Chilean Wine Country

Welcome to picture overload...haha! The wine country was maybe my favorite part of Chile. Enjoy the pictures we took:

Cam and Beth, his childhood babysitter (basically like his big sister) who lives in Chile. This was at a winery near her home in the Maipo region, Cousino Macul.

Tasting room in the cellar of Cousino Macul.

On the drive down to Colchagua, the Chilean region famous for red wines at the base of the Andes.

Countryside in Colchagua valley.

Neyen, a boutique winery in Colchagua. They only make one wine a year, but we loved it. It is great wine for a splurge.

Us in Neyen's personal reserve of wine. Notice the chicken-wire--they lost their entire collection in the earthquake last year so they have chicken wire now to keep the bottles from falling.

Neyen made a chocolate to pair perfectly with their wine.  Their logo is from an ancient carving found in the region.

Montes was our second winery in Colchagua. It was beautiful, but they are much more commercial.  Their Syrah was our favorite.

All the wineries plant rose bushes around the grapes.  The rose scent will attract any pests first, so if the roses are getting infested, they know the grape crop will be next.

Montes's tasting room. It is done following the principles of fung shui.

Montes's tasting room and its view.

Alpaca grazing near the grapes.

View from lunch...gorgeous.  Just a tip: if you go into the countryside, be sure not to even eat anything washed in the water--Cam got sicker than a dog when we got back that night from eating lettuce washed in the local water--ugh. The city water was fine though.

Laura Hartwig winery.

The polo fields in front of Laura Hartwig.

Viu Manent winery, our overall favorite winery for the value.  It was beautiful, and their collection from top to bottom was the best. Their carmenere was amazing.

The tasting tables set up under the grape vines.

They took us on a carriage ride through the vineyard.

Concha Y Toro, in the Maipo region. They are the largest wine producer in Chile.

The family home on the grounds.

We aren't the biggest chardonnay fans, but they had a great chardonnay blend.

People used to rob the cellar at Concha Y Toro.  So, the owner began the rumor that the devil lived in the cellar and would punish those who took the bottles.  Chileans are very superstitious, and supposedly no one ever stole another bottle.  They have a line of wines called Casa Diablo (house of the Devil).

The countryside in the Casablanca region (the area known for its wines).