Colchagua Valley Wine Tour
Artisan Wineries of the Warm Entrecordillera
Full day: 7.45-19.00pm approx
Luxury Private Tour: 1 day / 2 day / 3 days
Distance from Santiago: 180km, 2.15 hrs
Wine Profile: Full-Bodied, Intense Red Wines such as Chile’s flagship Carmenère variety
Pricing: 145 USD (Santa Cruz) / 195 USD (Stgo) pp per day
VIÑA MAQUIS – VIÑA LUGAREJO – FUEGOS DE APALTA RESTAURANT (MONTES) – RC VIÑEDOS
ABOUT THE COLCHAGUA VALLEY
The Colchagua Valley, located south of Santiago, is one of Chile’s premier wine regions, celebrated for its generous, full-bodied red wines. Just over two hours from the capital, it can be enjoyed as either a day trip or a multi-day tour, with an overnight stay in Santa Cruz. A highly recommended addition to any visit is the Colchagua Museum, home to the country’s largest and most impressive collection.
Below are my recommendations for a one-day itinerary, though there is flexilibity to switch the wineries as you wish:
COLCHAGUA IN ONE DAY
The first stop could be Viña Maquis, a historic winery nestled between the Tinguiririca River and the Chimbarongo Creek in the heart of the Colchagua Valley. Its vineyards thrive in alluvial soils with cooling breezes from these rivers, creating ideal conditions for Cabernet Franc, Carménère, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate’s elegant colonial building once hosted cabinet meetings for Chilean presidents in the 19th century. Today, it is entirely family-run and dedicated to crafting exceptional high-end wines.
Our second visit takes us to Viña Lugarejo, a small, family-owned winery in Nancagua. Elina and Fernando are dedicated to crafting unique and natural wines, with huge success in diverse red varieties such as Mourvèdre, Carménère, and Merlot. After exploring their approach to canopy management, fermentation, and barrel aging, guests are invited to taste a selection of their limited-production wines.
Next, we enjoy one of the region’s finest culinary experiences at Fuegos de Apalta, the signature restaurant of Montes. Led by renowned chef Francis Mallmann, this project brings his celebrated open-fire cooking to the heart of Apalta, specializing in grilled meats, fish, and seasonal vegetables among the stunning vineyards and surrounding hills at Montes.
The day culminates with a visit to RC Viñedos, a boutique winery where owner René Caballo and his family focus almost exclusively on crafting high-end red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. This exquisite tasting, hosted personally by René, offers a warm, authentic encounter, and his wines speak for themselves.
PRICING AND INCLUSIVES
1.
DAY TOUR FROM SANTIAGO / OR SANTIAGO ⇔ SANTA CRUZ WINE TRANSFER
Build Your Own Colchagua Valley Tour or Transfer – 195 USD per person*
Choose (or allow us to recommend) any 3 to 4 wineries in the Colchagua Valley, and we’ll organize a custom-made, private wine tour, either returning to your hotel in Santiago or with drop-off at your hotel in Santa Cruz (or vice versa).
*Two persons minimum
2.
DAY TOUR FROM SANTA CRUZ
Build Your Own Colchagua Valley Tour from Santa Cruz – 135 USD per person
Choose (or allow us to recommend) any 3 to 4 wineries in the Colchagua Valley, and we’ll organize a custom-made, private wine tour.
** Price includes full itinerary planning and guided transport. Winery visits, tastings and/or lunch are a cost apart, payable directly to the wineries.
3.
MULTI-DAY ITINERARIES TO COLCHAGUA
There are many outstanding winery options in Colchagua for multi-day tours. Feel free to combine options 1 and 2 over multiple days to suit your schedule. Please ask us for winery recommendations for a multi-day tour.
