It’s been a rather impossible year for wine tourism with most of Latin America closed off to the world for a large part of 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. However, as the Covid-19 infection rate begins to get under control wineries are beginning to open their doors in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, welcoming local tourists now and preparing to welcome foreign tourists in the months to come.
This article will be updated on a rolling basis:
Wine tourism in Uruguay
Uruguay is not yet open to international tourism with restrictions still in place to curb any spread of Covid-19. With a population of just 3.5 million people Uruguay usually relies on the 2.5 million foreign tourists they receive a year for most of its tourism activities, although many wineries in Uruguay and open for local tourists.
“We are entering a rather strange summer without tourists!” explains Pia Carrau about her family’s winery which is the most-visited in northern Uruguay, Bodega Cerro Chapeau. Most of the tourists in Rivera are usually coming from Brazil and with Uruguay’s closed border at the moment, any travel between countries is restricted.
Cerro Chapeu is however received small groups of local tourists (no more than 6 people) for a tour of the vineyards and wine tasting. You can find out more details on their winery profile.
Towards the popular coastal resort of Punta del Este, there is more local tourism and Bodega Garzón in Maldonado, for example, have re-opened for visits, tastings, lunches and some interesting tourism activities this summer, although on a slightly reduced capacity than normal. The excellent winery restaurant remains open for lunch with staggered seatings from 1pm to 3pm, and the winery is open Thursday through Monday, from midday until 7pm.
There are also a handful of interactive outdoors tourism experiences including their outdoor picnic and vineyard experience, which can be done by foot or bicycle, and an outdoor hiking tour through the beautiful estate grounds and native forests. You can also still enjoy a blending session, cooking class and special premium wine tasting experience, for which you’ll need to enquire for a private booking. Find out more about all the options online.
Nearby Bodega Oceanica Jose Ignacio is also open for visits and tours of the vineyard, olive grove and winery, and you can enjoy a tasting on their outdoor terrace which has beautiful views over the estate. More details are available online.
Artesana winery in Canelones, just outside of the capital of Montevideo, is also open for visits and created a special five-course lunch menu being served at their outdoor restaurant. Open on Saturdays and Sundays, you can sit among the vines and enjoy food prepared by their chef and brought to you straight from the grill. The experience also includes a tour of the vineyard and winery. For booking options take a look at their profile on our winery guide, or contact them directly via email [email protected] or over the phone 094 130 442.
Wine tourism in Argentina
Argentina is still closed to foreign tourism for now, however, the wineries in Mendoza are mostly open welcoming in local tourism with social distancing measures in place.
“We’ve reopened our restaurants and winery so that visitors can come and enjoy excellent gastronomy in the open air with sunshine and surrounded by the gorgeous view of the Cordón del Plata,” says Claudia Ortiz at Susana Balbo Wines.
Like many wineries in Mendoza, they are taking full advantage of the glorious summertime weather and offering outside dining and picnics in the gardens enabling them to keep to the social distancing measures put in place by the local and national government. From Wednesdays through to Sundays their renowned Osadía de Crear restaurant is open for their four-course menu or a la carte options, and at the weekends there is a special brunch menu and in the afternoons you can take an afternoon tea. Their Espacios Crios restaurant is offering a typical Argentine asado as well as an evening sunset experience with wine and nibbles to enjoy the long, summer evenings.
“In order to protect the health of our winery team, we are only offering winery tours on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays though,” explains Claudia about the new initiative. “Although we can offer tastings throughout the week. And we are also offering our ‘hands on’ experiences where you can learn to blend your own wine or take a cooking class.”
You can find out more about Susana Balbo Wines in our winery guide open or book your visit (9am till 8.30pm, Wed- Sun) on +54 261 4989231 or [email protected]
Wine tourism in Chile
Chile has been gradually opening its borders to international visitors since December, according to their step by step plan. And wineries are also beginning to open up cautiously with social distancing measures in place.
In Cachapoal, for example, Viña San Pedro have opened their Altaïr winery for outdoor visits which include lunch, a picnic and wine tasting. The tours also take advantage of the gardens and outdoor spaces.
Santa Rita in Maipo has also begun opening in a step by step phase and have opened a new outdoor terrace to offer lunches at their popular restaurant. “We happily reopened our doors on December 8th, and inaugurated “La Casa Parque” – the new Doña Paula terrace for outdoor lunches and tours.”
Their Andean museum has also re-opened, and there are several different options for tours and tastings throughout the week, including their horse-drawn carriage ride through the vineyards, bicycle tours and picnics in the gardens. You can read more about the tour options in our winery guide.
