success?
VIÑA MONTGRAS
Founded in 1993 by Hernán and Eduardo Gras and Cristián Hartwig, Viña MontGras boasts a beautifully designed property in the locality of Palmilla, Colchagua. Besides growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, they have established important experimental vineyards allowing them to work with grapes less common in Chile such as Viognier and Zinfandel. The charismatic team will welcome you in the magnificent Spanish Colonial guest centre and show off the state of the art winemaking facility, reported to be among the most modern in Chile.
CASA LAPSTOLLE
Lunch is included today at Casa Lapostolle.
Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, of the Marnier-Lapostolle family, founded Casa Lapostolle in 1994. This family is best known for producing Grand Marnier and also owns the renowned Loire estate Château de Sancerre. Based in Apalta, Casa Lapostolle’s objective is simple—to create world-class wines using French expertise and the superb terroir of Chile. We will be treated to an exclusive lunch at their striking Clos Apalta Lodge accompanied by the estate’s wines and perhaps even a Pisco Sour spiked with a little Grand Marnier!
Overnight in Santa Cruz
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| Day 6, 13 FEB, Sunday Santa Cruz – Curico - Santiago (B/L/-) |
| Transfer from Santa Cruz to the Curico Valley.
VIÑA MIGUEL TORRES
The name “Miguel Torres” is automatically associated with Spain, where it is one of the most important export wineries. In 1979 Don Miguel Torres Carbo acquired a little bodega in Curicó where vines had been planted since 1904. His impact in Chile has been just as important as in Spain. He is responsible for introducing new technologies which have been critical for the improvement of Chile’s wine; especially the whites. The Torres family never rests. Still today, they continue to explore new areas and grapes; and, in whatever they do, the environment is always a priority.
After the tour and wine-tasting, you will have lunch at the Restaurant Miguel Torres.
Afterwards transfer back to Santiago.
Overnight in Santiago
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| Day 7, 14 FEB, Monday Santiago (B/L/-) |
| Full Day Excursion to the Maipo and Cachapoal Valleys
Today we head south of Santiago, driving through plains of the Maipo Valley which collects the river’s torrents that come down from the high Andes and generously irrigates the vines planted along its banks before continuing to Cachapoal Valley.
(Note: the order of visit could be changed according to the visiting times of each winery
VIÑA UNDURRAGA
This winery was founded in 1885 by Francisco Undurraga Vicuña, an eager connoisseur of Europe who brought Riesling stocks from Germany and Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Pinot Noir from France. With the supervision of the highly praised French viticulturist M. Pressac, he established his first vineyards in the heart of Maipo Valley. One hundred and twenty years later, Viña Undurraga crafts a wide range of wine coming from the Maipo, Colchagua and San Antonio valleys. Before leaving, treat yourself to a glass of one of their delicious sparkling wine as you wander through their beautiful park designed by French landscaper Pierre Dubois.
VIÑA ANAKENA
In the Rapel Valley, at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, school friends Felipe Ibáñez and Jorge Gutiérrez founded Viña Anakena. Convinced that to achieve distinction they must offer the highest quality wines, they scoured the celebrated wine-producing regions of the world, soaking up the culture and the most up-to-date winery techniques, and found out what was expected of the wines from this remote but well-endowed land. Thus, in 1999, the first vineyards were planted in Alto Cachapoal in the Rapel Valley. Today Viña Anakena produces wine from grapes coming from diverse wine regions including Bio Bio, Rapel and San Antonio. The quality of the entire portfolio is a tribute to Viña Anakena’s success. Fresh and elegant, the wines are a long time favourite with house wine and visiting the Anakena was a highlight of their last visit to Chile.
Overnight in Santiago
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| Day 8, 15 FEB, Tuesday Santiago – Maipo and Cachapoal Valleys - Santiago (B/L/-) |
| Planted as recently as 1982, Casablanca is one of Chile’s coolest wine regions. The breeze from the Pacific and the cool morning fogs allows grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to thrive. A beautiful area to visit and a testament to the diversity of Chile.
VIÑA VERAMONTE
When the Huneeus family pioneered Chile's Casablanca Valley in 1990, there were less than 40 hectares of planted vines. Over the years, Viña Veramonte has earned international acclaim especially for their Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery is a state-of-the-art, modern facility designed by one of Chile's leading architects, Jorge Swinburn. You’ll be mesmerized the moment you step into the “Casona”, a breathtaking room with a soaring rotunda and 16-meter ceilings and glass walls which reveal the barrel caves below. During your tour you will be taken through the process of wine production and you won’t leave without a tasting of Viña Veramonte’s wines.
VIÑA MATETIC (includes lunch)
The story of the Matetic Winery began in 1999 when the Matetic family decided to diversify their business ventures and enter the world of wine. Confident in the virtues of the climate and soils, they established their vineyards in the Rosario Valley, located between Casablanca and San Antonio. The combination of a cool maritime climate and great day/night temperature variation creates elegant white and red wines with a refreshing acidity. Viña Matetic has embraced the practice of biodynamic viticulture; a step beyond organic viticulture. Your visit will give you a chance to explore how the moon cycle can affect and relate to the world of wine. A lunch at their absolutely amazing restaurant where their wines are paired with delectable dishes will be the perfect way to end the visit.
Overnight in Santiago
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| Day 9, 16 FEB, Wednesday Santiago (B/-/-) |
| Transfer to the airport where the tour ends. |
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| DELUXE HOTELS |
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Santiago
W Hotel
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Santa Cruz
Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza
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| DEPARTURE DATES |
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| Month | Year | Day |
| February | 2011 | 08 |
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| TOUR RATES & DATES | | |
| Currency | From | To | Tour Category | Twin | Single | Single Supplement |
| CAD |
08-Feb-11
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16-Feb-11
| Deluxe |
3,529.00
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1,180.00
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