16 Best Sights in The Central Valley, Chile

The Gillmores, who own this winery, were instrumental in creating the VIGNO label, a type of appellation of origin for Maule Valley Carignan whereby wines must be made from at least 65% old-vine, dry-farmed grapes. This experimental vineyard has also raised the profile of Chile's long neglected País grape, which was previously used only for bulk wines. Try both, as well as the lush red blends, on a tour or tasting. In addition to making fine red wines, the Gillmores have created a fun place to stop and spend a couple of hours or stay on for a night or two. Take the Pan-American Highway to the "Camino a Constitución" turnoff, south of San Javier. Head west over the Loncomilla River and through the rolling hills of the Coastal Mountains for 20 km (13 miles); Viña Gillmore is on the right.

Despite dripping with charm and class, MontGras is one of the friendliest and most approachable vineyards in the valley, with excellent English-language tours of the property as well as the option to just taste wines by the glass. Creative tour options include a blind tasting, an open-air barbecue, or a “Winemaker for the Day” class where you can create your own blend. If your visit coincides with harvest (February-April), you can also do a “My Harvest” tour to pick grapes and then foot-tread them in a traditional way.

A great counterpoint to the huge wine exporters is this small, biodynamic winery 34 km (21 miles) south of Rancagua. It's run by a lovely French-Chilean couple who were regional pioneers in aging wines in clay amphoras. Intimate tours end with a tasting in the subterranean wine cave. You can also sleep on-site at the small B&B (from US$80 per room) to wake up ensconced in the wild organically grown vines.

Bouchon Family Wines' historic Mingre Estate, about 10 minutes west of Viña Gillmore on the road to Constitución, is a wild and atmospheric setting for an afternoon of wine tasting. Tours start in the wine cellar and barrel room, and end in tastings of three wines, including two unique interpretations of the rustic and long maligned grape País (one of which is made from extremely old vines). The attached Casa Bouchon hotel is one of the region's most luxurious stays.

The Silva family is a true wine dynasty of Chile, and the family vineyard, just five minutes off the Pan-American Highway, is one of the most convenient in the area to visit. The atmospheric wine cellar is one of the oldest in Colchagua, and the colonial architecture has been tastefully refurbished throughout the winery and production rooms, where a tour shows you the main facilities as well as the family's collection of classic cars. Finish up with a tasting in the modern wine shop, or cycle, drive, or walk through the vineyards to the excellent restaurant overlooking the polo fields.

Albano Balduzzi, descended from 200 years of Italian winemakers, built this 1235-acre estate in San Javier in 1900; today it is run by his great-grandson and produces more than 7 million liters a year. One of the most tourist-friendly wineries in the region, it does not require any advanced reservations for tastings or tours, the latter of which include a peek at the cellars that stretch underneath the property. Within the estate is a small wine museum and a beautiful expanse of oak and cedar trees perfect for a picnic; lunches can be organized on request.

Ten minutes east of Talca along a dirt road are the massive iron gates that mark the entrance to this historic hacienda with barrel-tile roof. The estate was once called Domain Oriental because it is east of the city, but today it bears the name of the family who owned it for generations before it was purchased by four Frenchmen in 1989 (it's been back in Chilean hands since 2010). The vineyards themselves climb up into the Andean foothills, while the grounds are ideal for a leisurely picnic (which can be booked in advance).

Lapostolle's showcase winery rises impressively from the vineyards in a wooden nest formation, offering a memorable view from both inside and out. The prized grapes are picked from the biodynamic vineyards and taken to the top floor, where they are separated by hand, dropped into tanks on the floor below, then racked to barrels on the floor below that, and so on until the grapes are six floors down into the hillside, where they are finally trucked out and shipped around the world. Join one of the daily tours with tastings, or stay for a fabulous lunch at the Clos Apalta Residence with a fresh and organic menu picked straight from the on-site garden.

This small winery, which rests on lands where grapes have been grown for more than a century, is one of the few places in the area where you can simply show up unannounced and sip some vino. As you sample the red wines, including Chile's unique Carménère variety, a tasty Petit Verdot, juicy Malbec, and rich Cabernet Sauvignon, you'll notice that the likeness of Laura Hartwig, the elegant owner of the estate, has been beautifully drawn on the labels by the famous Chilean artist Claudio Bravo.

Curicó's star winery is owned by the Spanish wine mogul Miguel Torres, who hasn't spared a peso in building this large facility just south of town (and immediately off the Pan-American Highway). There are tastings that pair wine with either chocolate or cheese, plus a handful of unique tours---from a classic winery tour to a bike tour to one with a sparkling wine focus---and in each you'll get a glimpse into the pioneering nature of Torres, who was the first in Chile to use a stainless-steel tank (now de rigueur). He also brought another tradition from his native Iberia: the annual Wine Harvest Festival that takes place in Curicó's main plaza.

Be sure to visit the restaurant, definitely one of the finest in the area.

Montes is one of most recognized wine brands in Chile today, but it started with humble roots in 1987 in the Curicó Valley with a group of young entrepreneurs. Today it is in the heart of Apalta, Colchagua, where the second generation of the Montes family helps run this feng shui--designed winery and restaurant. Deep, rich, and concentrated red wines and bright whites showcase a diverse portfolio of vineyards from around Chile. Enjoy the wines with food at Fuegos de Apalta with its showstopping fire-themed menu from star Argentine chef Francis Mallmann. The regular tour takes you through the winery processes and finishes with a wine tasting inside, or there is also a more active wine tour that involves a mountain hike followed by a picnic and wine tasting at the summit.

One of Chile's most important wine exporters with bottles in 80 countries, Viña San Pedro makes its range of five fine wines (Altair, Cabo de Hornos, Sideral, Kankana del Elqui, and Tierras Moradas) at this striking gravity-flow facility 30 km (19 miles) south of Rancagua. Expect sweeping Andes views as you tour the property by foot or on a cycle through the vines. Both picnic lunches and full-on Chilean feasts are available with advanced reservation.

In the lesser-visited Lolol region, this winery is owned by the same businessman who has the Santa Cruz Hotel and Museum. Something of a Disney World for wine lovers, it's one of the most kid-friendly options in the area with an antique car museum, wagon rides, bike rentals, and a cable car ride to a hilltop lookout. Adult tours finish, of course, with plenty of wine tasting.

Visit at night and you can stargaze from the observatory (open all year, depending on weather).

Jaw-dropping architecture and stunning views over the valley make this one of Chile's most extravagant wineries. Nestled in a private 11,000-acre estate, the VIK winery is pure luxury, and the Norwegian-American couple who owns it don't do anything by half measures. A visit includes a barrel tasting of the individual components before a taste of the final blend. Make a day of it with horseback riding in the stunning estate and lunch in the hotel restaurant, one of Chile's best.

What better way to visit the vineyards at Viu Manent than via a horse-drawn carriage ride? The stylish equestrian entrance is part of the tour package, which also includes a wine tasting in the beautiful colonial-style house. Focusing mainly on red wines from the Colchagua Valley, including Malbec, Viu Manet also pours a couple of coastal wines from Casablanca. Pick bottles to taste after the tour or over lunch at the excellent Rayuela restaurant, which keeps live oysters in freezing-cold Jacuzzis out back.

Off-the-beaten-path Viñedos Torreón de Paredes has the soul of a small winery with the ambition of its larger counterparts up and down the Central Valley. Named for the 300-year-old adobe tower at its heart, the winery’s tours take in the historic grounds and end with a tasting of either reserve or premium wines, most of which are made only for export.