Uniqueness of Colchagua Valley
Exploring the Colchagua Valley immerses you in a region where the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean profoundly shape the climate and landscape. Nestled between these natural giants, the valley enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm days and cool nights, ideal for grape ripening and acidity retention.
When it comes to winemaking, following this Colchagua Valley itinerary, you will encounter a diverse array of practices, from traditional methods passed down through generations to cutting-edge techniques that push the boundaries of modern viticulture. The Colchagua Valley stands out globally for its commitment to sustainability and innovation.
The local hero variety, Carménère, from Bordeaux, found a home in Chile. Misidentified as Merlot, it thrived in Chile’s isolation, protected by natural barriers from the ocean, Andes, desert, and Patagonia, free from the diseases that eradicated it in Europe.
Wine tourism flourishes in Colchagua Valley, offering exclusive tastings and tours amid rolling vineyards and scenic views. Beyond wineries, attractions like the Colchagua Museum in Santa Cruz and the Automobile Museum in Lolol enrich the visitor experience with exhibits on Chilean history and vintage cars.
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The Wine Varieties of Colchagua
The Colchagua Valley in Chile is famous for its high-quality wines, especially when it comes to certain varieties. Known as the “Napa Valley of Chile”, this region is renowned for producing bold, consistent wines that thrive on the international stage. Colchagua Valley is a sanctuary for red wine lovers, with Merlot and Syrah contributing to its reputation for full-bodied, expressive wines. Malbec and Carménère — Chile’s signature grape — create distinctive blends that showcase the valley’s ability to produce wines with both power and elegance.
Colchagua Valley is one of the few places in the world where you can learn about Carménère variety and taste its remarkable wine directly from the source. Carménère thrives in Colchagua, producing rich, spicy wines with flavors of dark fruit and green pepper, synonymous with Chilean wine identity.
Cabernet Sauvignon yields full-bodied wines with strong flavors of blackcurrant, plum, and hints of mint and tobacco. Syrah wines are known for their bold flavors of dark berries, pepper, and sometimes a hint of smoked meat or earthiness, adding a spicy and earthy note with a strong structure. Malbec from Colchagua is gaining recognition for its intense color, ripe fruit flavors, and smooth tannins, adding complexity to the wine spectrum.
Merlot produces soft, approachable wines with flavors of red fruits like cherry and raspberry, along with subtle herbal notes, providing a plush, velvety texture to blends. While reds dominate, refreshing white and rosé wines from Colchagua are also gaining recognition. Whites like Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay exhibit vibrant flavors, carrying hints of tropical fruits or a minerally edge.
Best Time of the Year to Visit Colchagua
Colchagua Valley in Chile is one of the most renowned wine regions in the world & hosts several key events and local yearly festivals that highlight its rich heritage, gastronomy, and viticulture. Visiting during the shoulder seasons (autumn and spring) helps avoid the hot & peak tourist season of summer, allowing for a more relaxed and personalized experience.
MARCH
This season marks the beginning of the harvest, known as vendimia and is an exciting time to visit. The vineyards are full of activity, and you can witness the grape picking and wine-making processes firsthand. The Harvest Festival is the most celebrated event in Colchagua & features wine tastings, parades, traditional music and dance, grape-stomping competitions, and local cuisine. When touring this exquisite valley, plan your visits to wineries in advance to ensure availability.
APRIL & MAY
The weather is generally mild and pleasant, and the vineyards are busy with harvest activities. This period offers a vibrant and engaging wine-tasting experiencewith freshly produced wines.
OCTOBER & NOVEMBER
During this time of the year, the vineyards are lush and green, and the weather is perfect for exploring the wineries. Spring offers a quieter and more intimate wine tour experience compared to the busy harvest season. The Chicha Festival in Spring celebrates the traditional Chilean drink chicha (a type of fermented grape or apple cider). This festival includes tastings, local foods, and cultural activities.
How to get to Colchagua
Most people reach Colchagua by traveling from Santiago, the capital city. Driving from Santiago takes about 2-3 hours (150 kilometers/93 miles). Frequent bus services operate from Santiago’s Terminals, taking 3-4 hours to reach Santa Cruz. Travelers from other parts of Chile or neighboring countries typically travel to Santiago first before proceeding to Colchagua using one of these methods.
If arranging transportation and activities feels overwhelming, you can book an organized excursion with transfers included. These excursions usually feature wine tastings at several vineyards and optional lunch services.
Accommodation
Santa Cruz in Colchagua is an excellent base for your wine tours, offering central accommodation with convenient access to shops, cafes, and restaurants. Our top pick near Santa Cruz is Hotel Cava Colchagua, where you can stay in unique barrel-shaped houses amidst beautiful gardens, vineyards, and a pool—an exceptional and affordable experience. Additionally, several wineries in the Colchagua Valley, such as Viña Vik and Clos Apalta Winery, offer luxury accommodations, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the region’s wine culture while enjoying a high-end stay.
For your Colchagua vacation, use CheapTickets.com to find flights, accommodations, and activities. Compare prices, book your stay, and explore things to do—all in one place.
Colchagua Valley Itinerary for a Weekend
Our itinerary recommendations are curated with consideration for winery proximity, dining options, and enriching cultural experiences.
DAY 1
Viña Hacienda’s dedication to quality, sustainability, and innovative practices has resulted in a portfolio of unique wines that reflect the terroir of the Lolol Valley and François Lurton’s vision and expertise. The estate spans 28 hectares of vines, and the Lolol Valley has been granted “protected designation of origin” status.
Visitors can tour the vineyards and enjoy the natural biodiversity fostered by biodynamic methods. The estate offers tours, picnics, and a shop, providing a welcoming and intimate tasting experience at the vineyard owner’s house. The vineyard ensures memorable visits with offerings like nuts, cheese, tomato and chorizo.
Their notable wines & labels include Alka Label that features the Carménère complex & fine character.
Just a 7-minute drive from Viña Hacienda, if hunger strikes and you need to recharge, stop by Don Sandwich for a delicious sandwich or a chorrillana. Afterwards, you can continue your itinerary at Viña Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz winery is dedicated to producing high-quality wines sustainably, continuously improving processes, and offering exceptional products and experiences to customers and visitors. Viña Santa Cruz became Chile’s first 100% solar-powered vineyard in 2017 by installing two solar plants, one atop the automobile museum and another behind the winery. Santa Cruz offers a unique variety of facilities and tours that can cater to anyone’s preferences.
Personalized Wine Tours include visits to the winery, vinification room, and barrel room. Vineyard Carriage Rides offer a guided tour exploring special vineyard area. These tours provide a full cultural experience. Space lovers will enjoy the Astronomical Center, which features sessions with telescopes and meteorite exhibits. Other attractions include Swiss cable rides and a visit to the automobile museum, which you should add to your list. The tours even include Helicopter Experiences!
As for their wine labels, the Chaman labels highlight the Carménère variety blended with other varieties, giving the wines an elegant and strong taste.
Discover the evolution of the automobile from its invention in the late 19th century to the technological advancements and designs of the 20th century. Over 100 examples of cars, motorcycles, and transportation vehicles are exhibited in a 2,000 m² specially equipped facility. The museum showcases the oldest car in America, the Austin Prince used by Queen Elizabeth of England, and many more historic and famous pieces. For a full museum tour, you should allocate 1.5 hours of your day.
When your day is over, head to Colchagua center (or wherever your accommodation is) and relax at your hotel. For a fancy dinner in a great atmosphere, visit Ristorante Vino Bello and enjoy its pasta dishes and roasted meats.
DAY 2
Start your day with a wholesome breakfast because a full day awaits! If your hotel doesn’t include breakfast, stop by Time Coffee and enjoy a lush breakfast in a cozy spot inside or at the garden tables.
Start your morning at the Colchagua Museum, part of the Cardoen Foundation’s network of museums. This museum offers a fascinating and well-organized experience, simulating a “journey through time” from the formation of the Earth to Chile’s independence. It features eight main exhibition areas, including paleontology, archaeology, colonization, independence, taking visitors from the origins of life 400 million years ago to the 20th century. Additionally, there are many thematic pavilions. To explore the museum, allocate at least 2 hours.
Viu Manent is a Chilean winery founded in 1935 by Catalonian immigrant Miguel Viu-García and his sons, Agustín and Miguel Viu-Manent. Located in the Colchagua Valley, part of Chile’s Central Zone, the winery spans 254 hectares across San Carlos, La Capilla, and El Olivar vineyards.
This region is renowned for its full-bodied Cabernet, Carménère, Syrah, and Malbec, frequently listed among the world’s leading wines. This winery offers a variety of tour options, starting with the classic wine tasting that lasts 30 minutes. Other options include wine and food harmony workshops (2.5 hours) and engaging programs like “Winemaker for a Day,” where participants can experience a winemaker’s daily work, from blending to labeling their own wine (2.5 hours).
Our favorite labels from this winery include El Incidente (A Gran Carménère named after a legendary hot-air balloon trip accident) & Malportado (A fortified Malbec made in the style of Port wines, produced in very limited quantities).
Rayuela Wine & Grill is Viu Manent’s restaurant, offering panoramic views of vineyards, the equestrian club, and the Apalta hills. The menu features seasonal cuisine using local ingredients, with dishes accompanied by excellent wines. The restaurant has been awarded & named “Best Regional Cuisine” by Chilean Gastronomic Journalists in 2015 and inducted into TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame after receiving the Traveler’s Choice award for five consecutive years.
- Discover the stunning architecture of Clos Apalta Winery
Clos Apalta combines natural beauty, stunning architecture, advanced winemaking techniques, and luxurious hospitality to create an unforgettable wine experience. This winery, with its characteristic & unique cylindrical roof, is a tribute to the wine and the valley.
Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle’s dream of crafting the perfect wine led her to the Apalta Valley, where she founded Clos Apalta. Visitors can experience Clos Apalta through private wine tasting or culinary tours, showcasing century-old vines and the gravitational winemaking process.
Clos Apalta produces two main labels, Le Petit Clos (Carmenère, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot) with strong & balanced aromas of blackcurrant and spicy tobacco & Clos Apalta (Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot) known for its iridescent indigo color and complex bouquet of black cherry, blackberry, leather, spices, mocha, and cocoa.
Accomodation in the Clos Apalta Residence offers an immersive experience with luxurious accommodations and gourmet dining. Each room offers stunning views of the vineyard and mountains, providing a peaceful retreat.
For the final stop of your winery tour, visit Ventisquero Winery for a Sunset Tour. Experience the Apalta Valley’s stunning sunset with vineyard slope views at the La Roblería Mirador.
Ventisquero Winery produces wines driven by passion, curiosity, and a spirit of innovation, characterized by a commitment to environmental stewardship.
The winery adheres to rigorous quality control and environmental protection standards and has earned the “Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile” status, reflecting sustainable practices in vineyard management, winery operations, production facilities, and social responsibility.
Their wines include the “Grey” label that represents the full expression of a single block of vines & “Yelcho” that symbolizes a harmonious connection between nature, man, and the river.
Bonus Tip
If you decide to extend your stay for a more leisurely experience, consider adding a visit to Vina Vik. Located an hour’s drive from the other wineries, Vina Vik awaits to reward you with its wines and unique architecture.
VINA VIK: Where Art Meets Wine
The VIK winery features an innovative architectural design, emphasizing on sustainability, advanced technology, and minimal environmental impact. The entrance boasts a striking view of reflecting water bodies, which flow through the entire space on a gentle slope. In the tasting room, visitors can experience the winery’s blends and view Eduardo Cardozo’s artwork interpreting the vineyard’s terroir.
The wines include the VIK Label, A Bordeaux-style blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc. La Piu Belle Labels also offer complex & fruity notes and an eye-catching beautiful appearance. The Rose La Piu Belle is worth mentioning also as a vegan label.
Just next to the winery, VIK Chile, the most luxurious hotel in Chile, invites you to unwind and immerse yourself in art and wine. With panoramic views of the vineyards, the striking VIK Winery, and the natural surroundings, Vik Chile offers a unique experience. The floating, one-of-a-kind structural roof of titanium and bronze in a windswept, mountainous setting provides exceptional views of the valley. Keep in mind, this place is about an hour’s drive from the other wineries. If you enjoy driving or prefer a tranquil stay, this stunning hotel is a must-visit.
Remember, this article reflects our unique recommendations and personal preferences. If you need advice, we suggest scheduling a consultation call with us before booking or finalizing your plans.
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