Chile's wines need no introduction. Grapes are still grown on original Bordeaux rootstock and thrive in a perfect climate with controlled water access and the most modern wine making methods. The Maipo valley is famous for hearty Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenére, while the newly developed Casablanca valley is tops for Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Mendoza is known as the best place in the world to produce Malbec, but is also making excellent progress with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Finally, the desert north of Chile is a really special zone for producing Pisco, Chile's national drink. This is a wine tour like no other!

Sunday, Day 01
Arrival at Santiago’s new International airport. Greetings by Anglatin. Flight to La Serena. Transfer to hotel in La Serena center. Free time. Guided tour of La Serena including crafts market. This city of 110,000 inhabitants is the second oldest in Chile. With its 29 churches it has preserved its colonial atmosphere and has added excellent services for visitors. The most famous is the five mile sun kissed beach lined with modern resorts, condominiums and restaurants. Welcome dinner with sampling of Chile’s wines. Overnight La Serena

Monday, Day 02
Breakfast in hotel. Travel up the beautiful irrigated Elqui River valley past Avocado, Papaya, Chirimoya and other fruit plantations. This valley is an oasis in the mountainous desert with colorful rural villages bordering the water. The most famous is El Molle where we will stop for strolling, photos and shopping. El Molle is famous for pastries featuring figs and papaya, and locally handmade tapestries. After passing through a tunnel, we make a photo stop at Lake Puclaro. From here to Vicuña, we are surrounded by steep mountain sides covered with grapes. Check in at our hostería Vicuña where enjoy a pisco sour and group lunch. Following lunch we have a comprehensive tour of the Pisco distillery Capel, one of the largest in Chile. The rest of the afternoon is free evening to stroll the tree lined streets, visit the Inmaculada Concepción church and the Bauer Tower, and check out the shops. Overnight Vicuña

Tuesday, Day 03
Breakfast in hotel. Today we have a full day excursion to the very end of the Elqui valley. We visit several vineyards learning how they obtain outstanding quality in this desert climate. Our distillery tours include Los Artesanos de Cochiguaz in Monte Grande and Tres Erres in Pisco Elqui. Both began as small cooperatives formed by the grape growers. Even though they are now owned by the pisco conglomerates, they retain their individual labels, methods and special character. Our group lunch at Monte Grande includes samples of Chile’s best wines. There is plenty of time for photos of this spectacular valley as we return to Vicuña. In the evening we have a guided tour of the astronomical observatory Cerro Mamalluca. The astrologists will present a program including observations of the stars and planets through their telescopes. The southern skies are spectacular and quite different from our northern skies. Overnight Vicuña

Wednesday, Day 04
Breakfast in hotel. Return to the La Serena airport and fly to Santiago, connecting to the flight to Mendoza. Transfer to our hotel in central Mendoza. Group lunch and free time to enjoy the wide tree lined streets, many city parks, relaxed atmosphere and sincerely friendly citizens. Mendoza is an oasis in a former desert, now green with abundant irrigation. Located on a 3500 foot plateau and protected by the towering Andes to the West, the climate is very agreeable. Later in the afternoon, we visit one of the most famous wineries in the valley, Bodega La Rural. Their excellent museum gives us a good introduction to the wine history of this region. It contains over 5000 museum pieces. Also included is tasting and a presentation on the company history and methods. Our group dinner this evening features Mendoza Malbec. Overnight Mendoza

Thursday, Day 05
Breakfast in hotel. Today we explore the Uco Valley, about 100 kilometers south of Mendoza and in the Andean foothills. This is an excellent tree fruit production area, but in the past few years Malbec, Merlot and Pinot Noir have been planted here with surprising results. We will visit Bodega Fournier, founded by a Spanish family, and Bodegas Salentein, featuring an unusual design for its bodega. Tasting is included at both sites, as well as visits to the vineyards. Group lunch is in a rural restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit a fruit orchard and packing plant owned by one of the most famous families of the region. Following our return to Mendoza, we are free to sample the wide selection of Argentine Parrillada or Argentina/Italian restaurants close to the hotel. Overnight Mendoza

Friday, Day 06
Breakfast in hotel. Today we concentrate on the abundance of great wineries close to Mendoza. The largest and most famous is Bodegas López, in its fourth generation of grape growers and wine makers. We will have lunch in the same winery, featuring (obviously) their own labels such as Casona López, Rincón, and Famoso. However, before visiting López, we make a stop at Viniterry winery where we sample sparkling wines as well as the traditional. Following lunch we concentrate on the Lujan region where we visit another of the famous bodegas, owned by an Austrian family, Bodega Norton. Our guide will take us from the vineyard through the plant and finally to the wine bar where we have an extraordinary view of the Andes. Finally, we finish our wine day at Tapiz, one of the most modern in the region. Chardonnay as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot are features here. We enjoy a free evening to check out others of the great restaurants in our hotel area. Overnight Mendoza

Saturday, Day 07
Breakfast in hotel. Today we travel into the Andes to visit several tourist sights, including the ruins of a Jesuits mine, Petrified trees found by Charles Darwin, and some petrography. However, the best is the spectacular vista after vista of the Andes range and the 22,600 foot Mount Aconcagua. Lunch is in one of the mountain villages. In the evening we enjoy a group dinner with Argentine folk music and dancing. Overnight Mendoza

Sunday, Day 08
Breakfast in hotel. Morning free. Group lunch at hotel. Transfer to airport. Flight to Santiago. Connect to flight to your destination.