We're open today till 5:30 PM 020 8758 4774 020 8758 4774

Get in touch

Close

DON'T DELAY, secure your 2025 holiday today

Overview

Introduction

The hacienda-based legacy of the Colonial era manifests itself most strongly in the Central Valley. Driving south of Santiago, you will pass by many of the country’s best vineyards, several of which are open to visitors. En-route you will see several white flags displayed signalling that fresh bread is for sale. Winemaking in Chile dates back over 400 years. Growing conditions are ideal, with a long, dry growing season and well-drained volcanic and fluvial soils. Both connoisseurs and those simply interested in wine will be intrigued with the magnitude and focus of wine in the Central Valley.

In 1978, the Spaniard, Miguel Torres, bought Vina Manquehue and incorporated new equipment and techniques. His hard work and persistence paid off when his new Chilean wines won one gold and two silver medals at the 1985 Olympia wine fair in London. Since then, the Chilean wine industry has caught on in a big way, thanks to competitive advantages in labour and land costs. Chilean wine has built a solid reputation for flavour and good value for money. In 2001, Chile exported approximately 4.5% of the worlds wine exportations which shows the scale and importance of this industry.

The Maule Valley is Chile’s largest wine producing region, home to 27% of the country’s vineyards. Local vineyards have joined together so as to create a ‘wine route’, similar to that in Colchagua Valley.

The Colchagua Valley is a focal point of Central Valley culture and is home to some of the best vineyards and boutique properties in Chile. Seven vineyards in the Colchagua valley have joined forces to offer an interesting and enjoyable tour of the region.

Read more

Wine Train

A new and very different way to visit the Chilean wine growing district is by steam train.

This can be a full day excursion – starting and finishing in Santiago – or a way to transfer to the wine district for a longer stay. The journey starts by road from the capital to San Fernando where you board the train for the rest of the journey to Santa Cruz. Once on board, there is folklore entertainment, a light cocktail with typical Chilean food and, most importantly, wine tasting. On arrival in Santa Cruz the wine theme is continued with a visit to a local winery before lunch at the Santa Cruz Plaza hotel. The day continues with a visit to the Colchagua Museum before either commencing the journey back to Santiago by road or staying at the Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza. The train runs every Saturday in high season and every other Saturday in low season.

Useful information

Talk to one of our experts

020 8568 4499

We're open today till 5:30 PM

Get in touch
Best time to go
  • JAN
  • FEB
  • MAR
  • APR
  • MAY
  • JUN
  • JUL
  • AUG
  • SEP
  • OCT
  • NOV
  • DEC
Time Difference

GMT - 4 hours

Currency

Chilean Peso

Language

Spanish

Average flight times

14 hours 35 minutes. BA direct flight to Santiago from London Heathrow

  • Average temperature

    Average rainfall

Note: Map is for guidance purposes only.

Talk to our Chile expert

Rose
Rose Hill

Chile was made for lovers of the outdoors and wonderful natural scenery. Very few countries can offer deserts, volcanoes, glaciers, snow capped mountains and emerald-green lakes. Away from these places, I feel very privileged to have also travelled to two of Chile’s extremities - Cape Horn and Easter Island; contrasting destinations but equally special.

Call one of our experts to discuss your next holiday with Sunvil on

020 8758 4774

We're open today till 5:30 PM

Make an Enquiry

Please use this form to request further information about a Sunvil holiday or destination.

We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774
  • Marketing: 020 8758 4731

Required Information

* Mandatory Information
Title *
First name *
Surname *
Telephone number *
Alternative telephone number
Email address *
Confirm email address
Preferred method of communication *
If you would like to be called during a specific period, please specify

Destination Details

The Central Valley and Wineries of Chile

The Central Valley

Preferred departure date *
Duration *
Party size *

Back

  • Adults(12+ yrs)
  • Children(2 to 11 yrs)
  • Infants(Under 2 yrs)
Budget range
Other comments:

Email newsletters

 

We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774
  • Marketing: 020 8758 4731

Required Information

* Mandatory Information
Title *
First name *
Surname *
Telephone number *
Alternative telephone number
Email address *
Confirm email address
Preferred method of communication *
If you would like to be called during a specific period, please specify
Booking reference number *
Alternatively, please enter your query in the box below:

Email newsletters

 

Thank you for your enquiry

Thank you for your enquiry. A member of our specialist reservation teams will be in touch shortly.

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774

Your details have been saved

Feel free to continue to browse the site and add to your enquiry. Don't forget to send the enquiry before you leave!

My Suitcase

We understand that so much choice can be overwhelming which is why we have developed 'My Suitcase'. This facility allows you to save and compare your favourite holidays, and even allows you to return to your selection at a later stage.

Why not use 'My Suitcase' to compile a wish list of your future Sunvil holidays?

 

Sign in


New to Sunvil?

Create Account

 

Already have an account?

Password reset

Back

Close

Close