Wines and Flavors of Argentina and Chile

The capital of Chile has an unforgettable charm that emanates from the spectacular view of the Andean peaks which border the metropolis’s eastern edge. Gorgeous trees shade wide boulevards, and elegant architectural design encompass grand high-rises that stand 856 feet tall. Sidewalk cafes will serve delicious coffee, and popular beerhalls in neighborhoods like Lastarria and Bellavista will capture the vibrancy of the city’s daily life. Your flight will land at Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, where your private transfer will greet you upon arrival and escort you to the comforts of your luxury hotel.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure to experience the welcoming ambiance of Santiago, which is one of the safest cities in South America and is also celebrated for its central location between the Pacific Ocean and Andean peaks. For spectacular panoramic views of the city, you can venture to the summit of Cerro San Cristóbal, which provides amazing views of Bella Vista Park, the national zoo, and the Mapulemu Botanical Gardens..

In the morning, the food markets across Santiago will brim with locals who are eager to find fresh produce and remarkable seafood. At breakfast, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee will fill the dining room of your hotel. Your guide will greets you in the lobby with a friendly welcome and will escort you into the city to experience the fabulous market culture of Santiago, beginning with Vega Central.. You will walk down the aisles with your guide and notice the bright colors, welcoming vendors, and over 500 stores that celebrate the variety of Chilean cuisine.

At the Central Market, your guide will introduce you to the elaborate seafood culture of Santiago. The vaulted ceiling will provide a sense of openness with an intricate central roof design that resembles a pyramid crowned by a tower. Vendors will display a myriad of different seafood as the nearby Pacific shores are some of the most popular fishing waters in the world.. The scent of fish stew made with conger eel will linger beneath the vaulted ceiling as you discover the food culture of Santiago. You will continue on your fabulous tour of the city to explore the history and heritage of Chile’s capital that will take you from the Plaza de Armas to the Royal high Court for a different perspective of urban Chilean culture.

You will set out to the Pacific shores at Valparaiso with your guide where you will make your first stop in the Casablanca Valley for insight into the celebrated winemaking process of Chile. Vines will spread across the landscapes, producing some of the country’s most popular wines that absorb flavors and nutrients from the coastal mountains, ocean breeze, and fertile valley soil. You will follow your guide through the vines of an established vineyard for an insider’s look at the grapes. After walking through the process of wine production on the vineyard, your guide will lead you into the tasting room for a sample of the wines that are crafted on the property. Your guide will pour a touch of the award-winning Chardonnay for you. You will also find aromas of tropical fruits, such as pineapple mixed with peaches that tend to drift upwards from the glass, leading to perfectly balanced tastes on your palate.

You will continue to the mountainous seaside city of Valparaiso where you will finding historic funiculars that connect the flat coastal plazas and streets The bohemian ambiance will accentuate the reasons for Valparaiso being named a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2003. One of the most famous monuments in the city is La Sebastiana, which is located in the Bellavista neighborhood, home of renowned Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.

The famous Maipo Valley is the oldest wine-growing region in Chile with a history of vineyards that date back 150 years. The region has gained a reputation for its red wines that produce rich, dynamic, and complex flavors from varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. Your guide will meet you at the hotel in Santiago and lead you into the gorgeous scenery of the Maipo Valley, where vineyards stretch to the banks of the nearby river and along the foothills of the nearby Andes mountains. You will learn that the diverse climate adds to the unique properties of the vines as you visit your first of several boutique wineries.

The vineyard will blend into the surrounding rural landscape with a central structure that harmonizes with the scenery instead of interrupting the view of the Andean foothills and summit.. In the tasting room, you will have a tremendous view of the landscape that will showcase the vineyard’s commitment to sustainability. Your guide will pour a sample of the popular Cabernet Sauvignon, which will fill the glass with aromas of berries, pepper, cedar, and chocolate. The long, lingering coating on your palate will also contain a hint of tasted oak.

In the morning, the scent of herbaceous maté tea will drift from the famous Cafés in the Barrio Italia, a neighborhood often hidden from visitors and filled with independent cafes, vintage shops, and charming arcades. After breakfast, your private transfer will greet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to the airport for your flight to Mendoza, which is the heartland of Argentina’s wine regions and primary producer of Malbec. The atmospheric city will enchant visitors with broad, leafy avenues and plazas that are lined with cosmopolitan cafes. The relaxed pace of life will bring out a celebration of flavors as locals will cling to the delicacies of artisan chocolates, homemade ice creams, sensational restaurants, and the production of wines on the outskirts of the desert town that is fed by the snowmelt from the Andes.

After settling into the comfortable charms of your luxury hotel, the remainder of the day will be at your leisure to experience the culture of Mendoza. You can stroll through Independencia Park at the heart of the city, where locals gather throughout the day or wander along the rippling waters of the lakeshore in Parque General San Martin. The rooftop terrace of City Hall, known as Terraza Mirador, will provide an inviting panoramic view from which you can survey the entire city.

At breakfast, you will enjoy the refreshing aromas of freshly baked medialunas, a pastry that is akin to the croissant and is often accompanied by a cup of café con leche. You will venture out into the oasis of vineyards that line the heart of Mendoza. Rows of vines will thrive with lush greenery like an oasis in the desert terrain that lead to the foothills of the soaring snowcapped Andes until you reach a region often referred to as the “Cradle of Malbec.”. Crystal-clear waters from natural creaks will trickle down the slopes, and the calm ambiance will give the main town and its seductive square a village-like quality.

The first winery you will visit was established in the late nineteenth century and, to this day, embodies the immigrant experience of emigrants. Lush vines will blanket the landscape as they grow Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec grapes. In the tasting room, your guide will offer the first sample of the varietal for which the region is particularly known. The diverse aromas of dark fruits, lavender, and vanilla stem from the specific microclimates of the region, which also affect the surprising lingering traces of cinnamon, leather, and blueberries.

In the morning, the scent of fresh coffee mixed with milk will fill the dining room as it is coupled by the lingering sweet aroma of medialunas. The first half of the day will be yours to explore and experience Mendoza at your leisure.You will have the option to take an exciting horseback riding tour or to go on a whitewater rafting adventure down the Mendoza River. You may also spend the day relaxing in the active, yet tranquil ambiance of the city.

In the afternoon, you will meet your guide for a private cooking experience that will offer insight into the famous Argentine asado. You will use the traditional iron grill known as a parrilla, and you will help prepare the fire on the open flame before you learn a traditional recipe for adding unique flavor to the meats and vegetables. The fire will burn red hot as the smoky embers add layers of flavor to the peppers, onions, potatoes, and meats. As the food prepares, the chef will offer a selection of wines that are perfectly paired to the diverse tastes of the food..

You will fly from Mendoza to Buenos Aires, where your private transfer will meet you at Ministro Pistarini International Airport. Your guide will then lead you to the comforts of your luxury accommodations that rests in the heart of the city. The famous 47 barrios add a dynamic complexity to the overall fabric of Buenos Aires, from the artisan flair of San Telmo to the spirited movement of dancers that habitually dance the tango on the streets of La Boca.. You will meet a local couple during a cocktail and cooking class experience where you will uncover the secrets to Argentinian flavors.

Creativity and elegance will take center stage as the culture is inspired by the atmospheric hideaways, dapper bars, and distinctive history of the city.. As a start, you will learn the best ratios for mixing Pino Noir with freshly squeezed orange and lime juice. You will then combined it with sugar and crushed ice to create a citrus-forward drink that is reminiscent of a refreshing sangria. The aroma of baking empanadas will fill the room as competition for the most flavorful and delicious creation begins.

The sunlight will wash over Buenos Aires as it brings life back to the streets of the unique neighborhoods. Artists will return to the streets of La Boca and capture the vibrant colors of the corrugated houses and elegant movement of the open-air tango dancers. In the neighborhood of Recoleta, the famous store El Ateneo Grand Splendid will open its doors, welcoming shoppers into the former theater now filled books and a Café that has overtaken the old stage. Your guide will lead you on an immersive, half-day tour of the city that will highlight the cultural heritage and contemporary history of Buenos Aires.

The ornate mausoleums and tombs will glint with marble facades as they line the rows that are intended to look like streets. Lavish mansions overlooking the cemetery will speak to a time when the city was considered the “Paris of South America.” Statues and plaques commemorate influential politicians, military heroes, and illustrious Porteños that account for 6,400 mausoleums that are complete with Gothic, Greek, and fairytale designs. tomb of Eva Perón remains one of the most popular monuments in the cemetery with an incredible history.

You will continue to a specialty restaurant in Recoleta, which is located inside a Neoclassical palace and was erected in the 1930s. Walking into the underground walkway, you will feel as though you have stepped into an art gallery with chic photographs, a manicured terrace, and an elegant courtyard that will highlight the sophisticated ambiance. The restaurant will serve an incredible selection of wines that will be paired with delectable cheeses that are all made in Argentina. The balance of flavors and welcoming resplendent atmosphere of the restaurant will allow you to relax and indulge after a fun day of exploration.

The morning in Buenos Aires will be at your leisure to indulge in the beauty of the city at your preferred pace. You may sit in a café and embrace the herbal aroma of mate tea, or you can wander through the art galleries inside the Centro Cultural Kirchner. The National Historical Museum in the neighborhood of San Telmo tells the history of Argentina with a display of over 50,000 artifacts.

In the afternoon, you will visit with a local couple for a mini cooking class and empanada tasting. Here, you will enjoy a warm welcome into a heartfelt home for a delicious meal that provides a step-by-step process of crafting the famous savory pastries. Your instructors will guide you through the process of making a meat-based filling before having you stuff it into the homemade dough. As the empanadas bake, you will start crafting the traditional Argentine sauce, chimichurri, which is made from garlic, vinegar, parsley, olive oil, and chili pepper. The captivating meal will crescendo with a table full of customary cuts of meat, salad, and choripán, a sandwich of chorizo served with a creole sauce and accompanied with a sensational glass of Malbec.

The gorgeous city of Buenos Aires will contain passion and beauty that will seep into your skin as it ignites the thrill of culture, cuisine, and history.. Porteños in the Saavedra neighborhood will relax in the large parks or venture down the streets of the shopping district as you enjoy the stylish window displays. Your private transfer will greet you in the hotel lobby after breakfast and will escort you to Ministro Pistarini International Airport for your flight home.