Colchagua Valley Wine Tour
Travel Advice for Seniors: Colchagua Valley Wine Tour
What better way to take in the countryside on a beautiful summer day…in route to one of the greatest wine-producing areas in the country! In one word….carmenere.
Mom and I have found over the years that there are certain activities that we enjoy very much when we are traveling and if we can fit them in, we certainly try. One is getting a massage shortly after arrival to shake off the long flight, another is going to afternoon tea if available. Those are fairly easy to book, but another of our favorites, going on a wine tour, requires a little foresight to book. We have finetuned our palates over the years to especially enjoy a solid medium-bodied red wine. In fact, if we are visiting several wineries, unless there is a white that is particularly worthy, we usually stick to only the reds.
Chile’s Colchagua Valley is one that fits our specifications for a great wine tour. It’s a bit of a road trip from Santiago and takes most of the day to get there and back, but it is worth it. You can make the Valley an overnight stop as well, but we opted for the day tour as we had limited time. We visited wineries Viu Manent and Montes. The winery tour part of the winery visit can be a bit monotonous especially if you have toured several wineries already. However, I never grow tired of taking a tour of the vineyards and the lovely views of miles and miles of grape vines backdropped by the mountains.
The high point of the tours was of course to taste as many carmeneres as possible. Which we did, with relish. At many wineries, you will pay for the tasting which is only fair for the usually five wine samples plus snacks (sometimes) plus a pourer who will give you background on the winery and its wines, particularly the best vintages.
Vineyards are nearly always well-groomed with excellent landscaping and many have multi-course lunch menus which are always a pleasure. Vineyards are a destination in themselves, but adding a lunch is a truly exquisite way to spend the afternoon. Many have gourmet multi-course meals matched with wines. Be sure to book this well in advance as it is popular.
And be sure to purchase a bottle or two of your favorite, not forgetting that there is a finite amount of liquor/wine that can be brought back into the States duty free. Also, plan ahead if you want to purchase wine so you can a) fit it in your suitcase and b) keep within luggage weight limits. I’ve never carried specialty wine bottle wraps in my luggage, I usually have plenty of clothes to wrap it in and have never had a broken bottle.
You can certainly also buy wine at the duty free shop at the airport, but I find that buying it at the winery supports the winery directly and you can get vintages that you can’t get in the States. Bon Appetit!
Where we stayed: Pullman Santiago El Bosque. Nice hotel, breakfast included. Centrally located.
How we got there: Flight from US to Santiago.This was part of an 12-day private tour through Chile.
General Accessibility Information: Santiago is more accessible than other cities and areas, with major hotels, sights and some transportation accessible. The National Tourism Service (SERNATUR) and the National Disabilities Service (SENADIS) have a guide for traveling in Chile with a disability. National System of State Protected Wild Areas (SNASPE) has accessible services in national parks, reserves, and monuments. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
