Excursion The wines of casablanca valley tour at Valparaiso

Savour the flavour of the wines born in this region during this half-day outing. The Casablanca Valley is a sub-region of the Aconcagua Valley, but its vineyards - first planted in the early 1980s - have earned worldwide recognition in a relatively short space of time.

Casas Del Bosque

Departing the pier in your air-conditioned vehicle with your guide, proceed for scenic drive to the Casablanca Valley. The warm, temperate climate of the area is greatly influenced by the coastal sea breezes, which in combination with a perfect terrier in a valley provide ideal conditions for certain varieties of grape. It is not unlike Santa Barbara and portions of Sonoma, and fittingly, the grapes that have done best over the past half-decade or so have been Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. While the area is best known for its crisp white wines, in particular Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, varieties such as Gewürztraminer and certain lighter reds such as Pinot Noir are fast becoming the varieties du jour.

Your first visit will be made at the Casas Del Bosque vineyard which was chosen as the 'Chilean Vineyard of the Year' according to the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London. The visit will commence with a guided tour of the winery and cellars. The tour visits the deck overlooking the Pinot Noir sector, the Harvest Courtyard, the tank cellar, the bottling plant and finally the Barrel cellar. Next, continue with a tasting focusing on their superb, award-winning premium red and white wines including their award-winning Sauvignon Blanc. A selection of dried fruits and cheeses will be served to accompany the wines during the tastings.

Viña Mar

From here we visit Viña Mar which is another of Casablanca's emerging vineyards. Along with its whites and reds, the winery is currently producing Chile's best sparkling wines, many of which are produced and bottled for other, larger vineyards. A tasting of their superb Méthode Champenoise is included during the visit.

Following this visit, re-join your transfer for the return ride to the pier and your awaiting ship.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion may include: Casablanca Valley, Casas del Bosque and Viña Mar Vineyards

Note

Please note: This tour involves minimal walking and is suitable for guests with limited mobility; guests must be able to enter and exit the vehicle without assistance. Guests should dress in light-weight seasonal clothing with flat, walking shoes. Guests must be over the age of 18 years to take part in the wine tasting. Order of sights may vary.