This morning Valentina and Marco arrived to whisk us away from Valparaiso into the Casablanca valley. We were visiting one of the most successful Chilean wineries, Casas del Bosque.
Our guide for the tour was Christopher, or you can call me Chris.
The vineyard started in 1993, when they planted some Chardonnay grapes. These days they grow a variety of grapes and can churn out up to 40,000 bottles per day. Not bad in 20 years.
We had a quick tour of the production side, learning about the differences between stainless steel, concrete, wood and clay tanks, before sitting down in a rather plush tasting room.
Our first tasting was their signature wine, a Sauvignon Blanc. This was followed by a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and a Carmėnère, the grape Chile brought back to the world 150 years after it was considered extinct.
Finally, we were given a very special Private reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, a wine that is only produced when the vintner feels like it. Personally, I preferred the Carmėnère!
After that, we hit the road again to drive to Santiago, where we’re now ensconced in our room at the Singular Hotel.
Steve and Diane on Tour 