Maipo Valley · 45 minutes from Santiago
Maipo Valley Wine Tours from Santiago
The closest wine valley to Santiago and the historic heart of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. Visit world-famous estates and family bodegas on a half- or full-day private tour, with hotel pickup and an English-speaking sommelier guide.
At a Glance
- Wineries
- aprox. 40 viñas
- Main grape varieties
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Syrah, Merlot
- Sub-region
- Alto Maipo, Isla de Maipo, Pirque
- Wine region
- Valle del Maipo
- Climate
- Mediterráneo semiárido con gran amplitud térmica
- Altitude
- 400–1.000 m s.n.m.
- Distance from Santiago
- 30–45 km
- Travel time
- 30–60 min
- Best season
- Octubre a Abril
- Tour duration
- Medio día o día completo
Valley map
Why Visit?
El Alto Maipo se ubica al pie de los Andes, donde la altitud, los suelos pedregosos de origen aluvial y coluvial, y las amplias oscilaciones térmicas entre el día y la noche conforman uno de los terroirs más respetados de Chile para el vino tinto. Las tardes cálidas y soleadas dan paso a noches frescas que ralentizan la maduración y preservan la acidez y la definición aromática. Por eso el Alto Maipo es especialmente célebre por sus Cabernet Sauvignon de gran estructura, frescura y notable potencial de guarda.
Para el visitante, el Alto Maipo ofrece una experiencia enoturística más elevada y de prestigio, con viñedos enmarcados por los Andes y viñas reconocidas por algunos de los tintos emblemáticos de Chile. Las degustaciones se centran en el terroir, los cuarteles de viñedo, los vinos de reserva y una hospitalidad cuidadosa. El entorno se siente más cercano a la cordillera y más imponente que los sectores más planos y rurales del valle del Maipo.
Esta subregión es ideal para viajeros que buscan experiencias de vino premium cerca de Santiago y que tienen un interés especial por el Cabernet Sauvignon de talla mundial. Es perfecta para coleccionistas, entusiastas, parejas y grupos privados que valoran viñas icónicas, catas estructuradas y una marcada identidad de origen. También es una excelente opción para comparar los grandes terroirs de vinos finos de Chile.
Highlights
Top enotourism experiences
- ›Catas premium de Cabernet Sauvignon
- ›Tours de vinos reserva e íconos
- ›Visitas a viñedos con vista a los Andes
- ›Catas en bodega y degustaciones de barrica
- ›Tours privados de lujo por el día
- ›Maridajes de vino y almuerzos gourmet
- ›Almuerzos maridados con cocina chilena contemporánea
- ›Recorridos patrimoniales por bodegas y parques históricos
Practical info
- Nearest city
- Santiago
- Nearest airport
- SCL
- Tour durations offered
- 4 h / 8 h
- Recommended stay
- 1 a 2 días
- Best for
- Catas de Cabernet de prestigio, tours de vino premium y visitas a viñas al pie de los Andes
- Driving notes
- Fácil acceso desde Santiago; se recomienda recorrerlo en traslado privado, tour guiado o auto propio reservando las viñas con antelación.
Valley overview
Why travel to Maipo Valley
Maipo Valley wraps around the southern edge of Santiago and stretches east toward the Andes. It is the cradle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, where 19th-century French varieties first took root and where today's icon wines — from Almaviva to Don Melchor — are still produced.
Because it is so close to the city, Maipo is the most flexible day trip in our portfolio: you can taste at two top wineries, eat a long winemaker's lunch and be back in your hotel before dinner. It is also the easiest valley to combine with a full city itinerary.
Terroir
Soils, climate and altitude
Maipo's defining feature is altitude. Alto Maipo vineyards climb to 800 metres at the base of the Andes, with rocky alluvial soils, cool nights and intense Andean sunlight. The result is structured, age-worthy reds with the signature mint and cassis character that put Chilean Cabernet on the world stage.
Wine style
What's in your glass
Expect concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon, polished Cabernet–Carmenere blends and a growing number of cool-climate Syrah projects. Most cellars open with a vertical of their flagship red and finish with a reserve or icon pour.
Logistics from Santiago
How a Maipo Valley day works
- Drive time: 30 minutes (Pirque, Alto Jahuel) to 60 minutes (Isla de Maipo).
- Pickup: any hotel or apartment in Las Condes, Vitacura, Providencia, Bellas Artes or Lastarria.
- Best months: October to April for sunny vineyard days; harvest tours run from late February through April.
- Format: works equally well as a half-day (2 wineries) or full-day (3 wineries + winemaker's lunch).
Who this valley is best for
Is Maipo Valley the right wine day for you?
- First-time visitors to Chile who only have one day for wine.
- Cabernet Sauvignon lovers and collectors of Bordeaux-style reds.
- Travelers staying in central Santiago who want zero logistical friction.
- Couples and small families combining a city stay with a single wine day.
From the wine blog
Read before you go
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FAQ
Maipo Valley wine tours — questions we get
How far is Maipo Valley from Santiago?
The closest wineries in Pirque and Alto Jahuel are 30–45 minutes from central Santiago. Isla de Maipo, on the western side of the valley, is about an hour. All of our Maipo tours include door-to-door transfers from your hotel.
Which wineries can we visit in Maipo?
Depending on availability, our Maipo Valley wine tours visit a mix of icon producers (Concha y Toro, Santa Rita, Undurraga) and boutique family estates (Antiyal, Aquitania, Pérez Cruz). We confirm the exact line-up when you book based on opening days and tasting menus.
Is Maipo Valley a good half-day option?
Yes. A half-day private tour fits two winery visits and a tasting menu, with pickup at 9:30 and return around 14:30. It is the most common format for travelers with one free morning in Santiago.
Can we book a private Maipo wine tour with hotel pickup?
Yes — every Maipo Valley tour we operate is bookable as a private departure with a dedicated vehicle, driver and bilingual guide. Pickup is included from any Santiago hotel or apartment.
Do we need to book in advance?
We recommend booking at least 7 days ahead between November and April. Boutique cellars in Pirque and Alto Jahuel have small daily capacity and the top tasting slots sell out during harvest.
Ready to book
Plan your Maipo Valley wine tour with Chile-Tours.cl
Every tour is booked, invoiced and operated by Chile-Tours.cl — the same Santiago-based team that has welcomed international travelers to Chile for more than a decade.