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Colchagua Valley and Santa Cruz

Chile is synonymous with good wines, and the Santiago region has a lot to offer in this regard. Indeed, one of the valleys with the greatest international prestige in the country is the Colchagua Valley. Nestled in the heart of the central zone, it is the icon of wine production in Chile. Various vineyards grace this valley and offer tours with remarkable tastings.
Emblematic of this area is the Viña Santa Cruz. A cable car goes up to the top of Cerro Chamán, from where you can observe the constellations in the observatory that bears the same name.
You can also tour the vintage car museum and learn about different eras in Chilean history by visiting the thematic museum. If you like good food, good wine and culture, Colchagua is the ideal destination.

Where is Colchagua Valley located?

The Colchagua Valley, is located approximately 150 kilometers south of Santiago. The main city of this territory is its capital San Fernando, the city of Santa Cruz is also important. Warm and naturally dry, but with abundant water provided by the Tinguiririca River, Colchagua is a narrow agricultural valley that begins at the foot of the Andes and extends west to the Pacific Ocean.

In an area of approximately 910,000 ha, can be found numerous microclimates, soil types and rugged slopes, ideal for vine plantations, with a growing number of wine companies, although not necessarily exaggerated, capable of producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, and also Carménère and Malbec.

The name Valle de Colchagua is a Chilean denomination of origin for wines from the homonymous geographical area that meet the requirements established by the Agriculture Decree No. 464 of December 14, 1994, which establishes the country’s wine-growing zoning and sets the rules for their use as appellations of origin

What to see in the Colchagua Valley?

Most of the tourist routes through the main vineyards of the country. The Wine Train passes through this route, a steam locomotive with four first-class wagons preserved in the classic style, where you can take a tour of the different wine cellars and tastings. The US site on travel and tourism Fodor’s, ranked the wine valleys of Chile among the 11 best destinations in the world to celebrate a honeymoon in 2015.

The Colchagua Valley area, a word that means “place of small lagoons”, has rich traditions and culture that are very interesting to visit. Historically it was part of the Inca empire and later became the place chosen by the families of the Chilean oligarchy to build large mansions, some of which are still standing. Colchagua is another of the transversal valleys of the central zone of Chile, whose lands are bathed by the waters of the Tinguiririca River and where the cities of San Fernando and Santa Cruz are located, two of the most important in the region, and some towns of great tourist interest, such as Chimbarongo, Lolol or Pichilemu.

In your visit to this valley, a landmark is the well-known Colchagua Wine Route, which includes seventeen wineries producing red and white wines, internationally recognized for their excellent quality, and tours to visit the vineyards and taste the wines. You will also find hotels, restaurants, typical food stores, horseback riding and El Tren del Vino. However, the traditional “Criolla” culture plays an equally relevant tourist role. Chimbarongo, for example, is a small town that stands out for its wicker crafts, which you can see even from the road in small stands that are located next to it. Lolol, for its part, has the title of Typical or Picturesque Area, one of the categories of the National Monument Council, thanks to its efforts to maintain the beautiful colonial architecture of past centuries.

And if you want to know one of the best resorts for surfing, you cannot miss Pichilemu, located on the coast of the region. Just 40 km east you arrive in Santa Cruz, where you can visit the Colchagua Museum, which houses some of the most important collections in terms of the national cultural heritage, soaking up a little more history of this attractive area and the country.

Featured Vineyards in the Colchagua Valley

Check some of the main vineyards in the area of Colchagua Valley, that can be visited during your trip to Santiago de Chile.

Santa Cruz vineyard

Installed in the middle of a magical environment, this vineyard offers an unforgettable experience for the palate and the soul. Enjoy their organic, Premium grape concoctions, harvested through sustainable practices. Be part of the adventure of visiting its unique tourist attractions, which include trekking through the Chamán hill, night visits to the astronomical center of the same name, and tastings of its wines under the light of the stars.

Casa Silva Vineyard

Get to know one of the most traditional vineyards in the Colchagua Valley, with a beautiful historic house, the oldest winery in the sector. The vineyard has a boutique hotel, restaurant and polo field. Enjoy their tours with tastings, ride a carriage through the plantations or be amazed with a Chilean rodeo demonstration.

Vik Vineyard

Explore this vineyard or “place of gold”, located between streams with small microclimates bathed in a fresh coastal breeze, with a drip irrigation system.
Get to know the perfect fusion between man, experience, land, climate and high technology, and enjoy activities such as horseback riding, trekking, mountain bike rides and exquisite cuisine to pair world-class wines.

Lapostolle Clos Apalta Vineyard

Descubre cómo la gravedad juega un papel preponderante en la cuidadosa creación de los vinos producidos en esta viña, y sorpréndete con el maravilloso escenario en el que la vitivinicultura y el diseño se combinan. El tour toma poco más de una hora, podrás aprender sobre el proceso de producción de vinos y terminar con una degustación.

Las Niñas Vineyard

Nestled in a small horseshoe-shaped valley, it enhances its vineyards planted in clay soil mixed with volcanic rocks. Taste these assemblages of unique consistency and toast with their Syrah, Souvignon Blanc and the premium “High Heel”. Explore its vineyards, cycle through its hills and have a picnic next to a dam. At dusk, go into its cellars, you will discover how its semi-transparent facade begins to take on a life of its own and light up at nightfall.

Montgras Vineyard

In a country setting and with a first class team, live a unique moment, knowing more about the wines through experience and the senses.
Harvest at harvest time, make your own wine, participate in blind tastings, learn to harmonize wines and food, and go horseback riding with your family and friends.

Colchagua Valley Vineyards: location map

The Carménere: the wine of Chile

Carmenere (French for carménère) is a grape variety originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, where it is used to produce dark red wines and is often used for blending wines with petit verdot. It is a member of the cabernet family.1 The name carmenere comes from the French word carmin, in reference to the carmine color, due to the color of the foliage before the leaf falls. The grape is also known as grande vidure, a synonym used historically in Bordeaux, 2 although currently European Union legislation prohibits imports from Chile bearing that name. Carmenere is considered one of the six original red grapes Bordeaux, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

Today it is not common in France and the largest plantations of this variety are in Chile, South America. In 2009 there were 8,800 hectares of this variety in the Chilean Central Zone. Chile produces most of the carmenere wines available today and the Chilean wine industry is growing, so experiments are being carried out with the potential that they could have the wines mixed with this grape, especially with the Cabernet Sauvignon.

Book an excursion to enjoy the wines of Chile in the Colchagua Valley

From Santiago, you can book the excursion to Santa Cruz and the Colchagua Valley

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