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valparaiso

And the winner is… Casablanca & Valparaiso’s wine tourism winners

by Amanda Barnes October 15, 2019

Last week one of the world’s Great Wine Capitals, Casablanca and Valparaiso, celebrated their annual Best Of Wine Tourism Awards 2020. Along with the other nine great wine capitals, the winners will go ahead to the global Best of Wine Tourism Awards later this year.

Held at Viñamar winery, the awards celebrated the best of wine tourism in the Casablanca valley and Valparaiso including the top wine hotels, restaurants and wine tourism, as well as celebrating the best architecture, art and culture, and sustainability initiatives.

And the winner is…

Best wine restaurant in Casablanca & Valparaiso: Puerto Claro

Stylish and contemporary Chilean restaurant in the heart of Valpo offering special wine dinners and events.

Second place: Casas del Bosque
Third place: La Caperucita y El Lobo

Best winery hotel & wine hotels in Casablanca & Valparaiso: Hotel Cirilo Armstrong

A boutique design hotel in Valparaiso on top of the picturesque Cerro Alegre with cosy loft rooms overlooking the city.

Second place: Casa Macaire
Third place: Hotel Boutique Casablanca

Most sustainable wine tourism in Casablanca & Valparaiso: Casa Valle Viñamar

Viñamar winery sits high on the hills overlooking Casablanca valley and its tasting room and bar won the Great Wine Capitals sustainability award this year.

Second place: Matetic Vineyard
Third place: Dinamarca 399

Best architecture and landscaping in Casablanca & Valparaiso: Hotel Boutique Casablanca

This boutique hotel set amongst the vineyards with its red wine-coloured swimming pool and barrel hot tubs won the best architecture and landscaping award.

Second place: WineBox
Third place: Estancia El Cuadro

Best wine tourism services in Casablanca & Valparaiso: Viña Indomita

Taking top for tourism came the popular Viña Indomita winery, which sits proudly overlooking Casablanca valley as a white palace of wine.

Second place: Casas del Bosque
Third place: Viña William Cole

Best art and culture in Casablanca & Valparaiso: Bodegas RE

Bodegas RE, run and owned by two generations of the Morande family, took home the Best Of award for their art and culture experience in the Casablanca winery.

Second place: Dinamarca 399
Third place: Casa Valle Viñama

Most innovative wine tourism experience in Casablanca & Valparaiso: Wine Box

Taking the award for its innovative wine experiences was this lively wine hotel built into old shipping containers in Valparaiso.

Second place: Casa Valle Viñamar
Third place: Viña Indómita

All the winners will go forward for the global edition, which is being held in Bordeaux in November in order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Great Wine Capitals.

October 15, 2019 0 comment

News By Region Casablanca and Valpo Features

Casablanca celebrates its top tourism picks for 2016!

by Amanda Barnes November 5, 2015

written by Amanda Barnes

As one of the newly elected Great Wine Capitals, Casablanca and Valparaiso celebrated their second year of the annual Best of Tourism Awards at the end of October. Wineries and tourism operations in and around Casablanca competed to take home the coveted awards which range from Best Winery Restaurant, and Best Accommodation, to Innovative Tourism Experiences, and Art and Culture.

In a formal gala evening the Mayor of Casablanca, the Casablanca Valley Association and Municipality of Valparaiso and Casablanca hosted the gala evening in Indomita winery where press and industry bods were invited. A wine paired dinner and jazz musicians opened the evening, and it finished with the highly-anticipated awards. Drumroll please…

Best Accommodation

Viña Viñamar

Best Wine Tourism Restaurant

First Place Restaurante de Viña Indómita

Second Place Viña Casas del Bosque

Third Place Viña Matetic

Best Architecture and Landscaping

First Place Viña Casas del Bosque

Second Place Kingston Vineyards

Third Place Viña Indómita

Best Art & Culture

First Place Estancia El Cuadro

Second Place Miely

Most Innovative Wine Tourism Experience

First Place Viña Indómita

Second Place Estancia El Cuadro

Third Place Viña Emiliana

Best Services Related to Wine

First Place Viña Indómita

Second Place Viña Quintay

Third Place Viña Emiliana

Most Sustainable Wine Practices

First Place Viña Emiliana

Second Place Viña Casas del Bosque

Third Place Miely

November 5, 2015 0 comment

Chile Features By Region Casablanca and Valpo Features Travel & Culture

A guide to the best beaches in Chile

by Amanda Barnes June 29, 2015

written by Amanda Barnes

Chile has one of the longest coastlines, of over 6500kms! With so much rugged coast to choose from it can be tricky finding the most alluring sand. So, here’s a look at some of the best beaches in Chile for when the Southern Hemisphere summer rolls round again:

Viña del Mar

Arguably Chile’s premier beach resort, Viña is a hotspot for tourists with cash. Though the icy water makes for a teeth-chattering swim, it also allows for a coastline brimming with delicious seafood restaurants and a good amount of shoreline shopping.

Beach bag essential: Enough pesos to shop the boardwalk and come away with a Chilean treasure.

Zapallar

Where the more tasteful moneyed crowd go, Zapallar is a handsome and rather exclusive beach resort with large weekend houses and fancier apartments lining the small coves. The fishing port is perfectly picturesque though and you’ll find some of the freshest seafood delivered from the sea bed straight to your plate.

Beach bag essential: A credit card with no limit.

Reñaca

This 1.3km stretch of beach resort coastline can scarcely accommodate the evenly-tanned prepsters that perch in its sands. If ever a beach could be ‘hip,’ Renaca would be it. Though the waves are a bit too much to handle for actual swimming, beachgoers take quick dips in the chilly water before continuing their rotisserie sun-tanning regimen.

Beach bag essential: A shnazy pair of rip-off Raybans. Don’t have any? Lucky for you, every stall along the boardwalk will be happy to sell you a set – for gringo prices, unless your Spanish accent is up to par.

Concón

The coastal resort of Concón, just north of Viña del Mar is a leafy green escape from the urban vibe of Viña. The 10 Km route connecting the two cities not only makes for an interesting bike ride, it also is home to some of the best stetches of beach in all of Chile. The three main beaches in Concón are Playa Negra, Amarilla and Boca. Playa Amarilla, a favorite among families with small children, offers calm waters, fine sand and (mostly) free parking.

Beach bag essential: Food and libations, as there is not an ample selection of restaurants and stores nearby.

Valparaíso

The Ying to Viña’s yang, Valpo – Chile’s primary sea port – offers a colorful, historical, charismatic alternative to the sometimes tiresome pace of the beach resort towns. The coastline that inspired Neruda and the rolling hills crowded with brightly painted houses make the setting idyllic albeit a little dilapidated. Out of over 36 beaches, only 5 are ok for a swim: Las Torpederas, Caleta Abarca, Las Salinas, Los Lilenes and Playa Amarilla. However, these beaches have steep drop-offs, something to keep in mind if you’re venturing far from shore.

Beach bag essential: Umbrella or a brimmed hat, as shade will be hard to come by.

La Serena

As the popularity of Viña and Valpo beaches grow, some visitors are breaking away from the herd and heading north to La Serena (conveniently located the other side of a quieter border control at San Juan). Waves and rip currents make conditions dangerous for taking a plunge, however beach bars and loungers suit land lovers. Closer to Coquimbo and south of Cuatro Esquinas, you can swim the warmer waters and they are a hotspot for water sports. Punta de Choros is another great beach to visit nearby.

Beach bag essential: Surf gear.

Bahia Inglesa

As you head up to the north of Chile, the waters get warmer, the sand gets whiter and the sea seems to get bluer! Bahia Inglesa is picture perfect. Warm weather year round and exquisite waters make it a beach heaven, however you’ll have to drive through hundreds of kilometers of the dustbowl Atacama region to get here. As soon as you dip your toes in that warm clear water though, you’ll forget all about the awkward journey.

Beach bag essential: An overnight bag, you won’t want to leave.

Playa Luna

Regardless of how earnest their argument, no one comes to Playa Luna for the birdwatching. At least, it seems unlikely. This bird sanctuary is also the only official nudist beach in Chile. Tucked into a secluded nook of coastline just north of Valparaíso, Playa Luna is reachable by hiking the shoreline from the cove of Horcón. Nude, partially nude, or bundled up in a parka, the atmosphere is relaxed and the waves are welcoming.

Beach bag essential: Ditch the beach bag and swimming costume, just bring yourself and a strong SPF.

Pichilemu

This busy sea town as a family beach close to the center, but most people come here to head the 6kms south of the town to Punta de Lobos – a world class surfing beach. International surf championships are held here each year and even surf fan Jack Johnson found the right excuse to shoot one of his music videos here… Swells can reach up to 15 meters!

Beach bag essential: A board and a seriously good wetsuit, the water normally hovers around 10C even in Summer!

Isla Negra

If you are a Neruda fan and want to feel poetic about the ocean waves, Isla Negra might be your spot. The name ‘isla’ is misleading, as this isn’t an island at all, but a bustling little tourist town with rocky and sand beaches with beautiful sweeping views across the jagged bay.

Beach bag essential: Neruda’s love sonnets.

Maitencillo

Another popular escape for Santiago folk at the weekend is the small fishing town of Maitencillo. This is a family destination (and much quieter than any of the beaches closer to Valpo) with a mix of teenage surfers, young families and older couples. There’s a lively fish market most days too.

Beach bag essential: Napkins to wipe your greasy chin after indulging on one of Maitencillo’s famous scallop empanadas.

Caleta Cóndor

One of the most picturesque beaches in Chile is in the deep south – in Osorno. The water is cold but it is a striking turquoise blue and sand doesn’t come much more golden than this. You’ll likely have the beach to yourself too – it is tucked away in the Huilliche indigenous reserve.

Beach bag essential: Hiking boots or a boat. The reason Caleta Cóndor is so pristine is that you can only access it by hiring a boat from Bahía Mansa or a two day hike through the native forest.

So, there you have it. The best beaches in Chile.

June 29, 2015 0 comment

Chile Features By Region Casablanca and Valpo Features Chile Wine Guide Wine Squeeze

A wine lover’s guide to Casablanca & Valparaiso

by Amanda Barnes June 9, 2015

written by Amanda Barnes

Just an hour and a half from Chile’s busy capital, Santiago, lies the rolling hillsides of fog-laden Casablanca and the disorderly yet charming city of Valparaiso. Both feel a world away from Santiago, proving that although Chile may be skinny, it is fat in diversity. A country spanning 4,630km in length running from the driest desert in the world, down to the coldest fjords and iciest glaciers that make even Narnia pale in comparison. Length is not the only factor that figures into Chile’s diversity though, the modest – but notable – width has a lot to do with it too.

In Santiago, or anywhere along the Eastern ridge of the country, mountains will be the frame for your experience, and it is too for the wine. Along the middle, you’ll feel positively glowing inside from the warm central valleys, which are home to the juiciest of Chile’s wines. But along the western front, where the Pacific sea crashes into the shore, you’ll discover a totally different climate – Chile’s cool coast. That’s where Casablanca and Valparaiso sit – facing over 10,000kms of wild seas stretching before them all the way until you reach Fiji and the Indian Ocean. But where can you enjoy Chile’s finest varieties? Here’s our wine lover’s guide to Casablanca & Valparaiso.

Valparaiso

Truly an international outpost, the port town of Valparaiso is colourful, chaotic and exotic. This harlequin city is surprising to discover with each turn of a street revealing a new face and character of Valparaiso: from the quaint cobbled streets that evoke crumbling European towns, and hidden away bars where jazz flows so easily that you could be in New Orleans, to the infectious and unmistakable buzz of Latin America.

Valparaiso is a city to explore. There are a host of hikes and outdoor sports you can do just beyond the city, but you should save your energy to explore the thigh-burning heights of Valparaiso’s urban hills. Each house painted in a bright hue, and graffiti adorning many walls, Valparaiso is an irresistible concoction of colour. Each and every cerro (hill) has a different identity, which are usually topped with laid-back cafes and restaurants or locals selling artisan crafts. Take one of the historic funiculars up the hillsides, and get lost on the way back down through a maze of colourful staircases. Another top attraction is Pablo Neruda’s house, where you can discover why he was inspired by this city, Chile’s cultural capital.

Casablanca

As the cool trade winds blow in from Valparaiso, they will lead you up over the hillsides towards the greener pasturelands of Casablanca – the city’s wine capital. A peaceful 30kms from Valparaiso, Casablanca is yet another reality, although closely bound to its maritime sister in climate.

The Humboldt Current from the Pacific bathes the wine region in fresh mist each evening, and the cool maritime fog lingers on through the morning only to be broken up by the warm Chilean sunshine around midday when the leaves uncoil and take in the balmy heat. While Casablanca’s paradoxical temperature change may be tricky for wardrobes, it is perfect for vines.

The Wines

Cool-climate and coastal: it pretty much spells out two varieties, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The stunning sisters of Casablanca. These white wines are crisp, fresh, citrusy and a little bit salty. Pair them next to a typical ceviche or Chilean clams with melted parmesan (machas a la parmesana) and you’ll be in coastal, Casablanca heaven.

No one believed at first that you could even grow white wines in such a cool climate, but actually it isn’t just the whites that thrive, but also some select reds. Pinot Noir is the obvious choice – the typically cool variety loves the morning fog, sea breeze and the cold nights too, producing a perfumed and intense fruit. Pinot isn’t the only red variety to swoon at the Casablanca climate; Syrah is also a darling of the valley. Casablanca Syrah is silky, spicy and laden with forest fruit – perfect for enjoying a juicy piece of roast lamb from Chile’s Patagonia.

Visiting the Wineries

The most renowned of all of Chile’s cool climate regions, Casablanca is the apple of many producers’ eye, but here are a few key wineries to visit while visiting the wine route:

Bodegas RE

Pablo Morande was the original pioneer of this cool climate region in the 80s, and while he still consults for Morande, his new family project – Bodegas RE – is also worth visiting. Making modern wines, focused on the traditional winemaking techniques, RE renovates, reexamines and gives a rebirth to earthenware and amphorae techniques. The restaurant pairs their wines with interesting contemporary dishes.

Loma Larga

If you thought that Casablanca was only for white wine, think again. Loma Larga was one of the first producers to focus on making good reds from the cool hillsides of Casablanca. Their Cabernet Franc is sublime and they also make an interesting Malbec among others. The winery is a swooshing wooden structure designed to echo the sea breezes and is tucked into the forest and hillsides of their microclimate.

Emiliana

Chile is naturally blessed with a dry and clean climate, untouched by many vine diseases like phylloxera. This makes it perfect for biodynamic production, and Emiliana is Chile’s largest producer of biodynamic wine. Step into the farm and garden that embodies their biodynamic principles and taste their excellent wines with organic cheese or chocolate!

Casas del Bosque

With a Kiwi winemaker in charge, it is no surprise Casas del Bosque stands out for its Sauvignon Blanc. Along with a handful of great wines, Casas del Bosque also has a great restaurant where you can taste lots of local dishes with a modern twist and enjoy a view of the vineyards.

El Cuadro

If you are heading to Casablanca with all the family, then El Cuadro will take care of the entertainment beyond the wine. A horseback adventure, rodeo show and vine garden are some of the highlights as well as plenty of wine for the parents!

June 9, 2015 0 comment

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