CHILE WINE MAPS FULL
CHILE WINE MAPS SERIES

ItвЂ™s home to the highest peak in the Andes, and, in recent years, has earned acclaim for rich red wines that rival FranceвЂ™s best. Journey five hours south on scenic Route 60, which hugs the great blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean, until you reach ChileвЂ™s Aconcagua Region.

Once youвЂ™ve had your fill, trek back to La Serena and spend the night in the comfortable, beachside Club La Serena Hotel. Stop by the Cerro Mamalluca Observatory for a tour of the evening sky. Once darkness falls, itвЂ™s time to go stargazing: The Elqui Valley is home to the worldвЂ™s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Made from grapes like Muscat and Quebranta, pisco is ChileвЂ™s most popular spirit. Hit up one of the many pisco distilleries in the area, such as Pisco Mistral Distillery, Fundo Los Nichos, and DoГ±a Josefa de Elqui. The area has a cool desert climate, with dry summers and mild winters. Head out and take Highway 41 to the Elqui Valley, ChileвЂ™s northernmost winegrowing region.

CHILE WINE MAPS FULL

It helps, too, that the soil is full of stones and gravel - not great for most crops, but perfect for vines that require drainage. Strong winds from the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains do wonders for the grapes grown here, which range from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. When hunger strikes, hit up ceviche spot Jack Fish for colorful plates of fresh fish splashed with tangy citrus. Linger for a few hours to take in La SerenaвЂ™s gorgeous colonial architecture and palm-tree-dotted beaches. Stop in the seaside resort town founded in 1544, itвЂ™s the second-oldest city in the entire country. Most international visitors to Chile fly into Santiago, so, after you arrive, youвЂ™ll want to connect to another 45-minute flight to La Serena to begin your wine-drinking odyssey.

Admittedly, you could drink your way up and down the countryside for a year and still not sample everything - but thereвЂ™s no harm in trying! WeвЂ™ve crafted a four-day excursion to give you a taste of all things Chile wine. To take in as much of ChileвЂ™s wine-soaked charm as possible, one smart plan is to start in the north and make your way south.

CHILE WINE MAPS SERIES

For those looking for just a taste, the country still has so much diversity to experience on even the shorter trips.Д¬hilean wine country at large is not a single region at all, but a series of valleys differing in size and elevation, all noted for their microclimates and transversal rivers that guide cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean, which provide ideal temperatures for ripening grapes. Traversing the entire distance by car would take weeks when you account for all the required stops - wineries, restaurants, breathtaking vistas - but itвЂ™s a trip well rewarded with world-class vintages and delicious meals. This is Chilean wine country, a long and skinny stretch of countryside that spans more than 2,600 miles from top to bottom. Rolling valleys extend in all directions, lined with neat rows of curled grape vines. If you venture just outside of city limits in Santiago, ChileвЂ™s bustling capital, the scenery quickly shifts from urban to agrarian.

Chile wine maps