Concha y Toro
Chile's largest and best-known winery accounts for 33% of all national wine sales, and they produce the lion's share of export wines -- from inexpensive table reds to some of Chile's high-end, traditional cabernet sauvignons such as Don Melchor, which was recently acknowledged by Wine Spectator as the best wine in Chile. Founded in 1883 by the eccentric mining magnate Don Melchor Concho y Toro, this gorgeous estate, which resembles an English country manor, is part of the attraction, with gardens large enough to require eight full-time gardeners, a sculpted lake, eucalyptus-lined pathway and antique bodegas whose interiors include the famous "Castillero del Diablo," a folkloric tale featuring a cellar haunted by a devil, invented to scare workers away from stealing the owner's prize wines. There is a huge wine shop with wine, souvenirs, arts and crafts, and books, too. If you want to skip the tour, Concha y Toro's smart wine bar has tastings of all wines, including Almaviva, paired with appetizers, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Group tours cost $12 (£8) and include a souvenir glass. You can even take the Metro here: Ride to the Tobalaba station, transfer to Line 4, and ride it to Plaza de Puente Alto station; from here, a taxi gets you there in 5 minutes.
Chile's largest and best-known winery accounts for 33% of all national wine sales, and they produce the lion's share of export wines -- from inexpensive table reds to some of Chile's high-end, traditional cabernet sauvignons such as Don Melchor, which was recently acknowledged by Wine Spectator as the best wine in Chile. Founded in 1883 by the eccentric mining magnate Don Melchor Concho y Toro, this gorgeous estate, which resembles an English country manor, is part of the attraction, with gardens large enough to require eight full-time gardeners, a sculpted lake, eucalyptus-lined pathway and antique bodegas whose interiors include the famous "Castillero del Diablo," a folkloric tale featuring a cellar haunted by a devil, invented to scare workers away from stealing the owner's prize wines. There is a huge wine shop with wine, souvenirs, arts and crafts, and books, too. If you want to skip the tour, Concha y Toro's smart wine bar has tastings of all wines, including Almaviva, paired with appetizers, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Group tours cost $12 (£8) and include a souvenir glass. You can even take the Metro here: Ride to the Tobalaba station, transfer to Line 4, and ride it to Plaza de Puente Alto station; from here, a taxi gets you there in 5 minutes.
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