A Taste of South America
November 21st – 30th, 2012

Vineyard This trip has been designed for those with a taste for life and a passion for wine. This tour is our most dedicated to the enjoyment of wine but food lovers will also enjoy the tour. Come explore Chile's marvelous wine country; a tapestry of unique wine regions and marvel in the sheer splendour and breathtaking beauty of Mendoza.

We invite you to join us in a hand on taste adventure, as you sip and taste your way across South America. This intimate tour of Chile and Argentina’s great wine regions have been organized by Mark DeWolf – sommelier instructor for the Canadian Association of Professinal Sommeliers and Publications Editor of Occasions Magazine.

Tour Cost

$3695/person - 18% surcharge for single supplement.

Inquiries/Reservations: info@winebytheglass.ca, call 902-488-9959

Includes

9 nights’ accommodation
9 breakfasts
6 lunches (including wine)
8 dinners(including wine)
Santiago city tour
Mendoza city tour
Transportation from Chile to Argentina
All wine tastings as listed in itinerary

Itinerary, subject to change.

Itinerary

Wednesday, November 21st

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. Accomodation: Hotel Orly

Thursday, November 22nd

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 back to Santiago. Dinner tonight is on your own but not too worry, there is no lack of choice in the area. There is in fact a number of great restaurants beside the hotel. Accomodation: Hotel Orly

Friday, November 23rd

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 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 back to Santiago for a well deserved evening of relaxation. We’ll meet for a simple meal and recount our day’s activities. Accomodation: Hotel Orly

Saturday, November 24th

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 Vino Bello - a lovely restaurant in the area. After day of enjoying the best of Chilean wine country, we’ll return to our hotel for some much deserved relaxation. Accomodation: Terra Vina

Sunday, November 25th

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 (or could be twice as you will have the option to repeat the journey on the way back) experience. We have lunch at 10,000 ft at the lodge at Portillo. 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 Accomodation: Lares de Chacras

Monday, November 26th -

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 mulit-course menu with a wine paired with each course. We’ll have some siesta time in the afternoon before we enjoy a barbeque in the vineyard at Trapiche. Accomodation: Lares de Chacras

Tuesday, November 27th – 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. Accomodation: Lares de Chacras

Wednesday, November 28th – 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 O Fournier which is one of the most stunning wineries in the world. We have lunch here overlooking the Andes. 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 light dinner in this bustling and vibrant suburb of Mendoza. Accomodation: Lares de Chacras

Thursday, November 29th – 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.

Saturday, November 30th – Farewell to Mendoza