Top 5 North Chile Wine Tours: Taste the Desert!
Chile, yeah that skinny country hugging the Andes, might be much better known for its central valley wines, you know, the Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon we’ve all come to enjoy. Very many people don’t know northern Chile has a surprisingly awesome, growing wine scene, is that right? Think way dramatic landscapes, I mean picture stark deserts meeting vineyards. These aren’t your average wine tours; we are talking adventure meets oenology. Let’s take a look at some stellar options!
1. Discovering the Elqui Valley: A Pisco and Wine Adventure
The Elqui Valley, oh, it’s almost otherworldly! It’s quite famous for its clear skies that is making it a hub for stargazing. What many don’t know is that it’s rather perfect climate makes for some outstanding vineyards and that makes for a fantastic wine and pisco production scene. One can have tours that, first they usually begin in La Serena or Pisco Elqui, showcase some stunning views and delightful sips. That will then explore wineries offering, surprisingly they range from boutique, artisanal experiences to larger, more established estates. One may think a pisco tasting could be a part of it too, because that Valley is also rather well known for it!
Imagine you’re sitting in this vineyard. And you know, the sun is setting, casting this very gold glow on these very dry mountains. You’re nursing this glass of, I don’t know, maybe a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, something grown at an altitude of 2,200 meters! The air has the smells, kind of like herbal plants and fresh grapes, maybe like this dream coming to real life! Some of the tours provide rather great, small group sizes so the information they can give feels, that is true personal touch, you find it to be more intimate with both the wine maker and the surroundings that gives, that is great for the wine taste!
What Makes this Tour Shine?
- The combination, is it of wine and pisco? Oh! you bet that it has to give an unique cultural taste!
- Those awesome high-altitude vineyards. Really those places aren’t the places to grow grapes right?
- Star gazing in addition to everything. Who could resist such a magnificent plan?
2. The Unique Charm of Viña Falernia
Viña Falernia, that pioneering vineyard that put the Elqui Valley on some kind of wine map, right? Giovanni Bakovic, oh! what he did was something crazy at that moment, but today he has this vision of a very unlikely terroir in this very beautiful corner of the Andes has payed a lot. This winery’s rather awesome commitment that makes them keep quality, you see that is what shines through on its unique Sauvignon Blancs and Syrahs and it’s also in there, maybe that makes you feel the high altitude that is found in them.
These tours could offer experiences, maybe starting right from walking down their vineyards where they explain something like their harvesting procedure and going up to those guided tasting options which very perfectly demonstrate this winery’s innovation to your needs and interests. I tell you the tours go far beyond just the tasting, these will tell you what that place holds, and that are not just vines growing in sand but history. Also I tell you these are usually completed that includes an outdoor meal to complete an Elqui Valley, maybe more of that for your senses.
Why Visit Viña Falernia?
- The winery’s view in this region’s early wine production and maybe their vision to what it could grow into.
- I am telling the distinct wines crafted for this place at altitude.
- This might just have the capability of doing many vineyard, guided and tailored to each customer’s need.
3. Boutique Experiences at Cavas del Valle
Cavas del Valle gives the kind of experience you may not get from your rather common vineyards. You can imagine, these families who can give an intimate look, not like those from wineries where wine production in small sizes creates a distinct product. You are getting something you may never have! Typically their tours have walking into these fields where you see this entire life’s product growing into one and taste of some unique blends of grapes and that will maybe teach something. These can let guests have more intimate tours where some information that comes out will teach the cultural importance behind it and the whole passion into making something special.
If you want the kind of wine where you do not feel like just some type of tourist, and a very personalized experience Cavas Del Valle it. That includes your questions. Tours usually end after tasting multiple of their best bottles, at sunset which make the place unforgettable!.
What’s Special About Cavas del Valle?
- You know its small family managed atmosphere.
- This offers something kind of off the most beaten roads, and that wine produced with something similar to a artisanal process.
- This kind of private tasting and walking. It lets us talk face-to-face with wine artisans.
4. High-Altitude Wines at Viñedos de Alcohuaz
Viñedos de Alcohuaz takes high-altitude winemaking, yeah, and it takes it rather seriously! Reaching altitudes I would dare to say they surpass 2,200 meters, right there is, rather these vineyards. That is not for faint of heart as this very unique terroir give wines full of something intense aromas and flavors. They have that unique mineral feel! On tours in this place they explain you about there location at 6,800+ feet high on the hills with very minimal interference made by mankind. And they produce some incredible syrah and this has created the vineyard name. All those will create this wine which shows this mountain’s distinct qualities.
You can probably participate in the tours, right they provide you many explanations on winemaking practice like maybe you will learn on their unique rock, as that may affect those wines. The visitors seem to rave on their amazing staff, but more their wines which you find very different from the Chile valley and other places too. Alcohuaz give some type of perspective of the extreme wines that you are lucky to taste, this I’ll be clear, isn’t just wine, it’s about how well it stands!
Highlights of Viñedos de Alcohuaz:
- This gives you very different altitude ranges which provide a high effect to the flavor on those wine flavor and what make them so bold!
- This kind of process does something cool about the traditional process!
- Oh yes these place have tours through where it all makes possible on that location!
5. Adventure and Wine at Ayllu Winery
Maybe not as frequently visited by tours since those in Elqui but in the Atacama there is, a unique view where vines meet these desserts which Ayllu winery shows how one creates this delicious mix from two extremes with their outstanding location and some really awesome tasting wine. Maybe take them on something to see all different kinds of micro terroirs that the desert climate creates. That could involve you taking these bike tours which all are organized through winery location so your experience of wines gets linked to it. Then you get presented for tasting Ayllu which presents great unique creation! Then the tour will make you know the cultural part, especially how community comes together to work those grounds!
It feels surreal being that there is an oasis of sorts here! Maybe I would tell you to visit to grasp why that location gets thought to create great winemaking which you get that type in wines!. Besides their commitment with an organic thing it tells there focus is how each type blends for best outcome which feels kind like an heart. By doing tour one realizes their wine shows more with heart then how nature let it flow alone. What they care might come out when these get opened into wine.
Why Choose Ayllu Winery?
- Is that the Atacama an high place!
- Well if they take on wines under desert environment then this must taste great!.
- Their cycling with their history with their region comes through here..