Santiago: Santa Rita Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting & Lunch

Summary

Santa Rita wine tasting, Maipo Valley lunch and museum visit with vineyard strolls

You’ll walk sun-dappled paths at Santa Rita Vineyard near Santiago, taste Reserva and Gran Reserva wines with a local guide, linger over a three-course Maipo Valley lunch, and explore ancient artifacts at the Andean Museum—all with round-trip pickup included. Expect laughter, new flavors, maybe even a lucky hawk overhead.

What’s the experience like?

We’d just finished winding through Santiago’s morning traffic when our driver turned off toward Maipo Valley. I was still half-awake, but the air changed—fresher, and you could smell eucalyptus somewhere behind the vines. Our guide, Camila, handed out these little maps of the Santa Rita Vineyard and joked about getting lost among the rows (I actually did for a second later). She told us stories about how this place is a Historical Monument—something about freedom fighters hiding in the old house here. I didn’t expect to feel so much history in a vineyard.

The tour started under big old trees in Centennial Park. Light came through all green and gold. Camila pointed out a hawk overhead—she said locals believe they bring luck if you spot one before noon. We walked between grapevines that looked like they’d been there forever. The ground felt warm even though it was early. At the winery itself, everything smelled like wood barrels and faintly of fermenting fruit—honestly, I wanted to bottle that up too.

Tasting time was...well, I’m no wine expert, but those Reserva reds were smooth and sort of peppery? The Gran Reserva had this deep thing going on—I tried to describe it but just ended up nodding along with everyone else. Lunch came next: three courses, all local stuff (the pastel de choclo was my favorite). There was this moment where we all just went quiet because of the view out over the valley—one of those silences that feels good. Oh, and they gave us these sturdy Santa Rita wine glasses to keep; mine survived the trip home somehow.

After eating way too much, we wandered into the Andean Museum—it’s packed with thousands of pre-Columbian artifacts. Camila explained some pieces in Spanish first (then English for me), and I tried repeating a Mapuche word she taught us—got it totally wrong; she laughed. If you’re feeling energetic after lunch (I wasn’t), you can grab a bike and ride through the vineyards too. I kind of wish I’d tried that instead of napping on the bus back.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Santa Rita Vineyard tour and museum visit

• Visit Parque Arauco mall
• Tour Santa Rita Winery and vineyards
• Enjoy wine tasting with Reserva wines
• Have three-course lunch at vineyard
• Visit Andean Museum archaeological exhibits

Top questions

How far is Santa Rita Vineyard from Santiago?

It’s located in Maipo Valley, about an hour’s drive from central Santiago depending on traffic.

Is wine tasting included in this Santa Rita tour?

Yes, adults can taste two Reserva wines and one Gran Reserva during the visit.

What does lunch include at Santa Rita Winery?

The tour includes a three-course menu featuring local Chilean dishes.

Are transfers from Santiago included?

Yes, round-trip transfer from Santiago is included exclusively for your group.

Can children join this vineyard tour?

Yes, children can join; infants can ride in prams or sit on an adult’s lap.

Is there an option for biking at Santa Rita Vineyard?

Bikes are available if you want to ride through the vineyards during your visit.

Do guides speak English on this tour?

The bilingual guide speaks Spanish, English, and Portuguese.

What is special about the Andean Museum stop?

The Andean Museum displays around 3,000 archaeological pieces from pre-Columbian cultures.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip transfer from Santiago with a bilingual guide leading you through Santa Rita Vineyard’s grounds and wineries; you’ll enjoy tastings of three wines (two Reserva and one Gran Reserva), receive a Santa Rita wine glass as a gift, savor a full three-course lunch with regional flavors in Maipo Valley, have access to bicycles for exploring if you wish, and finish by visiting the extensive Andean Museum before heading back to town.