Hello and Happy Wednesday! I’m taking this post back to Chile again, with some recommendations for fellow wine enthusiasts. We have been to some of the world’s best wine regions, having toured vineyards in France, Italy and Spain. So we were eager to learn more about Chilean wine making and sample some vintages we can’t get here at home.
As this was our first time in Chile, we found it most convenient to visit some wineries as part of a tour. I can highly recommend Uncorked Wine Tours for your first experience. Our English speaking guide was very knowledgable and friendly, even offering to take photographs of us. It was a full day wine tour with stops at 3 vineyards and it included a multi-course lunch. Transportation and pick up at our hotel was also included.
Our first stop was at Bodegas Re. I really enjoyed the “experimental” philosophies of the founder and winemaker, Pablo Morandé, and that it is a small family owned operation. In addition to producing exceptional quality wines, they are fermenting fruits into various liqueurs and have a small balsamic vinegar production. Wine tasting occurs in the cool cellar where grapes are fermented in large clay receptacles. A delicious selection of local cheeses and olives are provided.
Our next stop was Loma Larga Vineyards. The first thing you notice when you arrive are the breathtaking grounds lush with many different kinds of fruit trees. Brightly colored rose bushes dot the landscape around the owner’s original home, now converted into the tasting room. A large warehouse-like facility houses the stainless steel fermentation tanks. Tasting includes a local cheese selection with raisins.
Our final stop and where we had lunch was House Casa del Vino. There is a fantastic gourmet restaurant with a comfortable patio and sweeping view. Our multi-course lunch featured wine pairings from Viña Morandé and included a fantastic ceviche, squid ink risotto, and marinated flank steak with a corn purée. It was very hard not to fall asleep on the ride back to Santiago. 🙂 It was an unforgettable experience! We found the Chilean wines to be exceptional in quality, production, and taste.
Next on our list is California. Where are some of your favorite wines from? Do you have a wine tour company you’ve used that you had an incredible experience with? I’d love to have more suggestions. Let me know in the comments or let’s chat on Instagram or Twitter!
3 Beautiful Vineyards You Must See in Colchagua Valley appeared first on Cathedrals & Cafés.
[…] started off with my review of three vineyards we visited while on vacation in Chile. If you have the chance to go to South America, Chile is a […]