Maipo Valley: 4 Vineyard Wine Tour & Lunch from Santiago

Summary

Maipo Valley wine tasting day trip with local lunch and vineyard visits

You’ll wander through Maipo Valley’s vineyards with locals who know every row by heart, taste both classic reds and surprising whites, share lunch where olive oil is almost as good as the wine, and meet alpacas along the way. Expect laughter over pisco tastings and stories behind every barrel — plus hotel pickup so you can relax all day.

What’s the experience like?

“You’re going to love this one,” our guide Carolina grinned as we pulled into the first stop — a family farm just outside Santiago. The air smelled like wet grass and something sweet I couldn’t place (maybe those little purple flowers by the fence?). We wandered past chickens clucking under fig trees and two alpacas who looked like they’d seen it all before. Inside, there was pisco to taste — I tried to pronounce ‘Quirinca’ right, but Carolina laughed and promised my accent was better than most. The first sips of Maipo Valley wine hit different when you’re actually standing in the valley, you know?

The drive between vineyards was short enough that we barely had time to finish swapping stories with the others in our group (a couple from Brazil, one guy from Canada who asked a lot about soil). At TerraMater, lunch came with olive oil so good I bought two bottles for home — still not sure how I’ll get them through customs. The restaurant was loud with locals celebrating something; it felt like we’d crashed a family party in the best way. Our guide pointed out how the Andes shape the valley’s weather and why these reds taste richer here. It’s one thing reading that online, but hearing it while you’re swirling your glass? Way better.

I didn’t expect to care much about old cellars, but at Undurraga Winery — 130 years old! — there was this cool hush in the barrel room that made everyone go quiet for a minute. They handed us a glass as a gift (mine survived the ride home somehow), and we tasted four wines while someone explained what makes Chilean cabernet so stubbornly good. By then I’d lost track of which vineyard was which, but honestly, that’s part of the fun. We rolled back into Santiago just before dark, tired and happy and already plotting which bottle to open first.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full day Maipo Valley wine tour

• Pick up from hotel or AirBnB
• Visit Campo La Quirinca family farm
• Tour farm facilities and gardens
• See alpacas and farm animals
• Wine and pisco tasting at farm
• Taste 3 premium wines at winery
• Lunch at TerraMater winery restaurant
• Visit TerraMater olive oil shop
• Tour historic winery with 130 years
• Taste 4 premium wines and tour
• Receive wine glass gift
• Drop off at hotel or AirBnB

Top questions

How far is Maipo Valley from Santiago?

Maipo Valley is about 40 minutes by car from central Santiago.

How many wineries do we visit on this tour?

You’ll visit four different vineyards during the tour.

Is lunch included in the Maipo Valley wine tour?

The tour includes a stop at TerraMater winery for lunch; cost is not included.

Are there animal encounters on this wine tour?

Yes, at Campo La Quirinca farm you can see alpacas and chickens.

What time does hotel pickup start in Santiago?

Pickup starts from 7:30 AM at hotels or AirBnBs in specified areas of Santiago.

Is this Maipo Valley wine tour suitable for families?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; infants and children can join with prams or strollers.

What is included in the Maipo Valley wine tasting?

You’ll have multiple tastings at each winery including premium wines and pisco.

Do we get a souvenir from any of the wineries?

Yes, Undurraga Winery gives guests a complimentary wine glass as a gift.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or AirBnB pickup in Santiago, comfortable transport between four vineyards in Maipo Valley, guided tours at each stop with plenty of tastings (including pisco), time to meet farm animals like alpacas, and a long lunch break at TerraMater winery before drop-off back in town — plus a wine glass gift to take home if it survives your suitcase.