Santiago is surrounded by 5 different wine regions. After Colchagua region, I discover 2 other one: Maipo and Casablanca. Everything is feasible only by bus and public transport!
For this second stay in Santiago, I couldn’t sleep at my friend’s place. Thus, I slept in an hostel in Bellavista district called Gnomo Hostel. It is among the cheapest one 7,000C$, simple and a bit hipster. I don’t recommend it for a quiet and long stay. My only trouble was to be beaten a lot (40 times) during my first night. After changing bed, it was better. For more information about Santiago, there is another article.
Maipo Valley
Reach the place
Part of the wineries are reachable with public transport (bus and subway). It is just necessary to use your favorite App for asking the way. The time of the journey is around 1h15. I only tried 2 wineries that were close to each other.
Viña Cousiño Macul
Viña Cousiño Macul is the first winery of the day. After a journey of 1h15, I started my booked visit. The visit was 20,000C$ and included a tasting. The tasting contained 6 wines and cheese pairing. A cheaper package exists with a simpler tasting, only 3 wines.
The information about the wine-making were redundant with the one I did in Colchagua valley. However, the place had also its differences. The winery is an old familial one with an interesting legacy. The explanation and exhibitions about the old methods were worth doing it. As regard to the tasting, it was nice and with some great wines. I was really happy to try a typical grape variety of my childhood region Alsace. The Riesling here was totally on exotic fruits, a good discovery. The only drawback is that they served the wine in non tasting glass.
If you are hungry after the visit, there is a bakery with Empanadas at the corner of Tobalaba and Av. Quilin.
Viña Aquitania
Viña Aquitania is another winery I wanted to do. Only 30 mins walking or even less if you take a public bus, it sounded a good option. I didn’t book a tour, as I only wanted to drink wine by the glass. When I arrived with a friend I have met in the previous winery, a tour is already on his way.
After waiting 30 mins, the end of the last tour, the lady told us that the only option is to do the visit and the tasting of 3 wines for 10,000C$. We insisted for only the tasting and she asked for the same price, ridiculous. On top of that, there was no possibility of drinking wine by the glass…
As a conclusion, the welcome was cold and we preferred to leave.
Another wineries in the Maipo valley:
- Concha y Toro: reachable with public transport but it is one of the biggest winery in Chile. Be prepared to be in Disneyland of the winery.
- Vina Santa Rita: Also reachable with public transport.
- Vina Undurraga: Maybe reachable by dropping off a bus going to another city
- Vina El Principal
- Vina Almadivia
Casablanca Valley
Reach the place
I took a mini bus from the terminal de Buses Pajaritos. The terminal is located on the west side of Santiago and reachable with the subway.
I took the first bus going to the right direction and paid 2,000C$ for getting to the Casablanca valley in around 1h15. I just asked the driver where I want to leave.
Viña Emiliana
From the bus stop to the winery, you have to walk around 20 mins. The best way is to turn left when you see an entrance in the first wall on your left. Just follow the path and you will arrive at the winery.
I chose to do the tour and tasting in Viña Emiliana. The tour, called Tour Prenium, costed 14,000C$. I can’t wait to tell you, it was my best experience. During the visit, the guide gave us useful information about wine making but also a lot about organic and biodynamic methods.
The initial tasting included 4 glasses of wine that were really good. And after, I got the chance to try some other one in the higher range. Finally, I tasted my favorite wines from Chile in this Winery.
It is possible to buy honey that is made by the workers of the winery in their spare time. All the income are going to social actions for them.
Veramonte
Finally, I went to my last winery in Chile called Veramonte. The winery is 30 mins walking from the other one. Just enough time for digesting! I didn’t do a visit and only took wine by the glass. The 4 wines I tasted were all from the highest range and were good. Even if it was hard to compete with the previous winery. Each glass costed 3,000C$.
The vineyard in front of Veramonte winery
For coming back to Santiago, I went to the same bus stop where I arrived, of course in the other way. I just raised my hand each time a bus was coming. In 5 mins, I was on a bus going back to Santiago for even a cheaper price 1,500C$.
Another winery to discover in the area of Casablanca:
- Vinamar de Casablanca:
- Indomita: This one and the previous one are close to each other and close to the main road. Thus, I think it is also feasible with the same way.
- Bodega Re: The sommelier of Emilina told me that this winery is famous for doing crazy wines that are not usual. If you are curious, it is worth trying it.
- Matetic Winey
Aconcagua valley
Another North region of Santiago is starting to be famous, it is called Aconcagua valley. I heard about 3 wineries: San Esteban, Von Siebenthal and Errazuriz. Unfortunately, I didn’t do it as I was tired and it was more complicated to reach the bus.
Let’s continue soon wine discovery on the other side of the Andes in Mendoza!
Links
Maps of the wine road in Casablanca
General information about wine regions close to Santiago
An article about visiting wineries in many different regions