All-Inclusive accompanied tour to Concon, Colchagua, Maipo and Aconcagua in Chile and Uco Valley and Mendoza in Argentina.

FAQ | Register | Price | Itinerary | Trip Extension

Join wine personality Steve Thurlow as he leads this 14 day excursion of discovery and enjoyment. Visit wineries and vineyards on both sides of the Andes in Chile and Argentina, tasting and dining with winemakers and winery owners. Bathe in the ocean and marvel at spectacular natural beauty.

In March each year during the winter in Canada, there is plenty of warm sunshine in these winelands; daily highs of 25-26°C and lows of 11-12°C should be expected, though it is sometimes cooler than that close to the ocean in the day time and a little warmer during the night.

2027 will be the seventh edition of this tour.

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We will explore the leading vineyards and wineries and be introduced to the local cuisine by those that live and work in the region.

As well as tasting and dining at many of the major wineries we will find time to visit Mendoza in Argentina, Santa Cruz and Valparaiso in Chile and several small towns in both countries.

After eight days in Chile we will take our bus over the Andes for an unforgettable drive over the mountain pass that connects the two countries.

The views of the mountains and valleys are never ending. At the frontier the road is almost 13,000ft above sea level.

Visits to museums will augment the cultural and historical content provided by local guides.

If all this sounds like too hectic a pace, don't worry.

There will be time for relaxing by the pool in the warm sunshine and wandering around some of the beautiful towns and villages that lie along our route.

The tour group will meet in Santiago airport and will disperse from the hotel in Mendoza 14 days later.

We will use the same bus in Chile and Argentina. The all-inclusive trip does not include any flights.

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Trip Extension Ideas

The itinerary does not include any time in Santiago. If you do wish to visit the city at this time, then we suggest arriving in Chile a day or so early or stopping over on the return flight home.

After 14 days on the road some will opt to come home from Mendoza at the end of the trip, however many will want to include some time in Buenos Aires, or another South American city; returning that way at the end of the tour.

There are direct flights with Air Canada to Santiago. Other North and South American airlines fly via cities in South America and in the USA. BA flies direct to Santiago from the UK.

There are short connecting flights home from Mendoza via Santiago, Sao Paulo or other cities in South America.

We will be pleased to advise on air travel.

Register for the Tour

The trip is fully booked however there is a standby list in case of cancellations. If you would like to be added to that list send an email to Steve Thurlow steve@stevethurlow.com

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Price

The price for the 14 day trip to Chile and Argentina is C$8340 per person.

The all-inclusive trip price assumes double occupancy and does not include any air transportation.

Final payment for the trip is required 120 days prior to departure. Guests are advised to take trip cancellation insurance. We are happy to provide these to Ontario residents. Please request a quotation when registering for the trip.

Guests are to make their own travel arrangements to Santiago and for returning home from Mendoza.

Prices are for double occupancy in twin/double rooms (single supplement on request). Hotels subject to availability. The price for the tour covers all hotels and luxury coach transportation and guide fees. Also included are breakfasts every day, winery visits and tastings, and 21 meals, most with wines selected by Steve Thurlow.

Canadian passport holders can enter both Chile and Argentina without a visa or having to pay a reciprocity fee that was required in the past.

Those travelling on other passports need to check for any applicable fees.

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Itinerary 

(Included meals: B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Dinner)

Day 1: Thursday March 11th, 2027 - Concon

We will arrive at our seaside hotel about an hour after leaving Veramonte driving through the Casablanca Valley.

The remains of the afternoon will be spent settling into the hotel, checking out the beach and the beautiful surroundings.

The group will meet in the lobby of the Holiday Inn at Santiago International Airport. As soon as those arriving that morning on the Air Canada flight have arrived, we will leave for Concon at around 12:00.

About an hour after leaving the airport we will arrive at the Veramonte winery in the Casablanca Valley for a brief tour and tasting followed by picnic lunch.

We will soon be on our way to Concon where we will be staying for three nights at the five star Radisson Blu Acqua Hotel & Spa in Concon.

There will be a group dinner that evening at the hotel. (L,D)

Day 2: Casablanca Valley - Friday

We return to the Casablanca Valley to visit the Casas del Bosque Estate for a tour and tasting followed by lunch.

We return to the hotel after lunch for some down-time, maybe on the beach.

We leave that evening for the short drive to the port city of Valparaiso. This is Chile's second largest city with an historical centre that is gradually being restored to show some of its glorious past from the years around 1900.

Our guide will take us on a short walking tour to see some of the city.

We will then have dinner in a beautifully renovated cafe in the centre of the city with a splendid view before returning to the hotel late that evening. (B,L,D)

Day 3: San Antonio - Saturday

This morning we leave after breakfast to drive south to the San Antonio Valley to visit the Casa Marin Estate.

We will taste the wines of the estate over lunch accompanied by the owners of the estate and also the winemaker.

María Luz was the first female winemaker and winery owner in Chile. After graduating from the University of Chile with a degree in agronomy and winemaking, Maria Luz worked in various wineries, and in 2000 she successfully established the first cool climate winery in South America and the Pacific Coast.

Casa Marín continues its legacy under the leadership of the second generation: Nicolás and Felipe Marín, along with Felipe's wife, Jamie Verbraak.

Late afternoon we return to the hotel.

The evening will be free. (B,L)

After three nights by the sea in Concon, we check out of our hotel and head south towards the Colchagua Valley.

About 2 hours into our journey, we will arrive at the Chocalan Winery for a tour, tasting and alfresco lunch.

After lunch it's back on the road for another couple of hours until we reach Santa Cruz where we will stay at the Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza on the main square in this small rural town.

The balance of the day will be for checking out our new surroundings and maybe enjoying the swimming pool before finding a place to eat in one of the nearby cafes, bars and restaurants. (B,L)

Day 5: Colchagua Valley - Monday

After breakfast we leave to visit the famous Cono Sur winery for a tour, tasting and lunch.

The adventurous will take bicycles for the vineyard visit.

We return to the hotel for a rest before leaving early evening to visit the Ventisquero Estate.

Their winery is about an hour's drive to the north but we will be visiting their closeby vineyard where they have constructed a tasting room on top of a hill.

Here we will taste their wines before enjoying a light supper with a spectacular view of the valley below.

Hopefully the sun will set behind the hills to bring a perfect day to a close. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Colchagua Valley - Tuesday

We leave the hotel this morning after breakfast to visit the Montgras Winery for a tour of their vineyards followed by a tasting.

We return to the hotel in town after this winery visit.

There will be time to see the small town of Santa Cruz for shopping, sightseeing and visiting the local museum and getting a bite to eat for lunch.

We leave the hotel late afternoon to visit the nearby Montes Winery. After a brief visit to the winery we will be led in a structured tasting by the winemaker.

After dinner we return to our hotel. (B,D)

They have a BBQ location high up in their vineyard where we will be transported after the tasting for dinner with their wines.

Day 7: Maipo Valley - Wednesday

After spending three nights amongst the vines in the Colchagua Valley, we check out of our hotel after breakfast to head north towards the Maipo Valley.

About 90 minutes after leaving the hotel we will arrive at the picturesque Tarapaca Estate where we will be staying overnight.

Our program includes a tour, two tastings, lunch, dinner and breakfast the tomorrow morning.

Viña Tarapaca is one of the oldest wineries in Chile, established in 1874, in Isla de Maipo at the centre of Chile’s traditional Maipo heartland.

Owned today by Viña San Pedro, the winery has over 600 hectares of vines set in a 2,500 hectare estate.

At the heart of the estate is a Tuscan-style manor house built in 1927 which is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

We will stay in the house as guests of the winery this night.

On arrival we will find our rooms and soon thereafter we will take lunch in the gardens.

After lunch we will visit some of their vineyards and learn about the work done recently to augment the bio-diversity of the estate.

We return to the manor house, after spending a couple of hours with the viticulturists, for the first of two tastings of the estate wines.

After the tastings there will be a leisure break to visit the house and gardens and maybe take a swim in the pool.

We will reconvene after an hour or so for the second tasting followed by dinner on the patio if the weather is fine.

The estate is very isolated and there is little artificial light to pollute the night sky once you are a short walk from the house.

If the sky is clear there will be an excellent view of the night sky and the Southern Cross should be clearly visible.

After dinner we retire to our rooms. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Aconcagua Valley - Thursday -

After our day in the Maipo Valley, we leave the estate after breakfast.

Bypassing the centre of Santiago we head towards the Aconcagua Valley where we will be staying at the Inca Hotel in Los Andes.

However before we checkin we will visit the Errazuriz estate for a tour and tasting followed by lunch.

After the visit to Errazuriz we drive to the small town of Los Andes to checkin to our hotel and spend a leisurely late afternoon enjoying the pool and its surroundings.

We take an early dinner together in the hotel, to prepare for our journey over the Andes the next day. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Andes Crossing - Friday

We check out of the hotel early for our long journey over the Andes.

Within a couple of hours we will be at the frontier and will soon be in Argentina.

The drive over the Andes will be the experience of a lifetime for many.

We should be able to see Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas at 6,959 m (22,841 ft), as well as many other snow covered peaks and glaciers.

At the frontier the road is almost 13,000ft above sea level.

Procedures at the frontier can be tiresome, so we have chosen to be there early in the morning which is usually the best time.

On the descent from the top of the pass we arrive in the town of Uspallata where there will be a chance for some shopping and to grab a bite to eat.

Mid afternoon we will be in the Uco Valley.

We will visit the Rutini Estate. If we are lucky and they are harvesting grapes we will be able to see an optical grape sorting machine.

Traditionally grapes are hand sorted to remove diseased grapes, leaves and other unwanted material on reception at a winery.

This machine uses optical recognition to remove everything except good ripe grapes.

After the winery tour and a tasting we will leave for the short drive to the small town of Vista Flores.

Here we will checkin to Hotel Fuente Mayor Valle de Uco.

Before dinner at the hotel there willl be time to relax. Maybe enjoying the heated indoor and outdoor pools, or unwinding in the spa or taking to the gym. (B,D)

Day 10: Uco Valley -Saturday

After breakfast we head south to San Carlos to visit the Zuccardi Uco Valley winery.

This winery opened a few years ago and has a novel design.

Most of the fermentation and storage vessels are made from concrete and are close in shape to that of an egg.

This special shape facilitates the gentle stirring of the wine inside caused by the motion of the moon, just as the moon moves the waters of the oceans to create tides.

We will take a tour of the winery and their vineyards followed by a tasting.

Lunch this day will be in the garden of a local restaurant with stunning views of the Andes.

Early afternoon we return to our hotel for some down time.

Early evening we leave for nearby Domaine Bousquet for dinner with their wines.

After dinner we return to the hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 11: Mendoza - Sunday

After two nights amongst the vines in the Uco Valley, we head towards Mendoza City.

The Andes are normally visible rising above the vines in the west.

We will stop en-route to visit the Decero Winery for a tour, tasting followed by lunch.

If the weather in the Andes is fine we should have a wonderful view of some of the highest peaks.

Early afternoon we will check into the Five Star Diplomatic Hotel in the centre of Mendoza.

The balance of the day and the evening will be free for exploring the city and for finding a place for dinner. (B,L)

Day 12 Mendoza - Monday

There will be a short time after breakfast for further exploration of the city before leaving for the Trapiche winery in the suburbs for a tour, tasting and lunch.

The winery which was built in the 19th century has been magnificently restored and modernized.

We return to the hotel after lunch leaving early evening for the Lagarde winery.

They have a large kitchen garden that supplies most of what is served in the restaurant.

They will take us on a guided tour of this before a tasting led by the winemaker. This will be followed by a dinner with wines of the estate. (B,L,D)

Day 13: Mendoza - Tuesday

This is our final day in the Mendoza area comprising two winery experiences.

In the morning we visit the winery of Pascual Toso for a tour, tasting and lunch.

In the evening we will be in Mendoza City for our last dinner with the wines of Dona Paula. (B,L,D)

Day 14: Wednesday March 24th 2027, Mendoza.

The tour finishes after breakfast at the hotel.

Some will leave that day to return home; others will choose to stay a little longer in Mendoza; while some may head home but might stop for a few days in Santiago or Buenos Aires en route. (B)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the age range of the group?

These tours appeal to a wide range of ages, since we can love wine, food and travel at all stages of life. Typically the range is from 30 to 70 though we have had some older and younger than this join in the past.

Do you need to be a wine connoisseur to participate?

Absolutely not. These are tours of discovery and enjoyment, of the wine, food, culture and history of the region. You will certainly return home with a greater appreciation of wine. I have been told it is impossible to spend days traveling with me without learning more about how wine is made and enjoyed with food.

Is the trip price really all-inclusive?

Almost all costs are included other than souvenirs, an occasional cup of coffee and maybe a slice or two of pizza and a few meals. I frequently hear that there is too much wine and too much food such that, during free periods, people don’t need to eat or drink anything else.

These trips seem to be very reasonably priced, what is the catch?

I only run on average two or three trips per year to places to which I would be going anyway; so why not take a few others along with me? These trips are not a fundamental part of what I do in life and so I price them reasonably so all can afford to join. Additionally I receive sponsorship subsidies from wine regions and wineries who are keen to show off to my guests their splendid products and services in the hope that they will spread the word. Virtually everyone comes on a trip as a result of a word-of-mouth recommendation, so my marketing costs are low. I do not accept payment by credit card for the trip, so I do not have to budget for their merchant fees.

We have never traveled with a group before; will there be enough free time?

I used to dislike traveling on buses with groups and also found I needed time away from the group. Consequently we have frequent stops to do stuff when we are traveling by bus plus the schedule has lots of free time built in. Moreover nothing is compulsory, people sometimes take a day off to enjoy life away from the group.

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Conditions

The above itineraries are as planned. However we reserve the right to make adjustments depending upon weather, and other constraints, to substitute visits to alternative wineries and to arrange accommodation at hotels of similar standard in the towns mentioned. Prices are for double occupancy in twin/double rooms (single supplement on request). Hotels and winery visits subject to availability. The price for the tour includes luxury coach transportation and guide fees. Also included are breakfasts every day, winery visits and tastings, and 21 meals, most with wines selected by Steve Thurlow.

This price is correct at present but may change as a result of currency variations or other circumstances beyond our control. It is unlikely for there to be an increase and you are guaranteed that, if necessary, it would be less than 7%.

We accept credit card payments for the trip deposit but do not accept payment by credit card for the final trip payment unless special arrangements are made.

Other conditions apply. These are detailed on all Uniglobe Wine for Life invoices and can be supplied on request prior to booking.

In accordance with the Ontario Travel Industry Act, below is the registered name, address and registration number of the provider of the travel services:

UNIGLOBE Enterprise Travel Ltd
34 Britain Street, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 1R6

Agent: Steve Thurlow

TICO Registration Number: 1810380

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