Wine Tasting in Santiago, Chile

In between two sets of final exams and immediately following a major release of software at my day job, I had the great pleasure of spending a week in Santiago, Chile. I was there with a group of fellow students from Wharton to launch a six-month consulting project for a manufacturer of dietary supplements based in Santiago. I realize this does not sound very glamorous, but we did manage to have some fun.

Perhaps the most fun was had on a certain Friday when we were set free from the consulting project and sent off to Chile’s Valle de Colchagua to do some wine tasting. On this day, which I’m convinced was the most spectacularly warm and clear and beautiful day in all of Chile’s history, we visited Vina Montes, Casa Lapostolle, and Viu Manent.

Vina Montes was our first stop, and it might as well have been our last because after Montes, no other winery is worth visiting. The construction of Montes cost $10 million and was completed just four years ago. The structure and decor are all feng shui; You even cross a sparkling body of water as you approach the enormous solid wood door at the entrance, which is memorable given that your’e pretty far out in the remote (and notably dry) Chilean countryside. Montes partner Douglas Murray and his son, Dennis, greeted us in the vineyard and then ushered us inside, where we were seated at a long table in a private dining room and treated to tastes (read: abundant and generous glasses) of their award-winning wines.

From Montes, we went to Casa Lapostolle, which is owned by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle (of the family that also owns Grand Marnier.) There, we tasted more spectacular wine and had an informative tour by the lovely and entertaining guide, Pea. Request her if you have a chance to visit — she’s a kick. To almost every question you ask, she replies, “Sorry guys, that’s just the way it is.”

By the time we wrapped up the Lapostolle visit, we’d all had the equivalent of a bottle of wine and… no food. So it was a a rather dizzying ride to Viu Manent.

Luckily, the folks at Viu Manent had prepared an unbelievable spread of filet minon, grilled chicken, fresh greens, grain salads, grilled asparagus and roasted potatoes, which we ate alfresco in the garden. Then there was dessert: chocolate mousse, almond cake, strawberry layer cake, petits fours, and fresh fruit tart.

And, of course… more wine.

Postscript: Note, there are no photos of the food at Viu Manent because my fellow travelers and I ate it before I could retrieve my camera. My apologies!