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Gourmet's Choice Food and Wine Tour

Starting at USD $3190* per person in double occupancy; additional fees apply for single occupancy


Treat yourself to 10 deluxe days in Chile and Argentina!

Few places in the world are as well suited for producing wine as the Central Valley of Chile and Mendoza in Argentina. The Pacific Ocean breeze, the protective shelter of the Andes, perfectly balanced soils, and crystal-clear waters that tumble down from the high mountains all go to make up an ideal microclimate for cultivating the noblest French stock. As a result, vine grapes in rich soils combined with the high level of technology in production methods, delivers a wholesome and safe product that surpasses international standards for quality. Discover and enjoy the finest food and wine in both Chile and Argentina.

Available to start on Wednesdays in Santiago, or customize your itinerary.

Tour Features

  • Deluxe Accommodations
  • 3 Nights in Santiago de Chile
  • 1 Night in Santa Rita Winery
  • 3 Nights in Mendoza
  • 2 Nights in Buenos Aires
  • 9 Buffet Breakfasts
  • 3 Lunches and 3 Dinners
  • All national park entrance fees
  • All sightseeings and transfers with English-speaking guides
  • 2 Flights with LAN and Aerolineas Argentinas

* Price includes all tour features and is subject to change before tour confirmation due to seasonal variations


Day 1 – Arrival in Santiago

Welcome to Chile's capital, at the foot of the Santa Lucia hill, nestled in the flat part of the Central Valley and surrounded by the Andes Mountains. Your local host will meet you at the international airport and escort you to the Hotel PanAmericana Providencia, located in the heart of the tourist borough next to hundreds of small, exclusive small boutiques and modern malls, dotted with a variety of restaurants from casual to elegant dining where a taste of Chile's excellent wines are a must. That afternoon, enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of Santiago, where your guide will showcase the heart of the finance and political centre of Chile: the Civic Center, La Moneda, Presidential Palace and seat of the Presidency of the Republic; Plaza de Armas; the Cathedral; Main Post Office; and pedestrian districst of Huerfanos and Ahumada, indisputably the busiest social, commercial and functional axis of Santiago. The tour is finished with a ride up San Cristobal hill with the best panoramic views from the lookout points on the top. Wine museum with wine tasting included.

Day 2 – Exploring the Maipo Valley

After a hearty breakfast, we invite you on a full day tour to explore the Maipo Valley. Heading southwest, we find ourselves in Viña Undurraga after short, pleasant drive. Since 1885, five generations of the Undurraga family have directed the vineyard and produced Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Rhine Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.

We then visit the town of Pomaire, a little enclave dedicated to clay pottery, where we will have lunch and also have some time at leisure to get acquainted with local artisans. In the afternoon we will visit Viña Canepa, famous for its production of two main types of white wines; fresh and fruity varieties, one kept for a short period of time in stainless steel tanks and the other aged three-to-five years for a woody taste and bouquet.

Tonight, we invite you for a gourmet dinner and a folklore show at restaurant Adobes de Argomedo or Bali Hai.

Day 3 – Concha y Toro and Santa Rita Wineries

After b reakfast and checkout, transfer to the Maipo Valley for a visit, en route to Concha y Toro Winery. A pioneer in winemaking since 1883, as well as one of the largest producers, Concha y Toro has taken a leading position within the local wine industry by increasing its acreage planted with noble stock, modernizing its machinery and incorporating state-of-the-art technology in its wine making, aging and bottling process.

Next, we continue to Santa Rita where we enjoy a gourmet lunch with wine surrounded by the grape fields. Check in at Hotel Casa Real and take a walking tour of the Santa Rita winery, which since 1880, produces Chilean fine wines that top the list of local wine exports to the European and North American markets.

Day 4 – Return to Santiago

After a hearty breakfast and a morning walk in the garden, we return to Santiago and an afternoon at leisure.

Day 5 – Santiago / Mendoza

Morning flight to Mendoza over the highest Andes peaks — simply amazing. Reception at local airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodations at Hotel Park Hyatt Mendoza.

This afternoon we introduce you to Mendoza City with a panoramic sightseeing tour. Throughout the tour we visit this modern city with its tree-lined streets and its typical irrigation trenches. The historic district is a must with a brief stop at San Francisco Ruins, the oldest bricks of the city that survived the earthquake and only vestige of the colonial architecture. We will visit San Martin Park, located at the foothills of the Precordillera de los Andes, where every year the Fiesta de la Vendimia initiates the harvesting season in Mendoza with a large and colorful parade that ends with the election of the National Queen of the Harvesting. Enjoy a panoramic view from de la Gloria Hill next to the monument honoring General San Martin and his troops that crossed the Andes almost 200 years ago seeking independence.

Day 6 – Gourmet Wine Tour: The Old Valley

Mendoza produces 70% of Argentina’s wine production. Its privileged location, soil and microclimate together make the perfect equation for a complex winemaking process with a magical and delicious result: the best wines. The combination of high altitude and pure air makes for particularly intense sunlight, and therefore, strong photosynthetic ripening in Mendoza’s vineyards. Warm daytime temperatures also help with ripening, but thanks to the cool nights of the high-altitude setting, the grapes retain sufficient acidity to be balanced and more pure.

The clearest example of connection and synergy between the grape and the soil, and the one that has brought Mendoza recognition as being the best producer in the world is the Malbec — big, rich and deeply flavored, yet well-rounded and luxurious in texture. Their softness permits early enjoyment, but they also age well. Generally speaking, they go well with red-meat dishes.

This tour features two century-old vineyards: Bodegas y Viñedos Santa Ana, with a farmhouse built in the late 1800s, and Escorihuela Vineyard, famous not just for its wines, but also because of the scholarships it grants to art students from Mendoza. At lunchtime, we stop at Finca Familia Zuccardi for an exquisite lunch. The Zuccardi family has been living in Mendoza and producing fine wine since the late 19th century. The family is also famous for being one of the initiators in organic winemaking.

Day 7 - Gourmet Wine Tour: The Highlands of Mendoza

In the higher valley of the Mendoza River, today we will visit three of the several famous vineyards known for the excellent quality of their wines. We can find internationally awarded vineyards, such as Bodegas Etchart, owned by a French group; Bodegas Chandon, famous for champagne production; and lastly Dolium, founded by an Italian immigrant, with an underground cave for wine aging and gourmet wine production. A bit further down the road, with the most astonishing vistas of the Andes Mountains, we find Bodega Norton, where we stop for a wine tasting. Next is Cabrini, a family-owned vineyard famous for its production of wine used for religious blessings and mass.

Day 8 - Mendoza / Buenos Aires

Morning flight to Buenos Aires’ local airport. Reception and immediate transfer to the hotel. Accommodations at Hotel Alvear Palace, located in the heart of Recoleta, a refined quarter with ample parks, wide avenues and an elegant architecture of classic style. The best restaurants, coffee stores, antique shops and boutiques of Buenos Aires are found in this area, as well as some of the most important museums and cultural centers. It is only five minutes away from the financial district and downtown.

located in the heart of the Recoleta, a refined quarter with ample parks, wide avenues and an elegant architecture of classic style. The best restaurants, coffee stores, antique shops and boutiques of Buenos Aires are found in this area, as well as some of the most important museums and cultural centers. It is only five minutes away from the financial district and downtown.

This afternoon, we invite you on a panoramic Buenos Aires city tour to Plaza de Mayo, the city founding center, and San Telmo and La Boca, the oldest neighborhoods of the city with centuries-old churches, markets and museums. Later, we head north, through the newest borough, Puerto Madero, the newly revitalized old city port that has now become an important gastronomic area.

Lastly, we visit elegant Recoleta for a walking tour at the Cemetery, where you can see, among others, the tombs of Eva Perón, Adolfo Bioy Casares and Facundo Quiroga.

This evening, we invite you to a gourmet dinner and tango show at Señor Tango.

Day 9 – Shopping in Buenos Aires

Day at leisure for shopping time! Or, take the optional riverside sightseeing train to Tigre Delta.

Day 10 – Transfer Out and International Return

Hotel checkout and transfer to the international airport for your onward journey.

 


Extension to Iguassu Waterfalls & Rio de Janeiro also available!

Talk to your Travel Consultant about Iguassu Waterfalls and Rio de Janeiro. Available year-round. Call us at (800) 240-9189 for a free consultation!