From one moment to the next, amidst the mountain breezes and the sound of the Tinguiririca River, visitors can live a great experience and feel almost like professional wine experts defining the percentages of grape varieties to create their own versions of various blends. Where? It all starts in the Colchagua Valley.
More and more visitors, both national and international, are interested in learning about the origin of Chilean wines and living authentic experiences. The wine tourism offer has diversified with activities that integrate culture, gastronomy and nature, which has turned the valley into a high-level attraction pole.
What's more, the Cachapoal and Colchagua valleys have become the most outstanding tourist destinations in the O'Higgins region, according to a Sernatur report on the occupancy rate during the summer. "We are very happy with the results obtained by both tourist destinations. This goes hand in hand with the associative work of public and private agents," said the regional director of Sernatur O'Higgins, Carlos Escobar.
In this sense, the activities linked to wine culture are varied. One of the highlights is "Make your own wine", where visitors can bottle their own creation. "Passengers are divided into small groups. Each team is given three different grape varieties and the task of blending them to create their own blend. They then bottle their wine, design the label and give it a name. A winemaker or sommelier from Viña Ravanal evaluates the wines created and chooses the winning team, which receives a bottle of reserve wine per team member as a prize," says Carmen Paz Ravanal, Marketing Manager of Viña Ravanal.
Throughout the activity, participants enjoy a relaxed and entertaining experience, accompanied by wine, a cheese board, dried fruit and nuts and water. It is a playful and educational instance that connects the visitor with the creative process of wine. "The participants love it, they really enjoy tasting different grape varieties, they laugh, they are surprised and they put their creativity and imagination into play. It is an activity that encourages collaboration, awakens curiosity and strengthens the emotional connection with the world of wine," adds Carmen Paz Ravanal.
Finally, the tourist understands directly the art and science behind the blends, understanding how the percentages of each variety influence the final profile. It is not just about tasting, but about "creating" something unique, which reinforces the emotional bond with the vineyard and the wine universe. Ideal for wine enthusiasts who want to delve deeper into the world of blending and understand how wines are created.
The magic of a unique territory
"The Colchagua Valley has a natural magnetism: it attracts both national and international visitors for the extraordinary quality of its wines, its signature gastronomy and its hospitality. But what really makes it unique is its landscape: vineyards emerging between mountain ranges, rivers and open skies. However, the key is to constantly renew itself. Those who already know the valley look forward to returning, but expect to discover something new with each visit. I know many travellers who visit every year, and they always find a reason to fall in love with Colchagua again," says Roxana Díez, General Manager of Viñas de Colchagua.
He adds: "The experience Make your own wine is for the senses, it gives the visitor the chance to become an oenologist for a day, to understand and feel the wine from the inside. I am fascinated when each variety is explained separately, and then the context of the place, of the terroir, is given. It is magical to see how the same grape variety can express such different nuances depending on its block or micro-zone. In an activity like this, the visitor not only learns, but lives and understands the complexity and beauty of the world of wine".
In Colchagua, everything is wine, nature and wellbeing, a combination that enchants and attracts. In this sense, another activity that stands out is the "Picnic among vineyards", a magical experience, with magnificent views and the option of cycling through beautiful landscapes. In addition, special proposals are being developed for the low season, with themed events, wine pairing workshops and family activities that keep tourism in the Colchagua Valley active throughout the year.
More information at https://ravanal.tourpay.cl/es/search-booking/tour-premium-ravanal
Read the previous article Floresta 2023: a new look at Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
