Vineyards & Wineries Chile and Argentina 14D/13N
Defining the Wines of South America Truly exceptional wines owe their thanks to the soil, water and climate that give them life. Nowhere is the impact of landscape on wine more pronounced than along the flanks of the Andes in Chile and Argentina. The Cordillera de los Andes is the highest mountain chain on earth outside the Himalayas. Mt. Aconcagua, at 23,000 feet (7,000 meters), is the highest peak in the range, and overlooks Tapiz Winery in the Mendoza wine country of Argentina. The Andes extend 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) from the tip of Tierra del Fuego near the Antarctic up to the Equator and beyond, forming the geological backbone of the continent. The mountains are young in geologic time, and give rise periodically to volcanoes and earthquakes. The productive vineyards of Chile and Argentina would simply be untenable without the Andes. They rank as one of the most awesome soil factories in the world, shedding rock and earth onto the farm lands below. High Andean peaks bear snow all year, providing ample irrigation water that farmers distribute to thirsty vines as needed. Though they share a mountain range, the wine-rich Central Valley of Chile and Mendoza in Argentina feature growing conditions that are worlds apart. The Andes shelter the east-sloping vineyards of Mendoza from Pacific weather, leaving temperatures more severe and rainfall scarce. Only irrigation allows viticultural oases to produce premium wine grapes. Glacial chill descends from the peaks to ensure cool nights and keep grape acids high despite hot days. To the west, the Andes retain maritime influences in Chile. There, the Pacific moderates temperatures and the mountains halt much of the rain before it crosses over to Argentina. The climate is Mediterranean-cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Like California, conditions are ideal for growing grapes. Physically, visually, even spiritually, the impact of the Andes on viticulture in South America is monumental.
Day 1
Santiago
( L)
Itinerary Arrival to Santiago Reception at the airport Bilingual Guide Transfer to Hotel Lunch in Central Market City Tour Lodging in Atton Hotel After check-in, and having taken a little rest from the long trip,we will have a meeting to inform you about the activities of the next few days. After that, we will have lunch in the Central market in one of the restaurants whose specialty is seafood. There, between the colorful variety of fruits and vegetables, we will sample the most exquisite fish and shellfish collected from the long and extensive Chilean coast located on the Pacific Ocean. In the afternoon we will carry out a City Tour that will allow us to explore the most characteristic and well-known places in Santiago, such as the Government Palace (La Moneda), The Main Square (Plaza de Armas), The Cathedral, Tribunals of Justice and the Santa Lucía Hill. After a full day we will return to the Hotel to relax.
Day 2
Maipo Valley
Itinerary Visit to Vineyard Cousiño Macul Lunch in the country side Restaurante"La Vaquita Echá" Visit to winery "Concha y Toro" Wine taste & souvenier Return to Atton Hotel
(B, L)
Maipo Valley
Surface of vineyards: Main stumps: Areas most representative:
8.083 hectares Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah, Malbec Santiago, Pirque, Puente Alto, Buin, Isla de Maipo, Talagante and Melipilla. With a Mediterranean climate, very defined seasons and exceptional characteristics for grape cultivation, the Maipo Valley is one of the most important and prestigious viticulture valleys of the country. In general, the valley has hot summers and mild winters, normally free of ice, achieving the perfection of the Cabernet Sauvignon. With anintense color and body, besides the delicate aromas and the fruit-bearing expression;most of the best Cabernet in our country, comes from this area. Vineyard Cousiño Macul Founded in 1856, Cousiño Macul is the only vineyard in Chile established in the XIX century whose property and control remains in the hands of the family founder. The wines of Cousiño Macul are produced and bottled on site. This complete supervision from the vineyard until the wine is in the glass is a characteristic that is shared with the major vineyards of the world. Cousiño Macul wines are sold in more than 40 countries, delighting its followers with a distinctive flavor and consistent style, the result of modern vinification proceedures,a profesional team and a century and half of tradition and quality. Vineyard Concha y Toro In 1883 the politician and public figure Melchor de Concha y Toro, together with his wife Emiliana Subercaseaux, built a beautiful house in the town of Pirque, surrounded by a large, beautiful park, where they used to hold important meetings. Don Melchor started at this time to import stumps and barrels from France. He advised expert enologists to give this way origin to Vineyard Concha y Toro, and to begin to develop the potential viticulture industry of the Valley of the Maipo. In 1922 Concha y Toro was made a corporation and in 1933, it exported its first wine to Rotterdam. At the end of the 1960´s, Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle undertook the modernization of the vineyard. In 1994 "CyT" it is able to trade their shares in the New York Stock Exchange. Today "CyT" is far leading the exports of wines in Latin America, and in their search of creating a strategic alliance unites to Mouton Rothschild from France in a joint-venture.
Day 3
Rapel Valley
(B, L)
Itinerary Visit to vineyard Chateau los Boldos Lunch at the "Pan Pan Vino Vino" restaurant Visit to the Colchagua Museum Lodging in Hotel Plaza Santa Cruz Rapel Valley Surface of vineyards: Main stumps: Most representative wine area:
21.477 hectares Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah, Cachapoal and Colchagua
This area possesses marine and highland influences, with a privileged Mediterranean climate and four clearly defined seasons, it generates ideal conditions for the production of wine, especially during the months of summer, where the grapes mature slowly, thanks to the clear skies and the absorption of the sun. Chateau Los Boldos Winery The French company G.E. Massanez,(DFS, Airlines) very well known for their fine products among those it is the "Pear in the Bottle", decides to enlarge the company in 1990 acquiring an important and old Chilean cellar. At the foot of the Andes Mountain,in the Santa Amalia Ranch,obtains benefits from the exceptional conditions of their lands to produce fine wines of top international quality. They put together the French knowledge and the Chilean tradition. Museum of Colchagua Opened in 1995 and belonging to Carlos Cardoen Cornejo, it is the biggest private museum in the country. The visit begins in the Paleontology Room with an interesting exhibition, the highlight of which is the biggest private collection of ambers in the world. Insects and vegetables remain trapped in the fossilized resin formed 45 million years ago. The museum is displayed according to the most advanced techniques currently in use in museums around the world. Located in an old colonial house, the museum was entirely renovated and enlarged to house their many displays.
Malbec
Day 4
Colchagua Valley
(B, L)
Itinerary Visit to vineyard Viu Manent Lunch in vineyard La Posada Visit to vineyard Montes Lodging in Hotel Comercio Vineyard Viu Manent It was founded by the middle of the XIX century; however, their recent history started in 1966 when the Hacienda San Carlos was acquired by Miguel Viu Manent. From the onset Miguel started marketing his own wines packed under the mark "Wines Viu". In 1990 he radically changed his commercial politics and decided to export. Vineyard Montes This vineyard started life in 1988 when four important men from Chilean viticulture: enologist Aurelio Montes, executive of wine companies Douglas Murray, businessman Alfredo Vidaurre, and vineyard farmer Pedro Grand, got together to create their ideal wine production. These four partners with a great experience in the art of making wine, give life to Vineyard Montes. Their main aim is to only manufacture wines of premium quality. From the beginning their vertiginous took off in the international markets. Excellent and unique wines demonstrate the work of Vineyard Montes, and, with Aurelio Montes, "the man behind the label", it is ranked among the ten biggest exporters of Chilean wines, thanks to their high professional handling.
Day 5
Colchagua/Curico Valley
(B, L)
Itinerary Visit to vineyard Aresti Visit to vineyard San Pedro Lunch in vineyard Miguel Torres Visit to vineyard Miguel Torres Lodging in Hotel Comercio Aresti vineyard In 1951, Mr Vicente Aresti settled in Bellavista Vineyard in the Curic贸 Valley to start the elaboration of fine wines. Later on he bought new estates in Rio Claro Appelattion in order to produce wines which would be sold to other brands in Chile, Europe and the United States. 1999 was the first vintage year with their own brand, which brought them high quality lines of Aresti Montemar, Aresti Reserva and Aresti Family Collection. Their philosophy aims at the true varietal character in the fruit they obtain from the cultivation of different grapevines, and their commitment to constantly improve technology, quality and experience. San Pedro vineyard Vineyard San Pedro is one of the biggest and oldest vineyards in Chile. Their origin dates from 1865, when brothers Bonifacio and Jos茅 Gregorio Belt Albano, founded the vineyard on their ancestors' land, where the first plantations orginated in 1701. Vineyard San Pedro is today the second biggest exporter of wines in Chile, marketing their products in more than 52 countries around the world. During the period of January-December 2000/1 it exported 25 millions 422 thousand 611 liters. Since the end of 1994, Vineyard San Pedro has been the owner of Vineyard Santa Helena, exporting to more than 24 countries. During 1999 they founded the Mendoza branch of Vineyard San Pedro. Miguel Torres vineyard Since 1696 the family Torres has dedicated its time in Spain to the cultivation of the vine. In one of the most progressive periods it was under the management of Miguel Torres Garb贸 (1932-1991), who started to bottle the wine. Afterwards their expansion grew to the UK, United States, Japan and in 1979 finally in Chile, where it contributed to a new era in the Chilean viticulture, with the modernization of technology, incorporation of cooling equipment, pneumatic presses, oak casks and stainless steel vats with Temperature control.
Aresti vineyard
Miguel Torres vineyard
Day 6
Colchagua/Santiago
(B, L)
Itinerary Visit to Casa Silva vineyard Lunch in Casa Silva vineyard Transfer to Santiago Lodging in Atton Hotel Viña Casa Silva This vineyard is another attraction of the wine circuit. It has more than 100 years of tradition with wine cellars and old plants. It features three areas, Los Lingues, Angostura and Lolol. Owned by a typical family Colchagüina, this vineyard has excellent wines such as terroir, Syrah, Carmenere and Doña Dominga, but also has been strengthened as an attractive tourist center and rest. Casa Silva has an exclusive colonial hotel which rescue traditions of the Chilean culture and where every room is full of history. The Restaurante – located inside the wine cellar, visitors will be able to enjoy the finest a la Carte international cuisine and the best typical Chilean food. All of this is complemented by the winery tours, wine tasting, picnics, demonstrations, rodeo and the polo field that owns the vineyard.
Day 7
Santiago/ Free day
(B)
Free day Optional:
Tour to Viña del Mar and Valparaiso (US$ p/person;minimun 2)
Optional:
Dinner/show in restaurant "Los Buenos Muchachos“ (US$ p/person, minimum 2)
Viña Aresti
Day 8
Santiago/Mendoza (Argentina)
(B, L)
Itinerary Visit to vineyard Errázuriz Lunch in Hotel Portillo, Restaurant Laguna del Inca Crossing of the Andes Mountain at 3.000 mts high from sea level Lodging in Hotel NH Mendoza Situated at the foot of The Andes, Mendoza is the capital city of the homonimous province and the most important city of the West of Argentina. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Argentine because of the various interesting activities available in the region. It is an incredible oasis to grow fruits and vegetables due to the presence of the Mendoza and Tunuyán Rivers. The climate of the region is mild though the mountains provide a certain degree of aridity. The temperature in Summer ranges from 18º C to 33º C and days are hot and nights are fresh. In Winter, the minimum temperature is 3º C and the maximum registered temperature is 16º C. In the city, there is the beautiful sight of streets flanked by trees, squares and parks linked by a web of irrigation ditches which are 500 km long and feeds the whole area allowing city planning even in arid zones. It is the starting point to enjoy adventure travel and high mountain sports like trekking, skiing or rafting, Mendoza offers various circuits to go on these excursions. Walks in the five squares, the civic centre and the foundation area make the visitor admire the culture, the history and the idiosyncrasy of native people. In the surroundings of Mendoza City, interesting places and towns can be visited: Ruins of San Francisco Church, Maipú, El Challao, Villavicencio Thermal Resort, Cacheuta, Potrerillos and Vallecitos. The very well known "Ruta de los Vinos" (Route of the Wines) deserves a special mention because tourists can visit ancient cellars and taste excellent yields which are the product of carefully chosen grapes. When visiting Mendoza, it is said that one is travelling along the land of the good sun and the good wine.
See to Hotel Portillo, in the Andes mountain range
Christ in the frontier of Chile and Argentina
Day 9
Mendoza
(B, L)
Itinerary Visit to El Cerno vineyard Arrive to La Rural winery, visit… Lunch in the vineyard with folkloric group Return to the Hotel Lodging in NH Hotel Day 10
Mendoza
(B, L)
El Cerno vineyard
Itinerary Visit to General San Martín Park Lunch in La Piazza restaurant Visit to Chandón winery Lodging in NH Hotel Wines of Argentina - Mendoza The assertion that Mendoza is the most important wine-producing province in Argentina is almost a cliché. But it is almost impossible not to make such statements, as this province produces more than 80% of Argentina’s wine from its 150,000 vineplanted hectares. Mendoza’s wine industry increasingly focuses on quality, and on finding the optimum relations between different varieties and terroirs. Mendozan diversity is doubtlessly enviable in this respect. Mendoza’s wine geography can be divided into three major oases. One of these oases is in the North of the province, on the basin of the Mendoza and Tunuyán rivers; the other oasis is in the Center of the province, and the third is in the South, irrigated by the Diamante and Atuel Rivers. However, by carefully studying the territory, one can discover multiple peculiarities within terroirs that are highly different from one another. Each terroir has its own particular location, altitude and soil composition.
Room of barrels
Vintage in La Rural vineyard
Day 11
Mendoza/Buenos Aires
(B)
Itinerary Morning free Lunch Transfer to the airport Flight Mendoza/Buenos Aires Reception in Aeroparque airport Transfer to Hotel Lodging in NH Latino Hotel Day 12
Buenos Aires
Itinerary City Tour Lunch in La Parolaccia restaurant (Puerto Madero) Return to Hotel Afternoon free Dinner-show in Piazzolla Tango Lodging in NH Latino Hotel
(B, L)
Theater Colón in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires With a population of almost 14 million, the city of Buenos Aires, capital of the Republic of Argentina, is a friendly, pleasant, and cosmopolitan city, and is listed as one of the most inexpensive capitals on the planet. Its location is next to the La Plata River, its climate is pleasureable, and you can visit year-round as the average temperature is 18ºC (65°F). It is a city with many attractions, like neighborhoods known for their cuisine: Puerto Madero, La Recoleta, Palermo Viejo and Las Cañitas and certain locations that you should not miss, such as la Calle Caminito (pedestrian museum since 1959) that is located in the Barrio de la Boca. We cannot forget the symbol of Buenos Aires, the Obelisk, standing proud in the centre of one of the capitals busiest highways. The Recoleta Cemetery is another interesting place to visit, in which you can find the graves of important people, such as President Juan Peron's first lady, Eva Perón. Couple dancing tango
Day 13
Buenos Aires/Colonia (Uruguay)
(B, L)
Itinerary Transfer to pier Full day tour to Colony (Uruguay), in the quick ship Atlantic III Lunch in "LO DE RENATA“ restaurant City tour for the historical neighborhood Return to Buenos Aires Lodging in NH Latino Hotel Day 14
Buenos Aires
(B)
At agreed hour, transfer to airport to take International flight
Colony, Historic Patrimony of Humanity
End of the services
Main church in Colony
Value of Program US$
p/person
Single supplement US$ Includes Deluxe transport during the whole trip Bilingual expert wine guides 4 nights in Atton El Golf in Santiago 1 night in Plaza Santa Cruz Hotel in Santa Cruz 2 nights in Comercio Hotel in Curic贸 3 nights in NH Hotel in Mendoza 3 nights in Hotel NH Latino in Buenos Aires Air Ticket Mendoza/Buenos Aires All vineyards visits mentioned Tastings in all the vineyards Meals as indicated All trips mentioned All transfers In/out Mineral water
R茅gime of food B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner
Hotels Atton El Bosque Hotel, Santiago (5*)
www.atton.com
Hotel Plaza Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz
http://www.hotelsantacruzplaza.cl
Hotel Comercio, Curic贸 (4*)
http://www.hotelescurico.cl
NH Cordillera Hotel, Mendoza (4*)
http://bit.ly/rowDLl
Hotel NH, Buenos Aires (4*)
http://bit.ly/cHgkoh
Atton El Golf Hotel, Santiago
Plaza Santa Cruz Hotel, Santa Cruz
NH Cordillera Hotel, Mendoza
NH Latino Hotel, Buenos Aires
Map of South America and tracts of the trip