Taste of Chile & Argentina
March 31 - April 9th, 2010
By the Glass tours are small group tours. To ensure maximum attention to our clientele we offer our tours to no more than 14 people per tour. We typically utilize 9 passenger touring vans with a maximum of 7 guests per van. Accommodations range from standard hotels but often utilize villas as they enhance the small group atmosphere we are striving for. Tours are designed to avoid the rigidity of the bus tour mentality and provide a convivial environment that is relaxing and entertaining.
Tour Cost
$3995/person (double occupancy, land only) – single supplement 18%
Inquiries/Reservations: info@bytheglass.ca, call 902-488-9959
Includes
- 9 nights’ accommodation
- 9 breakfasts
- 7 lunches (including wine)
- 6 full dinners + 2 light dinners
- a local Chilean and Argentina guide and a By the Glass tour specialist
- Santiago city tour
- Mendoza city tour
- 16 winery visits/tastings
Does not include meals or drinks not specified in itinerary. Itinerary, subject to change.
Itinerary
March 31st – Santiago
Welcome to Santiago! Your By the Glass representative and local Chilean guide will meet you at the airport. You will be transferred from the airport to your boutique hotel. After some relaxation time you’ll enjoy a guided tour of this historic city followed by dinner with wines presented by a local Chilean sommelier. We’ll have a wonderful opening night dinner before relaxation time at your downtown hotel (Hotel Orly).
April 1st – Maipo Valley
The Maipo Valley is the oldest wine-producing valley in Chile, and it lies just south of Santiago, extending from the foot of the Andes to the middle of the Central Valley. This valley produces bold Cabernet Sauvignons that have garnered international recognition. Chile’s largest and more traditional wineries can be found here, but the region is also home to up-and-coming boutique wineries, many of which are owned by Chileans who have partnered with French, U.S. and Italian winemakers. We’ll see the best of both on this tour as we visit the boutique and much lauded Antiyal and Acquitania. We’ll enjoy a casual lunch at an organic farm called Fundacion Origen before heading off to Chile’s largest and most famous winery, Concha Y Toro where we will be joined by the winery’s sommelier for a tour, tasting and dinner before making the short drive to our hotel in Santiago.
April 2nd – Casablanca and San Antonio Valley
We’re off to see the other side of Chile’s wine industry. Chile is arguably the most diverse wine nation on the planet and diversity doesn’t always mean traveling great distances. The Casablanca Valley is only a short drive from Santiago but a world apart in terms of climate and geography. Casablanca is a cool coastal climate known for its premium Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Wine production began in this region in the 1980s, and as a result the wine facilities here have a very modern feel. Wineries we visit on this day may include VOE, Matetic, Emiliana and Casa Marin. At Casa Marin we will have lunch with the owners in their home. After a day of glorious wine tasting we’ll transfer to Santa Cruz for a well deserved evening of relaxation. We are staying a boutique hotel , that will serve as our base for the next days adventure. We’ll have a simple meal at the bar, where we’ll be able to recount stories of the last few days adventure across wine country.
April 3rd – Colchagua Valley
For good reason the Colchagua Valley was rated the best Wine Region of the World by Wine Enthusiast in 2005. The valley produces excellent Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet and Carmenere wines and is home to two of Chile's most famous wineries - Casa Lapostolle and Montes. We’ll dine at Casa LaPostolle’s amazing Clos Apalta estate, which is arguably one of the most exciting winery designs in the world. After day of enjoying the best of Chilean wine country, we’ll return to our hotel for some much deserved relaxation.
Sunday April 4th - Santiago to Mendoza
Have a big breakfast we have a long but awe inspiring day ahead of us. We’ll depart mid-morning, as we make our way from Colchagua to Santiago and then on to Mendoza via luxury bus. This is an 8 hour journey but driving over the Andes is a once (well twice as we will repeat the journey on the way back) experience. After our long journey we will relax at our delightful boutique hotel, Lares de Chacras in Chacras de Coria; an upscale suburb of Mendoza. We’ll have a simple dinner as we relax with late night wine by the pool.
Monday April 5th – Lujan de Coyo
We’ll to Argentinean wine country. The day begins with a tasting at the legendary Catena Zapata; an impressive winery with a Mayan design. Catena is arguably the most important winery in Argentina and its wines are highly lauded by world’s most important critics. After Catena, we are another legendary estate, Achavel Ferrer, for a barrel tasting exercise. Achavel Ferrer’s Italian winemaker, Roberto Cipresso, is a legend in Southern Tuscany and regarded as a genius winemaker. The day only gets better as we visit Melipal for a 5-course menu with a wine paired with each course. If time allows we’ll visit nearby Benegas for a tasting of their Italian inspired wines. After a day of great food and wine, we’ll simply relax poolside with a couple more glasses of wine, cheese, bread and cured meats.
Tuesday April 6th – Mendoza & La Bourgogne
For those interested in visiting the city, we have city tour of Mendoza arranged*. If you take the tour, you’ll have time to walk the streets of Mendoza and have a light lunch in one of its many outside cafes and restaurants. For those choosing to stay at the hotel, the main shopping area of Lares de Chacras is only a couple blocks away so you can either have lunch at the hotel or in the town. After time to relax at the hotel in the afternoon, we’ll be dining at Mendoza’s best restaurant, La Bourgogne.
Wednesday April 7th – Valle de Uco and Tupungato
After breakfast, we’re off to the Valle de Uco and Tupungato. The terroir of this premium growing region south of Mendoza is distinctively different compared to the growing areas near Mendoza. We’ll begin the day with a visit to Bodegas Salentein, with the Andes acting as an imposing backdrop. Next up Bodegas Lurton for a tasting and a traditional asado (Argentinean barbeque). Finally, we are off to the out of this world Bodegas O Fournier. Not only are the wines impressive but everything about this winery is top notch. Tempranillo vines are head trained the same way as the Ribera del Duero, the winery’s unbelievable archictecture gives you the feeling you are not only visiting a different country, it’s like being on a different planet; truly remarkable. We’ll return to Lares de Chacras for a dinner in this bustling and vibrant suburb of Mendoza.
Thursday April 8th – The Ruca Malen Experience
Enjoy some a well deserved morning off. You can lounge by the pool or visit town for some shopping. After a day of pure relaxation we’ll depart mid-afternoon for Ruca Malen; another truly spectacular winery in the Lujan de Coyo district. You’ll enjoy the red carpet treatment which ends in a multicourse dining experience with the Andes as your backdrop. A remarkable experience.
Friday April 9th – Farewell to Mendoza
It’s time to bid adieu to South America. We’ll be transferred via executive bus or private van from Mendoza to Santiago. The return trip affords us a better opportunity to see Mt. Aconcagua, South America’s highest peak. We’ll arrange to have a picnuc lunch packed. Don’t miss this opportunity to see some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.