Wineries with their mansion houses and lush vineyards are a few of the obligatory wayside stops along this trail overflowing with history and tradition, flavors and bouquets. Here, at every step, one learns the fragrant secrets and refined mysteries of the making of the world-class Chilean wine.
The fact is that ever since the first wine harvest from Copiapo city vineyards, planted by conquistador Francisco Aguirre in the 16th century, large amounts of excellent quality wine have flowed from the Chilean wineries scattered over the valleys around Santiago, whose fertile soil and generous climate are ideal for growing grapevines.

The capital city is the heart of the wine producing area. By visiting its valleys one not only learns the wine manufacturing process and teases one's palate with the exquisite "reds and whites", but also learns about traditional Chilean rural customs and visits the elegant mansions built by the vineyard owners in the early 20th century.
This is an "intoxicating" fun experience displaying the degree of development of the Chilean wine industry, which has wisely combined the fertility of its valleys (sown with fine European varietals) with applied French technology and the expertise of renowned oenologists. The clearly visible result of this combination of factors is wine of indisputably high quality and well-earned international prestige.
The Maipo valley, with its huge vineyards, such as Cosuño Macul (the oldest in the country), Concha y Toro, a main exporter, and Undurraga, a traditional family-run vineyard, is the favorite excursion trail for wine enthusiasts, although it is by no means the only one. Santiago offers much more.
This is a "tour for your taste buds". Cheers!... Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay? - You choose - they are yours to enjoy, as one more "pilgrim" on the wine trail.
This is an "intoxicating" fun experience displaying the degree of development of the Chilean wine industry, which has wisely combined the fertility of its valleys (sown with fine European varietals) with applied French technology and the expertise of renowned oenologists. The clearly visible result of this combination of factors is wine of indisputably high quality and well-earned international prestige.
The Maipo valley, with its huge vineyards, such as Cosuño Macul (the oldest in the country), Concha y Toro, a main exporter, and Undurraga, a traditional family-run vineyard, is the favorite excursion trail for wine enthusiasts, although it is by no means the only one. Santiago offers much more.
This is a "tour for your taste buds". Cheers!... Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay? - You choose - they are yours to enjoy, as one more "pilgrim" on the wine trail.

One of the most interesting stories is that of the carménere grape. It is said that this grape disappeared from Europe in the 16th century because of a blight, and only its description and name survived in the chronicles of the time. However, some 20 years ago, one of the more famous wineries was growing a grape that would not ferment at the required point for the wine it was producing. Not being an expert enologist, I am unable to say whether the wine involved was a cabernet or another variety. After several unsuccessful attempts, they brought an enologist from France who, after a series of detailed analyses informed his employers: "My dear sir, you will never be able to obtain a Cabernet from this grape, you will always get a Carménere". This is how a kind of grape which had disappeared from Europe hundreds of years ago appeared again in these regions. One must assume it was brought during the conquest of America.