The Maipo Valley is located in central Chile, just south of Santiago in a region bound by the Andes Mountains to the east, the Coastal Range to the West, and the Maipo River to the north. A very small portion of the appellation lies within the urban boundaries of Santiago itself, reminiscent of the great urban Bordeaux vineyards of Haut-Brion in the Graves and Château Quinault in Saint-Emilion
Don Domingo Fernández, a distinguished politician, founded Viña Santa Rita in 1880 and promoted the introduction of the finest French vine stocks. Following the advice of expert French penologists, he began producing wines with techniques and with results far superior to those traditionally achieved.

Santa Rita Vineyards
The history of wine in Chile began around 1550 somewhat after its discovery and conquest. Writers of the period spoke of the first planting of vines for the wine production immediately after Pedro de Valdivia took possession of the Chilean territory in the name of the King of Spain. as a result, Chile was more than a century ahead of South Africa in establishing its first vineyards, and became the first wine producer in the new world, some 200 years before California.

Although the growth of wine-making in Chile during the colonial period was as slow as the evolution of society it self, towards the end of the 18th century the first shipments of wine to other American countries were made from the port of Valparaiso. Around that time, land that would later belong to Viña Santa Rita began to be used for grape growing. These land were also the stage for significant historic events associated with the independence of Chile. National heroes such as general Bernardo O'Higgins one of the founding fathers of the Chilean Nation, found safe harbor there after battling the forces of the Spanish crown.

In the middle of the 19th century, once the republic had been established, a decisive change in the Chilean wine producing sector came about. Until that time, colonial methods of land use had been employed.

Some visionaries, among them Don Domingo Fernández, a distinguished politician, founded Viña Santa Rita in 1880 and promoted the introduction of the finest French vine stocks. Following the advice of expert French penologists, he began producing wines with techniques and with results far superior to those traditionally achieved.

Maipo Valley
Despite its relatively small size, this is the most celebrated appellation in Chile, home to some of the oldest vineyards in South America. The historic Macul region includes hillside vines that are more than thirty years old. These old vines produce wines of incredible finesse and complexity.
The sandy, fast-draining soils are perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, but Chardonnay, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc are also found here. The Maipo Valley has a warm, desert-like climate with very little rain (about 12 inches a year), so it is common practice to irrigate.

Services include:
Four nights of accommodations in the exclusive Hotel “Casa Real”.
Daily breakfast.
Use of tennis courts, sauna, swimming pool and gym.
Tour around the Vineyard.
Five days of rental car.
Pick up and drop off at the international airport in Santiago  
Taxes included
Maps and information about the vineyards and the Valley.   

Services not included:
Entrance fee to Museums
Meals not mentioned in the program.
Air transportation.
Tips