Best wine tours from Santiago, Chile

Maipo Valley wine tours: Cabernet Sauvignon and historic wineries

Much of Chile’s modern international wine reputation began in Maipo.

The valley surrounds Santiago and runs south into the countryside. It has a long winemaking history, with historic estates and some of the country’s best-known producers.

Its signature grape is Cabernet Sauvignon, often with blackcurrant, dark cherry, cedar and firm tannins.

The scenery changes too. In place of Casablanca’s coastal hills, many Maipo estates sit against the Andes.

What makes Maipo special?

Maipo is a good choice if you are curious about the history of Chilean wine or want to visit a winery whose bottles you have already seen in shops and restaurants.

The classic winery visit here is more traditional: landscaped gardens, old cellars, the story of the estate and a tasting of several wines.

Chile’s tourism board describes Maipo as one of the country’s most historic wine regions and the cradle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. Our overview of Chile’s wine regions puts it alongside the other valleys.

Best wineries for a Maipo tour

• Concha y Toro: a classic Chilean winery visit for first-timers, with historic grounds, a tasting and the Casillero del Diablo story.
• Santa Rita: wine with Chilean history, including historic cellars, estate gardens and the Andean Museum.
• Undurraga: a traditional, well-organized vineyard visit focused on production and tasting.
• Haras de Pirque: a distinctive setting and premium reds. Ask about the current tasting and dining program.

Santiago’s tourism directory lists these and other producers among the region’s wine destinations. No tour on this site goes to Maipo, so you book these visits directly with each winery; check its site for current prices and times.

How long should a Maipo wine visit last?

Maipo works well when you are short of time.

A single visit to Concha y Toro or another nearby estate fits into about four or five hours including travel, depending on where you start.

A day with two wineries, especially Concha y Toro and Santa Rita, is better treated as a full-day outing.

Who should choose Maipo?

Maipo is a strong choice for red-wine lovers, history enthusiasts and travelers with only half a day.

It is also an easy introduction to Chilean wine if you recognize names such as Concha y Toro and want to see where those wines are made.

Best wine tours from Santiago: three Casablanca days to compare

Star ratings and the number of wineries in a title only tell you part of the story. Compare how many tastings you get, whether transport is included and how much of the day you spend at the vineyards instead of in a vehicle.

These three tours cover the main choices: a shared four-winery day, a private day for $11 more per person, and a private Bodegas RE day with a reserved lunch. The full comparison of all 11 Casablanca tours has the rest.

Tour comparison at a glance

Four Casablanca wineries with a Tanino lunch stop: the most tasting variety

Shared tour · Three wineries plus a lunch stop · Hotel pickup · 10 hours

The Four Casablanca Wineries tour is from $139 and rated 4.8 from 671 Viator reviews, the most reviews of any dedicated wine tour on this site. It includes admission at Emiliana, Bodegas RE and Casa del Molle, a family-owned boutique winery, then a lunch stop at Tanino Restaurant on the Casas del Bosque estate. Lunch at Tanino is at your own expense, so you order and pay on the day.

Groups are capped at 15, and the guide speaks English or Spanish. The winery order can change with availability on the day.

It suits you if you want to taste several winemaking styles in one day. With more stops you get less time at each, so if you enjoy slow meals and detailed tastings, the private two-winery day below fits better. Read our breakdown or compare 3 and 4 winery tours.

Emiliana, William Cole and a Casas del Bosque lunch: a slower first visit

Private car · Two tastings plus a lunch stop · Pickup in central Santiago, Las Condes, Vitacura or Providencia · 8 hours

The private Emiliana, William Cole and Casa del Bosque tour costs $11 more than the shared day, from $150, and puts your group alone in the car. It is rated 4.9 from 118 Viator reviews, the most of any private tour on this site.

You get a tour and four-wine tasting at Emiliana, reds and whites, with a cheese and chocolate board for each person, then a tour and tasting at William Cole. Casa del Bosque is the lunch stop, and you pay for the meal there; there is no tasting at Casas del Bosque on this tour.

Two long visits give a first-timer more context than four short stops, and you see organic farming at Emiliana and a second estate at William Cole in one day. If a tasting at Casas del Bosque matters to you, the three-winery private Emiliana, Bodega RE and Casas del Bosque tour visits all three, from $329 and rated 4.5 from only 8 reviews so far, with lunch not included. See our breakdown.

Private Bodegas RE and Emiliana: for couples and small groups

Private car · Two tastings · Lunch reserved at Tanino or Viñamar · 6 to 8 hours

The private Bodegas RE and Emiliana tour is from $275 and rated 4.8 from 16 Viator reviews, a smaller record than the two tours above. Pickup is from your accommodation.

It includes a four-wine tasting at Bodegas RE with a board of bread, olives, cheese and RE olive oil, and a five-wine tasting at Emiliana. The operator can reserve lunch at Tanino at Casas del Bosque, a four-course menu at USD 90 per person, or at Viñamar for USD 70, paid at the restaurant.

A private car makes it easier to plan a special lunch, ask more questions and set your own pace. Before you book, ask whether the itinerary can change and whether extra tastings cost more: a private car does not mean private cellar tours. Read our breakdown and private Casablanca Valley wine tours, or compare the best private wine tours from Santiago.

How much do wine tours from Santiago cost?

Prices depend on the number of wineries, the transport, the group size, the tastings included and whether lunch is in the price. For the Casablanca tours we track, the lowest per-person prices by type of tour are:

The $56 coast day has only 6 GetYourGuide reviews and 17 on Viator; our pick there is the $61 tour with a long record.

Private prices are per person and move with group size and the wineries you pick. Maipo visits booked directly with a winery are priced by the winery; check its site.

What is usually included?

Most guided tours include transport and a driver or guide. What counts as a tasting varies widely.

Read the wording closely:

• A winery visit can mean a tour, a tasting or just a stop at the property.
• Admission included does not always mean a premium tasting.
• A lunch stop usually means time to eat, not a meal the operator pays for.
• Wine tasting included should name the number of wines and the wineries.
• A private tour may describe the vehicle only; the cellar visit itself may be shared.

To compare fairly, add up tasting fees, lunch, any extra pickup charge and tips.

A tour costing US$120 with all tastings included can be better value than a US$95 option where you pay at each winery.

Where are Casablanca and Maipo Valley wineries?

Getting to Casablanca Valley

From Santiago, head west on Ruta 68 toward Valparaíso.

The valley is about 80 km away, roughly an hour’s drive, and up to an hour and a half in traffic. Reaching a particular winery from your hotel can take longer. Our page on how to get to Casablanca Valley from Santiago covers the bus and driving options.

Best transport: a guided tour, a private driver, or a rental car with a designated driver who does not drink.

Getting to Maipo Valley

Maipo spreads across several winemaking districts around and south of Santiago.

Concha y Toro is in Pirque, Santa Rita in Alto Jahuel and Undurraga near Talagante. They are not next door to one another.

Best transport: a taxi or private driver to one winery, or a driver for the whole day if you want to visit several estates.

Can you visit both valleys in one day?

It is possible with a private driver and a very short list of wineries, but it is a poor use of your day.

Casablanca lies west of Santiago, while Maipo’s main winery areas are south or southeast. The drive between them eats into the tastings and lunch that make a wine day enjoyable.

With two days, spend one in each valley. With one, choose the valley that matches your tastes.

Sample wine tour itineraries from Santiago

Itinerary A: Casablanca Valley, with wine, scenery and a long lunch

For couples, first-time visitors and food lovers

This is the day we would choose for a relaxed first visit. You have time to compare organic farming at Emiliana with the fuller hospitality at Casas del Bosque, without rushing between estates.

The times are a guide; adjust them to the wineries’ reservation slots and traffic.

Itinerary B: Maipo Valley, the classic half day

For travelers short of time, booked directly with the winery

You get a proper introduction to one of Chile’s historic producers and keep the afternoon free for Santiago. It fits a short city break well.

Itinerary C: Maipo Valley, historic wineries and Chilean reds

For Cabernet Sauvignon lovers and history enthusiasts

This pairs Santa Rita’s history with one of Chile’s best-known winery visits. If the Andean Museum is a priority, allow extra time and check its opening days.

Which valley has better wine?

Neither wins outright. Casablanca and Maipo have different strengths, mostly because of their growing conditions.

• Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca: dry and refreshing, with citrus, green fruit and herbal flavors. A good pick if you like crisp whites with seafood.
• Chardonnay, Casablanca: from lean, citrus-driven wines to richer, oaked examples. Good for comparing winemaking techniques.
• Pinot Noir, Casablanca: generally lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon, often with red cherry, raspberry, earthy notes and lively acidity.
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo: dark-fruited and structured, with blackcurrant, cedar and spice. A signature of Chile’s historic wine industry.
• Carménère, Maipo and other central valleys: often plush and medium- to full-bodied, with dark fruit, herbs and sometimes green pepper. Not every Maipo visit includes a Carménère.

For tasting notes and food pairings on these and other Chilean wine varieties, see our grape-by-grape guide.

If you are new to Chilean wine, choose by the style you already enjoy, then taste the other valley on a second day. Climate, soil and winemaking choices show up clearly when you taste a Casablanca white one day and a Maipo red the next.

Should you choose a shared or private wine tour?

Both can be excellent, but the day feels quite different.

When a private tour is worth paying more for

A private tour makes sense when you have a particular winery in mind, want a long restaurant lunch or prefer not to share transport.

For four to six people, the per-person premium over a shared tour can shrink. The private Emiliana and William Cole day, from $150, is only $11 more per person than the shared four-winery tour.

Private transport does not guarantee a private tasting, though. At the larger wineries you may join other visitors for the estate tour itself.

When a shared tour is the better choice

Choose a shared tour if you mainly want to discover a new wine region, visit several wineries and enjoy the day without arranging transport.

For solo travelers, a small-group tour is often the cheapest way to see wine country.

Can you visit wineries from Santiago without booking a tour?

Yes, with some planning. Our self-drive vs wine tour page goes through the trade-offs for Casablanca.

Rental car

Driving lets you choose the wineries and where to eat.

Someone in your group has to stay sober and drive. Chile has a zero-tolerance drink-driving law: even a small tasting rules out the driver.

Private driver

A driver suits three or four people who want to make their own winery reservations.

Check that the quote covers waiting time, tolls and the return to Santiago.

Public transport

Buses, or buses plus a taxi, reach some towns in and around wine country.

The last stretch is the problem. Many wineries sit on rural roads with no convenient public transport, and moving between estates is hard without a driver.

If you plan to taste at more than one winery, a tour is usually easier.

Best time of year for wine tours from Santiago

Casablanca and Maipo both welcome visitors year-round.

Chile’s grape harvest usually runs from about February to April, depending on the region, the grape and the year; in Casablanca it usually falls between mid-March and early May. Our month-by-month Casablanca Valley guide has the details. Harvest celebrations can include tastings, traditional activities and festivals.

Which season should you choose?

March and April are the months to see harvest activity.

October and November bring green scenery and comfortable vineyard visits. In Casablanca, keep a jacket handy: mornings are often cool and foggy and afternoons warm.

December through February suits winery restaurants and outdoor activities, although summer afternoons in Maipo can be hot.

June through August still works for cellar tours and indoor tastings. Check winery opening days, especially at smaller boutique producers.

What to know before booking a Santiago wine tour

• Check the pickup area. Most operators cover central Santiago, Providencia, Las Condes or Vitacura. Airport hotels may cost extra; one coast day lists airport pickup at USD 15 per person each way.
• Read the tasting inclusions. The number of wineries is not the number of tastings.
• Choose the group size. Smaller groups allow more questions and a quieter day, but usually cost more.
• Check the language. English is common on international tours, but some winery visits run in Spanish or with mixed-language groups.
• Do not assume lunch is included. Most Casablanca tours stop at a restaurant where you order and pay yourself.
• Ask about accessibility. Historic cellars, gravel paths and vineyard slopes can be hard going with limited mobility.
• Plan for the weather. Bring sunscreen and water in summer, and a jacket or waterproof layer in the cooler months.
• Book popular dates early. Weekends, holidays and the harvest can be busy.
• Read the cancellation terms. Many listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead; others differ.

For the logistics of a Casablanca day in particular, see Casablanca Valley wine tours from Santiago.

Which Santiago wine tour should you book?

If you have a whole day and like the idea of sitting among the vines with a glass of crisp white, choose Casablanca Valley. Its wineries combine scenery, boutique winemaking and food in one day, and the Four Casablanca Wineries tour is the one we would book first.

If you only have half a day, or you have always wanted to see where a famous Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon is made, choose Maipo Valley and book a winery visit directly.

For couples celebrating, we would lean toward a private Casablanca day with a reserved lunch, such as the private Bodegas RE and Emiliana tour with lunch at Tanino. Solo travelers who want a sociable day with plenty of tastings will enjoy the shared four-winery tour.

If Chilean wine is the reason for your trip, try to do both. A cool-climate Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc one day and a structured Maipo Cabernet the next show you how widely Chile’s wines range. Our Casablanca Valley wine tours from Santiago page and the homepage list every Casablanca tour we cover.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best wine tour from Santiago, Chile?

For a full day in wine country, the Four Casablanca Wineries tour is our pick: admission at Emiliana, Bodegas RE and Casa del Molle, a Tanino lunch stop at your own expense, from $139 and rated 4.8 from 671 Viator reviews. If you prefer Cabernet Sauvignon and historic estates, visit Concha y Toro or Santa Rita in Maipo Valley, booked directly with the winery.

Which wine valley is closest to Santiago?

Some Maipo wineries are closer to central Santiago than Casablanca Valley, and the drive is about 45 minutes to an hour. Maipo covers a large area, and the time depends on the estate. Casablanca Valley is about 80 km west of Santiago, roughly an hour on Ruta 68. Our Casablanca vs Maipo comparison explains which valley to choose.

Can you do a wine tour from Santiago in half a day?

Yes. A single Maipo winery such as Concha y Toro fits into four or five hours including travel. Casablanca suits a full day better. For a shorter Casablanca outing, the private Veramonte and Viñamar tour runs about 4.5 hours, from $267, with a 5.0 rating from only 3 reviews so far.

Is Casablanca Valley better than Maipo Valley?

Neither is better overall. Casablanca stands out for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, organic wineries and vineyard restaurants. Maipo is better known for Cabernet Sauvignon, traditional estates and historic cellars. Our Casablanca vs Maipo Valley page compares them in detail.

Are Chilean wine tours expensive?

Prices vary widely. Casablanca tours start at about $56 per person for a coast day with one tasting, $139 for a shared four-winery day and $150 for a private day. Full days cost more than short visits, especially with several tastings included.

Is wine tasting included in Santiago winery tours?

Often, but not always at every stop. On the Four Casablanca Wineries tour, the fourth winery, Casas del Bosque, is a lunch stop, and some tours include transport and visits while charging separately for tastings or premium options.

Can I visit Concha y Toro and Casablanca Valley on the same day?

It is possible with a private driver, but the wineries lie in different directions from Santiago. Most visitors enjoy one valley at a time more.

Is Casablanca Valley worth visiting if I don’t like white wine?

Yes. Casablanca is famous for whites, but it also makes Pinot Noir, Syrah and experimental blends. Kingston Family Vineyards and Bodegas RE are good choices for red-wine lovers.

Can children join wine tours from Santiago?

Some operators allow children, and some wineries have gardens or family activities. Age limits, prices and suitability vary: several Casablanca listings set the minimum age at 18. Chile’s legal drinking age is 18.

Can you combine Valparaíso and wine tasting in one day?

Yes. Casablanca lies on Ruta 68 between Santiago and Valparaíso, so several coast tours include a winery stop. They suit visitors who want to see the coast and taste some wine, without spending the whole day at wineries. The Valparaíso, Viña del Mar and Casablanca Valley Tour is from $77 and rated 4.8 from 2,228 GetYourGuide reviews, with one tasting in Casablanca. Compare the options on Casablanca + Valparaíso wine tours.

Still deciding? Compare all 11 Casablanca Valley tours, wine tours with lunch, private Casablanca Valley wine tours or every private option side by side.