Casablanca world class wines, 4 vineyards & Tanino lunch stop

Chile’s Casablanca Valley is an easy day trip from Santiago, but this outing gives you more than a quick winery stop. You visit four different vineyards, taste at three of them, and finish with lunch among the vines at Tanino Restaurant. The wineries range from Chile’s largest organic producer to a small, inventive boutique operation.

I especially like the mix of winery styles and the small group limit of 15 people. I also like that hotel pickup, return transport, and the tastings are handled in one package, so you can focus on the wine instead of traffic and directions. The main drawback is simple: this is a full nine-hour day, and lunch at Tanino is not included in the $149 price.

Key points to know before booking

• Eight scheduled wine samples: You taste three wines at Emiliana, three at Viñamar, and two at Bodegas RE.
• Four vineyards, but only three tastings: Casas del Bosque is the lunch stop, not a fourth tasting stop.
• A relaxed schedule: Each vineyard visit lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes, with roughly 90 minutes at Tanino for lunch.
• Hotel pickup at 8:00 a.m.: The air-conditioned vehicle includes transportation from Santiago and back.
• A good range of wine styles: You can expect white, red, sparkling, and unusual blended wines across the day.
• Monday substitution: Emiliana is closed on Mondays, so the route visits Veramonte organic vineyard instead.

From Santiago to the Curacaví Valley

Your day begins with an 8:00 a.m. pickup from your hotel in Santiago. The exact return time depends on traffic and the pace at each stop, but the total outing lasts about nine hours. That sounds long on paper, yet much of the time is spent moving between Santiago, Curacaví, and Casablanca, so the day feels more like a country excursion than four quick appointments.

The first stretch passes through the fertile Curacaví Valley. Local farmers work the fields along the route, giving you a look at the agricultural setting before the vineyards appear. Guides such as Cristián, Joao, Julio, Daniel, and Mauricio have been praised for sharing information about Chilean wine, local culture, and the valley during the drive. Guides vary by departure, but local knowledge is one of the tour’s useful strengths.

The air-conditioned vehicle matters here. Santiago traffic can be difficult, especially on the return, and you avoid the need to drive after several tastings. The group limit is 15 people, which keeps the day more personal than a large coach excursion. Some departures have had around 10 people, creating enough room for conversation without making the trip feel private or expensive.

Emiliana: organic wine with a softer footprint

The first scheduled stop is Emiliana Organic Vineyards, described as the largest organic winery in Chile. The visit focuses on organic and biodynamic wine production, so you get more than a tasting room introduction. You learn how the vineyard approaches soil, plants, and farming with fewer conventional inputs.

You taste three award-winning wines during the roughly 75-minute visit. The exact wines can vary, but the stop gives you a strong introduction to Chilean organic production before the day moves to other kinds of winemaking. If you like knowing how a bottle is produced, this is one of the more useful stops.

There are also alpacas at Emiliana, and you may be able to feed them during the visit. That small touch adds some charm to what could otherwise be a fairly technical winery tour. It is also a reminder that the property is a working farm setting, not just a polished tasting room.

Emiliana is closed on Mondays. On that day, the tour visits Veramonte organic vineyard instead. If organic wine is a main reason for booking, Monday is still workable, but you should expect a different property and possibly a different presentation.

Viñamar: sparkling wine and a polished setting

Casa Valle Viñamar brings a different mood. Founded in 2002, the winery makes both sparkling and still wines, combining established winemaking methods with newer ideas. Its identity is more closely tied to sparkling wine than the first stop, so the tasting adds useful contrast to the day.

You taste three emblematic wines and take a vineyard tour during another 1 hour and 15 minute visit. The schedule gives you enough time to look around, hear about the operation, and taste without rushing straight back into the vehicle.

This stop is helpful for people who want variety rather than a single winery style repeated four times. Emiliana emphasizes organic and biodynamic farming, while Viñamar gives sparkling and still wines a central place. You are not simply sampling the same type of Chilean bottle at every stop.

The amount of alcohol can add up quickly. Three tastings at the first stop and three more here already make it wise to eat something during the morning if you can. The pace is described as easy, but an easy schedule does not mean small pours or a short day. Take your time, drink water when it is available, and avoid treating every sample as a full glass.

Bodegas RE: the day’s most unconventional stop

Bodegas RE is a boutique winery with a more experimental spirit. It is known for unusual blends and inventive techniques, making it a good choice for you if familiar grape varieties are not enough. The tasting includes two wines, followed by a vineyard tour.

With fewer samples than the first two wineries, this stop may feel less focused on quantity and more on ideas. You can compare how a small producer approaches blending with the larger operations earlier in the day. The visit lasts about 75 minutes, giving you time to ask questions and browse before lunch.

This is also where the four-winery format earns its keep. Each stop has a clear role: organic farming at Emiliana, sparkling and still wines at Viñamar, creative blends at Bodegas RE, and a restaurant setting at Casas del Bosque. You get a broader sense of the Casablanca Valley than you would from visiting one large estate and returning to Santiago.

The tradeoff is that there is no tasting at the fourth vineyard. The tour title and route can make four vineyards sound like four tastings, but your included samples come from only three properties. Keep that distinction in mind when comparing this outing with other wine tours.

Tanino at Casas del Bosque: the long lunch stop

The final stop is Casas del Bosque, where you have about 1 hour and 30 minutes for lunch at Tanino Restaurant. The meal is not included, and you order from the à la carte menu. That gives you control over what you spend and what you eat, but you should budget separately for a full restaurant meal.

Tanino uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients in gourmet dishes and offers an elegant but relaxed setting among the vineyards. The terrace and surrounding property make this more than a practical place to grab a sandwich. It is the point in the day when you can sit down, eat properly, and let the earlier tastings settle.

The restaurant has received some of the strongest praise in accounts of the outing, with the meal described as one of the best in Chile. That does not mean you should assume it is inexpensive. A Danish-language account specifically found the restaurant costly by its usual standards, even while rating the food and setting highly. The smart approach is to check the menu and plan for lunch prices above a casual café.

After three tastings, you may prefer a full meal and water rather than more wine. A pisco sour has also been suggested as an alternative drink with lunch, but that is another purchase and adds more alcohol to a long day. You can make Tanino the calm, food-centered finish instead of treating it as another tasting opportunity.

What the $149 price really covers

At $149 per person, this tour is not the cheapest way to reach the Casablanca Valley. Its value comes from what is bundled together: hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional local guide, admission to three wineries, and tastings at those three locations.

You receive eight scheduled wine samples in total: three at Emiliana, three at Viñamar, and two at Bodegas RE. You also get access to four different vineyard properties, though the fourth is used for lunch. If you tried to arrange four visits yourself, you would need to manage reservations, transport, timing, and a safe ride back to Santiago.

The price looks strongest for solo visitors, couples, and small groups who want a complete day without renting a car. It is also useful if you want a guide to explain the valley and handle Santiago traffic. The value is less obvious if you only want one winery, dislike long day trips, or plan to keep lunch very cheap.

Remember to add the cost of Tanino. Since the meal is à la carte, your final spending depends on your order. The flexibility is good, but the advertised price is not an all-inclusive food and wine package.

The pace, group size, and practical details

Each winery visit takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. That is enough time for a tour and tasting, though it leaves little room for a long independent wander at every property. The lunch stop is longer at 1 hour and 30 minutes, which is appropriate for a sit-down meal.

The maximum group size is 15 people. That is a useful middle ground: more affordable than a private tour, but far less unwieldy than a full-size bus. Guides have been praised for keeping people informed, making conversation during the drives, and helping the group stay on schedule.

You must be at least 18 to drink alcohol legally in Chile. Most people can take part, and no special health restriction is stated. Service animals are allowed. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the tour requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather or insufficient bookings cancels the outing, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, so do not leave this booking until the last minute if your Santiago plans are uncertain.

Who will enjoy this Casablanca Valley day

I would choose this tour if you want variety over depth. You will not spend an entire afternoon studying one winery, but you will see four properties with different identities and sample a useful spread of Chilean wine.

It also suits you if you prefer a guided day trip from Santiago. The route includes rural farmland, vineyard visits, tasting rooms, and lunch, while someone else handles the roads. The small group size makes it easier to ask questions and get to know the guide.

Food-focused visitors should pay attention to Tanino. The restaurant adds a proper culinary stop, but you need to be comfortable paying separately for lunch and possibly spending more than you would at a casual restaurant.

I would hesitate to recommend it if your main goal is four tastings, because only three vineyards provide wine samples. I would also think twice if you want to return to Santiago early. Nine hours is a full day, and traffic can affect the ride home.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want a well-organized introduction to the Casablanca Valley, with three distinct tastings, a fourth vineyard for lunch, and a guide who can connect the wine to Chilean places and people. The combination of Emiliana’s organic focus, Viñamar’s sparkling wines, Bodegas RE’s unusual blends, and Tanino’s vineyard setting gives the day a clear sense of progression.

Before booking, confirm the Monday substitution if your date falls then, and set aside money for lunch. If those points suit your plans, the $149 price is fair for a nine-hour outing with transport, admissions, tastings, and local guidance. It is a strong choice for a first wine day from Santiago, especially when you want to taste broadly without arranging the details yourself.

FAQ

How long does the Casablanca Valley wine tour last?

The tour lasts approximately nine hours, including transportation from Santiago, vineyard visits, free time, and lunch.

What time does the tour begin?

Hotel pickup begins at 8:00 a.m.

How many vineyards does the tour visit?

The route visits four vineyards: Emiliana Organic Vineyards, Casa Valle Viñamar, Bodegas RE, and Casas del Bosque.

Are all four vineyards included with wine tastings?

No. Tastings are included at Emiliana, Viñamar, and Bodegas RE. Casas del Bosque is the lunch stop, and no tasting is included there.

How many wines do I taste?

You taste three wines at Emiliana, three wines at Viñamar, and two wines at Bodegas RE.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch at Tanino Restaurant is ordered from the à la carte menu and paid for separately.

Where is lunch served?

Lunch is served at Tanino Restaurant at Casas del Bosque vineyard.

What happens if I take the tour on a Monday?

Emiliana is closed on Mondays. The tour visits Veramonte organic vineyard instead.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The legal age to drink alcohol in Chile is 18.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 15 participants.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.