Casas del Bosque Winery, Casablanca Valley

The Casablanca Valley is Chile’s great cool-climate wine region, a rolling bowl of vineyards between Santiago and the Pacific, cooled by morning fog and breezes from the ocean. That makes it ideal for fresh Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and it lies right on Route 68, the highway to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, so a winery stop fits neatly into a coast day trip. Casas del Bosque is one of the valley’s most welcoming estates and one of the easiest to book. Its Winery Tour runs daily at set times in English and Spanish, taking you through the vineyards, the winery and the barrel room while explaining how the valley’s climate shapes the wines. From there you can add a tasting, step up to private tastings and experiences such as the Casa Mirador lunch, or eat at the estate restaurant. Valparaíso, with its colourful hills, historic funiculars and Pablo Neruda’s house La Sebastiana, is a short drive further west.

How it works: book online on the winery’s website, where the Winery Tour lists daily departures at 10:30, 12:15, 15:00 and 16:30, in English or Spanish. The basic tour is short, about half an hour, so most visitors add a tasting or choose a longer experience. For weekend bookings the site asks you to contact the tourism team by email. The estate is outside the town of Casablanca, roughly an hour or more from Santiago by car, depending on traffic.

What to expect: the walk takes in the vines, the production area and the cool barrel room, with a guide explaining the winemaking process and the character of each wine. Facilities include a restaurant, a shop and terraces looking over the vineyards.

Making the most of it: pair the winery with a day in Valparaíso, about forty minutes further on, with a booked driver or a small-group tour so nobody has to drive after tasting. Go in spring or autumn for the best light on the vines, and bring a layer, since mornings in the valley can be foggy and cool.