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- Valle de Maule, its vineyards are scattered around
the Central Valley and the hillsides of the Coastal Cordillera.
Only 260 km separate this area from Santiago. Maule specializes
in manufacturing red wines from varietals of Carmenere, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. The main vineyards are: Balduzzi,
Calina, El Aromo and Tabontinaja, the latter including an exhibit
of all the varietals that are planted in Chile.
The tours of vineyards and cellars are rounded off with excursions to colonial towns, museums and natural wildlife areas, as well as an opportunity to sample the typical cuisine of this region.
The trail usually starts at the city of Talca with a visit to the Huilquilemu Museum, an old 19th century vineyard mansion house, with adobe walls and a cobbled floor. Other places of interest are the towns of Villa Alegre and Yerbas Buenas, with colonial features, and an fascinating tour of the Altos de Lircay National Reserve, with its beautiful landscapes and archaeological sites.
- Valle de Casablanca, this valley is famed for
the indisputable quality of its white wines and Pinot Noir, most
of which are destined for export.
This is one of the valleys that shows major growth, having 25 vineyards in the Aconcagua wine growing region located along the highway linking Santiago with Viña del Mar.
During this tour, as well as sampling wines made in the area, one learns about the history, culture and lore of the region.
Some main vineyards here are: Veramonte, Villard State, Viña Indomita and Viña Mar de Casablanca, among others.
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