Excursion The wines of the casablanca valley tour at Valparaiso

Savor the wines of the Casablanca Valley, a sub-region of the Aconcagua Valley, whose vineyards - first planted in the early 1980s - have earned worldwide recognition in a relatively short space of time. The warm, temperate climate of the area is greatly influenced by the coastal sea breezes, which in combination with a perfect terroir in a valley provide ideal conditions for certain varieties of grape.

The Casablanca Valley 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 sought after varieties.

Departing the pier in an air-conditioned vehicle with your guide, proceed for a scenic drive to the Casablanca Valley. Make your first visit to the Casas Del Bosque vineyard, chosen recently as the "Chilean Vineyard of the Year" at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London. Begin with a guided tour of the winery and cellars, and visit 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 of these award-winning wines.

From here transfer to Viña Mar, another emerging vineyard of Casablanca. 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. Enjoy a tour of the vineyard and another lovely wine tasting.

Return to the pier (45-minute drive).

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Casablanca Valley, Casas Del Bosque vineyard tour and tasting, Viña Mar tour and tasting

Note

Please note: There is some moderate walking and standing involved in this excursion, and a set of stairs must be traveled to the wine cellars, making parts of this tour less suitable for those with limited mobility. Light clothing, comfortable walking shoes, sunhat and sun protection are recommended.