Barrels at Salentein

Barrels at Salentein

Exploring the vineyards by tractor in Montes

Exploring the vineyards by tractor in Montes

Chilean grapes

Chilean grapes

Mendoza

Mendoza

Aconcagua

Aconcagua

Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

17 February - 2 March 2014

This unique South American wine tour visits the spectacular vineyards of Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. All three have made huge advances in quality wine and this has firmly established them on the world wine scene. Chile is perhaps the best known, but Argentina is very exciting at the moment and Uruguay is a big surprise!

We begin with a night in Chile’s capital, Santiago, where we dine at the wine bar owned by the wine family, Torres, who have had an estate in Chile since 1970’s. From here, we head south to the small, traditional town of Santa Cruz, close to the Apalta Valley. En route we call into Maule, to one of the most impressive boutique estate, Antiyal, owned by Alvaro Espinoza (an expert in biodynamic principles) and his wife Marina Ashton, who welcome us for a relaxing lunch.

Our visits from Santa Cruz include Montes, for lunch, in their fabulous winery designed along feng shui principles and vineyards designed to be picked by mountain goats or acrobats! We are also welcomed at Cono Sur, where they are making some stunning Pinot Noirs as well as their whites from the Southernly Bio Bio region.

Staying at a lovely private wine estate for three nights is a highlight of this tour. Here you can relax by the pool, play tennis or golf, visit the wine museum or explore the vineyards by carriage or horse! This is not open to the public, but is available to A&C as friends of this beautiful estate. Our visits include Tarapaca and Casa Marin in the nearby San Antonio region. We include a day relaxing at the estate, surrounded by the Maipo river and Coastal range mountains.

The Andes and Argentina beckon! On our breathtaking route through a gorge hugged by snow-capped mountains we may well see condors soaring against the peak of Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Andes. On the journey we will hold a tasting, stop for lunch at the border and to view Aconcagua. As we travel away from Chile’s plains there is a dramatic change; green, tropical crops and lush vegetation give way to bare dramatic mountains and desert scrub of cacti and acacia.

Argentina is the fifth largest wine producer in the world and vines were first planted in the 16th Century. However, it was not until the arrival of Italian immigrants that serious wine production began. With a strong domestic market Argentina was slower than Chile in targeting overseas clients, but that has since changed, and there are some stunning wines coming out of the country- not just Malbecs, but also Torrontes and Pinot Noirs amongst others!

We stay for two nights at a beautiful central hotel in the university city of Mendoza. As private guests we taste at, and lunch or dine with leading wine estates including the boutique family run Cassone, the large but still passionately family run Zuccardi, who make a stunning range of wines at all levels and also at Catena Zapata, where we lunch at their winery in the design of a Mayan temple. Argentina is as we said, very exciting at the moment and nowhere more so than in the Uco Valley, which is where we stay for the next two nights at a private wine lodge. From here we will visit the dynamic estate of O.Fourmier and also Salentein, where there is time to visit their art gallery as well.

We fly from Mendoza Buenos Aires for one night in the colourful, buzzing city capital – great for shopping and Tango dancing! Here there is some free time to explore and perhaps savour one of their best national products , succulent steak – perhaps paired with a glass of two of malbec!

For our Uruguay leg of the tour, next morning, we catch the fast ferry, crossing the River Plate to the beautiful old colonial town of Colonia del Sacramento where we have some free time to explore. We then drive across country, to see the rolling green hills of this small agricultural country, to stay in the quirky city of Montevideo situated the mouth of the River Plate. As for the wine visits; powerful Tannat grapes and exuberant welcomes from the wineries, makes Uruguay fabulous! A lunchtime spent with Daniel Pisano is an experience not to be missed and the wines are superb too. Juanico, where we have dinner, is a historical estate producing brilliant wines. They have a lovely old villa and even their own railway station.

The last morning, we take the return ferry to Buenos Aires, where the tour ends.

Join us for a great journey of South American wine discovery with fantastic hospitality!

17 February - 2 March 2014

£4,350.00 per person

Places available.

Price Includes:

  • 13 nights 5* hotels & private wine estates.
  • 18 meals with wines – with half a bottle of wine per person at hotels, restaurants and at the winemaker’s discretion at the wineries. Water and coffee are also included.
  • Internal flights from Mendoza – Buenos Aires including prepayable flight taxes.
  • Ferry crossing, Colonia del Sacramento – Buenos Aires and Montevideo – Buenos Aires in First Class.
  • Visits & tastings as per the itinerary.
  • Arblaster & Clarke Wine Guide & Tour Manager (for a party of 17+ the Wine Guide will also be accompanied by a Tour Manager).

Please note that this tour is two nights longer and includes four more meals with wines than our last tour to Chile, Argentina & Uruguay.

Travel: Meet at Destination
Sole Occupancy: £950.00
Deposit: £1,250.00
Room Upgrade: Please call
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Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

Outline Itinerary

Day 1: Check in Santiago at Hotel Plaza el Bosque Park. Dinner at Torres Wine Bar. Overnight 5* Santiago.

Day 2: Breakfast. Visit and lunch at Antiyal. Free time in Santa Cruz for dinner. Overnight 5* Santa Cruz.

Day 3: Breakfast. Visit and Lunch at Montes wine estate in Apalta. Free time in Santa Cruz for afternoon and dinner. Overnight 5* Santa Cruz.

Day 4: Breakfast. Visit and lunch at Cono Sur in Cachapoal Valley. Travel to Private Wine Estate. Dinner at Private Wine Estate. Overnight Private Wine Estate.

Day 5: Breakfast. Visit to Casa Marin in San Antonio Lunch at wine estate in Casablanca Valley. Dinner at private wine estate or optional dinner at De Martino (additional cost, confirmed nearer date of tour). Overnight Private Wine Estate.

Day 6: Breakfast. Tasting at Tarapaca. BBQ lunch at Private Wine Estate and afternoon to enjoy the activities available at the Private Wine Estate. Overnight Private Wine Estate.

Day 7: Breakfast. Crossing the Andes. Lunch in the Andes. Early evening arrive in Mendoza and dinner free in Mendoza. Overnight 5* in Mendoza.

Day 8: Breakfast. Visit at Cassone wine estate. Lunchtime and afternoon free in Mendoza. Dinner at Familia Zuccardi. Overnight 5* in Mendoza.

Day 9: Breakfast. Visit and lunch at Catena Zapata. Travel to Uco Valley. Check into Wine Lodge. Dinner & Overnight Private Wine Lodge.

Day 10: Breakfast. Visit to Salentein including art gallery. Lunch at O Fournier. Free time, Dinner & Overnight Private Wine Lodge.

Day 11: Breakfast. Late morning flight to Buenos Aires. Free afternoon and dinner. Overnight 5* in Buenos Aires.

Day 12: Morning ferry Buenos Aires – Colonia. Free time in Colonia de Sacramento. Transfer to Montevideo and Check in. Dinner at Juanico wine estate. Overnight 5* Montevideo.

Day 13: Breakfast. Morning optional walking tour. Visit and lunch at Pisano. Free time in Montevideo for dinner. Overnight 5* Montevideo.

Day 14: Breakfast. Free time Montevideo. Lunchtime ferry Montevideo – Buenos Aires. Tour ends in Buenos Aires (approx 15:00 please call if you plan onward flight today).

Extend your holiday

If you would like to stay on at the end of the tour to explore South America further, please call us to discuss the many options that we can offer you.

Hotel Details & Upgrade Options

5* Hotel, Santiago: This rooms at this luxurious Five Star are all mini suites. There is also a gym and plunge pool. It is ideally located in the Providencial district of the city with lots of restaurants nearby and a short taxi ride to downtown.

5* Hotel, Santa Cruz: This hotel is situated on the Plaza de Armas in the heart of Santa Cruz and is next to the Colchagua museum. There is a pool, bar and outside barbeque and pizzeria as well as a more formal restaurant with contemporary Chilean cuisine.

Private Wine Estate, Isla de Maipo (4 equivalent):* The villa is situated in lovely grounds with a large swimming pool. It is not officially star rated. It is not a hotel so the amenities are, as one would expect in a country house. The bedrooms are very comfortable and whilst the bathrooms are good, they are a little tired – but we find that this is outweighed by the experience of staying exclusively on this private estate.

5* Hotel, Mendoza: Situated on the main square of Mendoza, it has an attractive white old stone façade and terrace. Standard rooms are spacious and equipped to the luxurious Park Hyatt standards. There is also a Casino, Gym and excellent Health Spa. There is also an excellent restaurant and a tapas bar.

5* Hotel, Buenos Aires: Well located hotel in Buenos Aires. Although rated five star, we would rate this more as four star as the bathrooms are quite small. It has a lovely small pool, gym and spa. There is a traditional long bar, which serves wonderful afternoon tea and cocktails.

5* Hotel, Montevideo: This newly renovated hotel is in the Punta Caretas area of the city overlooking the Rio de la Plata. The rooms are spacious and modern in decor. There is an indoor pool and spa.

After the 12th of December 2013, our room allocation will be reduced for the hotels for this tour. Although there may be space on the tour after this date, you may be offered alternative accommodation. Therefore early booking is strongly recommended for the best price and to ensure availability on the included travel and at the main tour hotels.

Upgrade: There are different upgrade options at each hotel, please call the office to discuss your options.

Travel Details

Travel to Chile, let us book your flight or call us for advice!

International flights are not included on this tour in order to give you maximum flexibility with your choice of airline, route and class of ticket. If you would like us to quote for these flights, please do call. If you decide to book your own tickets, British Airways fly daily direct to Buenos Aires (and connecting flight to Santiago with Lanchile permitting you to through check your luggage (www.ba.com). There is World Traveller Plus available on this route but please note that it becomes very quickly booked up and often Club with Alitalia (via Milan) or Iberia (via Madrid) or Lufthansa (via Frankfurt) are often not much more than the WTP BA option. Airport transfers are not included but are very safe & easy to book on arrival and you will be given more details of this with your final confirmation.

NB: There will be some local flight taxes and exit taxes on the spot to pay which are not included in the tour price. Also not included are porterage, driver’s tips and airport transfers for intercontinental flights.