Wine Tours

Chile and Argentina are South America’s major wine-producing countries, traditions established mostly by European immigrant winemakers who brought their vines and know-how with them. Though not so famous, tiny Uruguay also produces some excellent reds and whites, not to mention delectable cheeses and honey.

ARGENTINA WINERIES

Argentina is the place to learn all about Malbecs, where Mendoza’s terroir is so perfectly matched to the grape, the Malbec need not be blended. Unlike France, Argentina’s growing season is long enough to allow the grape to fully ripen on the vine. So much attention gets focused on Argentina’s red varietals, that the delicious whites often get short shrift in the media. But travel to northwest region where the beautiful colonial city of Salta is located and you’ll be in Torrontes country, Argentina’s aromatic white varietal.

CHILE WINERIES

Though best known for its Cabernets, Chile is where you will become better acquainted with the full-bodied Carmenere Bordeaux, long hidden among Chile’s Merlot vineyards and a grape believed lost to phylloxera in both Europe and South America for over 200 years. It was re-discovered in the 1950s intermingled with Merlot vines in Chile. Wine grapes have been grown in some parts of the country for centuries. The Aconcagua region, north and west of the capital, contains three sub-regions and offers visitors some fine hiking opportunities to refresh the palate. The Central Valley, the closest wine region to Santiago, contains four sub-regions including the Maipo Valley, the source of Chile’s most famous wines. The most northerly region, Coquimbo, has three sub-regions and also grows grapes that go into the popular South American cocktail, the Pisco Sour, a beverage not to be missed during travel to Chile. The most southerly of Chile’s wine areas has three sub-regions, and is newer and less-visited than the rest.

URUGUAY WINERIES

Like Argentina and Chile, Uruguay’s wine traditions come from Europe. Three-quarters of the wine Uruguay produces is red varietal and its growing regions are on the same parallel as Chile, Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in 21 viticultural districts. On wine tours to Uruguay, you will be introduced to Tannat, the country’s signature red, a full-bodied red French varietal that was found to be compatible with Uruguay’s growing conditions.

TASTE WITH US

We offer wine-tasting itineraries that get you to Chile, Argentina or both. Three also travel to Patagonia and the other two visit the north. Our itineraries to Salta and Northwest Argentina also include winetasting. In less than two hours by plane from Buenos Aires, you can be in the heart of Argentina’s premium wine region. In Chile, the vineyards spread out in all directions right from the capital itself, making it possible to fit Chile wine-tasting day trips into even short stays in Santiago at the start or end of your Patagonia tours. You can spend two to six hours pairing premium wines with delicious Chilean cuisine without leaving Santiago or get out into the countryside for a full or half-day tasting tour where the wines are made. More leisurely winetasting with dining in the vineyard, bicycling from vineyard to vineyard and even overnight stays at the winery are also available. Like Chile, Uruguay’s premium wine regions are located close to its capital. You can make Uruguay wine-tasting a day-trip from Buenos Aires or incorporate the experience into a longer Uruguay-only vacation.

View our Wine Tours trip and tour options below:
Mendoza, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon & Carménère
Mendoza Wine , Explora Lodge, Bariloche , Los Glaciares National Park, Perito Moreno Glacier, Torres del Paine
Buenos Aires , Mendoza Wine Tasting, Bariloche, Patagonia Lakes District, Nahuel Huapi National Park
8 Days $2,995
Salta, Cafayate , Humahuaca Canyon, Salinas Grande, Pre-Colombian Ruins
13 Days $5,295
Bariloche , Mendoza Wine Tasting, Patagonia Lakes District, Perito Moreno Glacier, Mt. Fitz Roy , Cerro Torre
8 Days $3,295
Colonia, Montevideo Wine Country, Hike to Cabo Polonia, Punte Este, Guardia del Monte
Tour Historic Colonia and Montevideo, Vineyards of Montevideo, Resorts and Beach Life of Punta del Este
Historic City of Colonia, Uruguay’s viticultural traditions, Montevideo and Surrounding Vineyards