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This is your guide to the best wineries in South America. Read all about the best wineries to visit in Argentina, the top wineries in Chile, the most exciting wineries in Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.

In the ultimate guide to South American wine, we have all the best wineries of South America in one place. Discover our free guide to the wineries of Latin America, including natural wines, family wineries, big brands, quirky wineries and some of the best for wine tourism, winery restaurants and wine hotels. Your guide to visiting the wine regions of South America.

Viñedos de Alcohuaz winery in Elqui, Chile. Guide to wineries in Chile
Featured WineriesFeatured ChileChileNatural/ArtisanalQuirkyElqui WineriesBoutique

Viñedos de Alcohuaz

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

Viñedos de Alcohuaz is one of the most exciting wine projects in Chile, and also the highest altitude — with vineyards over 2,200 m.a.s.l. in the upper Elqui Valley. This inspiring passion project comes from the Flaño family and one of Chile’s most travelled winemakers, Marcelo Retamal.

The terroir is, in a word, extreme. With steep slopes, dramatic granite boulders scattered between vines and intense sunlight (and stars!), the character of this high-altitude terrain comes across in the wines: which buzz with tension and purity. The winemaking is intended to retain the character of the place, with all the grapes crushed by foot in stone lagares, native yeast fermentations and using mainly foudres and concrete eggs to store the wines in their underground mountain cellar for years before release. Both crazy and genius at the same time, the wines and vineyards of Viñedos de Alcohuaz are some of Chile’s most thrilling.

 

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VIK winery in Chile, Viña Vik, the impressive million dollar winery investment by Norwegian VIK family in San Vincente Cachapoal
Featured WineriesFeatured ChileChileCachapoal WineriesArchitectureHotel Winery

VIK

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

One of the biggest modern investments in Chile, VIK winery in Cachapoal is an impressive project in the middle of Cachapoal where the Norwegian Vik family purchased a 4,450 hectare valley in a bid to make the best wine in the world. After hundreds of soil studies, they planted 327 hectares of vineyards from which they only select the top grapes each year for their top wine, VIK – a rich red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah.

The winery is state-of-the-art and a beautiful architectural masterpiece, that is perhaps only upstaged by the hotel next door: an artistic, luxury, boutique hotel that offers the most exclusive stay in Chile’s wine valleys with a top-notch restaurant.

 

Click here to download a map of Cachapoal and other Chilean wine regions!

Viña VIK winery in Chile in Cachapoal valley

 

About VIK winery

In 2004, Norwegian entrepreneurs Alexander and Carrie Vik decided that they wanted to make a worldclass wine and began searching for the ideal terroir. After two years consulting with winemakers, climatologists, geologists and agronomists around the South America, they purchased a 4,450 hectare estate in Cachapoal.

In 2006, in the Millahue Valley (which means Place of Gold in the native Mapuche language) they started identifying the top plots and planting their vineyard. The following year, the Viks held a competition for Chilean architects to compete to become the designer of the winery and Smijilian Radic was selected and designed the winery in collaboration with Alexander and Carrie Vik.

The winery has a sweeping waterscape at its entrance, with a meditative river rock sculpture, and most of the winery is underground benefiting from the cooler temperatures. Inside, a stretched fabric roof appears as a wing suspended over the underground structure, and allows for natural light to permeate the winery. The design was inspired by the Andean landscape and is both sustainable and technologically creative.

In 2014, the winery construction was completed and the tasting room opened to the public.

 

Vina VIK vineyards in Chile Cachapoal valley

 

About VIK vineyards

VIK’s vineyards are planted across 12 small valleys, totalling 327 hectares under vine. More than 6,000 soil pits and
analyses were conducted to match the clonal selection of rootstock and varieties to the specific plots. Varieties planted include Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah, and soil types include colluvial, alluvial, sand, clay, and gravel stone.

 

Night harvest with Cristian Vallejo

 

 

About VIK wines

VIK wines and Piu Belle, guide to wineries in Chile

The VIK wine portfolio comprises of three red wines and a rosé:

VIK

Flagship wine and the icon of the winery, a rich red blend that can cellar well for over a decade.

LA PIU BELLE and MILLA CALA

The second and third wine of the winery, also Bordeaux-style red blends although more approachable in their youth. La Piu Belle rosé is a new wine, first launched with the 2019 vintage.

 

All three wines are crafted for freshness, fruit, colour, balance, aroma, structure, precision and energy. VIK and Milla Cala are lean, linear with a depth of fruit and a lengthy finish, and La Piu Belle is fresh, bright, plush, and powerful balancing black fruit flavours with dark earthy notes and powdery tannins. Our VIK style is to marry the nuanced characteristics of the old world with vibrant style of the new world.

Cristian Vallejo, winemaker at VIK

About the Winemaker, Cristian Vallejo

Cristian Vallejo winemaker Vina VIK Millahue Chile. Winemaker interview with South America Wine Guide author Amanda Barnes. Guide to wineries and wines of Chile

Cristian Vallejo is the Chief Winemaker at Viña VIK since 2007 and takes charge of winemaking and viticulture. Having spent several years working in Bordeaux, Italy, California and Spain, he brings a wealth of experience to the winery.

His philosophy is to make the wines with hand-harvested grapes and using native yeast, before ageing the wines in new and used French oak barrels. Under Cristian’s guidance, the winery is also introducing its first wines aged in clay amphoras which have been specially designed and custom-made with the clay from the vineyard soils. VIK is also developing wine barrels from oak from their very own estate too.

Watch our full interview with winemaker Cristian Vallejo!

 

Visiting VIK winery & hotel

VIK retreat hotel in Cachapoal, worldclass winery and luxury hotel in Chilean wine country

 

VIK has some of the most outstanding winery architecture not only in Chile but in the world, and its VIK Retreat hotel is equally as memorable with a swooping bronzed titanium roof that looks like a golden crown. The hotel’s design was conceived by the owners Alexander and Carrie Vik with architect Marcelo Daglio. Right at the centre of the Retreat is a transparent living room flanking a raked Zen garden with bonsai trees and brightly-coloured flowers, which leads the way to Milla Milla restaurant on the top floor. On the ground floor is the gym, spa and infinity pool with awe-inspiring views over the valley.

Vina VIK hotel and winery in Cachapoal, Chile

 

HOTEL

Within the hotel there are 22 design-forward suites, each of which has a unique collection of artwork and was designed by an invited artist. Each suite has a different view over the sweeping estate and vineyards surrounding the hotel.

For those who want to appreciate the views of the estate even more, you can stay in one of the seven glass Miesian bungalows at Puro Vik, each of which has a 180-degree panoramic view of the estate. And for those who are looking for some home comfort, you can book a stay at The Cabin, which is a private ‘Scandinavia-meets-South America’ cabin in a private and exclusive corner of the estate.

VIK winery in Chile, guide to wines in Chile

 

RESTAURANTS

There are two restaurants at Viña VIK: Pavilion restaurant in the winery and Milla Milla restaurant in the hotel. Both offer contemporary Chilean cuisine using seasonal produce, including some 250 different varieties of organic fruits, vegetables and herbs that the kitchen team grow in the estate grounds.

When visiting the winery, there are also several options for guests to explore. You can either sit down for a guided tasting, or you can take a more active approach with a horseback ride, bike ride or trek through the vineyards. And gourmands might want to book in for a cooking class with VIK’s celebrated chef, Pablo Cáceres.

 

Artists of each of the suites:

1. Shogun: Takeo Hanazawa (Japan)
2. Redondo: No Artist
3. Valenzuela: Sebastián Valenzuela (Chile)
4. P. Hubertus: Prince Hubertus of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (México)
5. Chile: Carlos Leppe (1952-2015) & Felipe Cusicanqui (Chile)
6. Abelli: Cristián Abelli (Chile); Baño Marcelo Daglio (Uruguay)
7. Louis Louis: Alphonse Marie de Neuville, (Francia) 1835-1885
8. Norge: Kjell Nupen (Norway) 1955-2014 & Axel Revold (Norway) 1887 – 1962
9. H: Hermes Master Suite, artists Alex and Carrie Vik, and Ricardo Yrarrázaval (Chile)
10. VIK: Antonio Seguí (Argentina) & Francisco Uzabeaga (Chile)
11. La Marcela: Marcela Correa (Chile) Paz Lira y Diana Navarrete (Chile)
12. Azulejo: Portuguese tiles. Pablo Montealegre (Chile)
13. Minimalist: José Basso (Chile)
14. Hollywood: Francisco Uzabeaga (Chile)
15. Retro: Mario Toral (Chile)
16. Graffitti: Diego Roa (Chile)
17. La Patricia: Patricia Fernández (Chile)
18. Gabler’s Grisalle: Alvaro Gabler (Chile)
19. F: Art installation by Fornasetti (Chile)
20. Rock’n Rio: Mario Gomez (Chile)
21. Vicky Money: Victoria Aguirre (Uruguay)
22. Cienfuegos: Room by Gonzalo Cienfuegos (Chile); bathroom by Eduardo Cardoso (Uruguay)

Artists featured in the common areas of the hotel include Anselm Kiefer, Germany; Roberto Matta, Chile; Paz Lira, Chile; Totoy Zamudio, Chile; Samy Benmayor, Chile; Patricia Ossa, Chile; Patricia Claro; Alex Vik; Smiljan Radic; Marcela Correa; Marcelo Daglio; and Eduardo Cardoso.

 

Video of VIK winery

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Zuccardi winery in the Uco Valley where Sebastian Zuccardi (winemaker and owner) and his winemaking team make top Uco Valley wines
Featured WineriesFeatured ArgentinaUco Valley WineriesBig BrandRestaurantArchitecture

Zuccardi

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

Over three generations the Zuccardi family has gone on to become one of the most prominent wine families in Argentina, now focused on fine wines in Uco. The striking winery has been designed to home no less than 200 concrete amphoras in which separate vinifications for single blocks of vines take place.

The Zuccardi winery in the Uco Valley, Mendoza, is a glowing symbol of how far this Argentine wine family has come since its foundation in 1963 by Alberto Zuccardi. Today it is focused on making precise, terroir-driven wines with a particular focus on Malbec but a diverse portfolio ranging from Bonarda to Semillon.

Check out our interview with Sebastian Zuccardi from the vineyards of Altamira
Full interview online here

 

About Zuccardi winery

Alberto Zuccardi planted the first vineyards in the east of Mendoza, and the family grew into one of the most important wine-producing companies in Argentina under father José Alberto Zuccardi who saw the creation of the popular Santa Julia brand among other labels in the portfolio.

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Pandolfi Price Vineyards in Itata Valley, Chile
Featured WineriesFeatured ChileChileItata WineriesFamilyBoutique

Pandolfi Price

by Amanda Barnes
written by Amanda Barnes

If there’s anyone who has got me excited about new vines in Itata, it’s the wines of Pandolfi Price. One of the landmark wineries in Itata for proving the great potential of Chardonnay, and now Pinot Noir, Syrah, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. The Pandolfi Price story started in 2002 when the Pandolfi family happened across a Chardonnay vineyard planted in 1992 and made it their goal to make top quality dry-farmed Chardonnay from these relatively new vines.

With the help of winemaker François Massoc, they made this corner of Chillán a little taste of Burgundy in Itata. The Los Patricios Chardonnay is one of the best of Chile, and Larkün is a worthy second line. Today several other varieties have joined the family, but still with the same ethos: human scale, sustainable wines that show the exciting potential of new vines in Itata.

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