Casablanca world class wines, 4 vineyards & Tanino lunch stop

Casablanca Valley is Chile’s cool-climate wine country, and this full-day trip gives you four different ways to experience it. You’ll see organic farming at Emiliana, sparkling wine at Viñamar, creative small-batch winemaking at Bodegas RE, and a polished lunch setting at Casas del Bosque. The route also passes through the farm fields of the Curacaví Valley, which gives the drive a pleasant rural frame.

I like the variety of wineries and the fact that the first three stops are not carbon copies of one another. I also like the small maximum group of 15, hotel pickup, and the chance to let a local guide handle the driving between Santiago and Casablanca.

The main point to understand is that only three vineyards include tastings. The fourth stop, Casas del Bosque, is for lunch at Tanino, and the meal is not included. After three tastings, that may be welcome, but the restaurant can be a costly finish if you are watching your budget.

Key points at a glance

• Four vineyards, three tastings: You visit Emiliana, Viñamar, Bodegas RE, and Casas del Bosque, with wine included at the first three.
• A good range of styles: Expect organic and biodynamic wines, sparkling wine, still wines, unusual blends, whites, reds, and Pinot Noir.
• Tanino is the lunch stop: Choose from an à la carte menu and pay for your own meal at the restaurant inside Casas del Bosque.
• A full day from Santiago: The tour begins at 8:00 a.m. and lasts about nine hours, including road time.
• Small-group transport: An air-conditioned vehicle carries no more than 15 people, with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• Monday has a change: Emiliana is closed on Mondays, so the itinerary uses Veramonte organic vineyard instead.

From Santiago to the Curacaví Valley

Your day begins with an 8:00 a.m. pickup from your hotel. The route heads west from Santiago toward Casablanca, with the fertile Curacaví Valley appearing along the way. Fields worked by local farmers give you something to watch between the city and the vineyards.

The drive matters because Casablanca is not a quick urban side trip. The day includes transfers between wine estates, time at four stops, free time, and lunch, so expect roughly nine hours from pickup to return. Your guide provides context about Chile, local wine, and the valley as you go. Past guides have included Cristian, Julio, Joao, Mauricio, Daniel, and Ignacio, though your guide depends on the date.

A driver handles the roads and Santiago traffic while you settle into an air-conditioned vehicle. That is a real benefit after several tastings. You do not need to rent a car, plan the route, or decide who will stay sober for the drive back.

Emiliana: organic wine with a clear purpose

The first stop is Emiliana Organic Vineyards, described as the largest organic winery in Chile. You spend about an hour and 15 minutes here, touring the vineyard and tasting three award-winning wines.

This is the most educational opening to the day. Emiliana focuses on organic and biodynamic methods, so you get a look at farming practices as well as finished wine. The visit helps explain why Casablanca is well suited to cool-climate grape growing, without turning the day into a classroom lecture.

The tasting includes three wines, giving you a useful first comparison. You can pay attention to how the winery’s farming approach connects with what appears in the glass, then carry that question into the next two stops.

One small detail can make this stop more fun: alpacas are part of the setting, and you may have the chance to feed them. If that is available during your visit, bring a little patience. Emiliana is not only a tasting room with a quick pour and a sales pitch. It gives the day a sense of place.

On Mondays, Emiliana is closed. The tour visits Veramonte organic vineyard instead, so Monday departures follow a slightly different first stop. If Emiliana itself is the reason you want to book, check the day of the week before paying.

Viñamar: sparkling wine and a polished setting

Casa Valle Viñamar, usually referred to as Viñamar, is the second winery. Founded in 2002, it is known for both sparkling and still wines. You spend about an hour and 15 minutes touring the vineyard and tasting three emblematic wines.

This stop broadens the day beyond organic farming. Sparkling wine adds a different style and pace to the tasting, while the still wines keep the visit tied to Casablanca’s broader production. If you want to compare Chilean whites, reds, and bubbles in one outing, Viñamar helps build that range.

The setting is described as spectacular, but the practical advantage is more important: the stop is long enough for a tour, a tasting, and some time to look around without forcing you straight back into the vehicle. The day is busy, yet the schedule leaves about 75 minutes at each of the first three wineries.

You should not expect every stop to feel equally intimate. Viñamar is an established name, while Bodegas RE later offers a more boutique character. That contrast is useful. You are not visiting four versions of the same winery.

Bodegas RE: creative blends and a boutique feel

At Bodegas RE, the focus shifts to experimentation. This boutique winery is known for unusual blends and new winemaking techniques, followed by a tasting of two wines and a vineyard tour. The visit lasts about an hour and 15 minutes.

The two-wine tasting is smaller than at Emiliana and Viñamar, but the point is not simply to count glasses. Bodegas RE adds a different idea of what Chilean wine can be. Its creative approach gives you a chance to taste beyond the most familiar styles and ask why the winemaker paired grapes or methods in a particular way.

This is also the stop where a good guide can add the most value. Guides such as Cristian, Julio, and Joao have been praised for explaining the valley and keeping conversation lively during the longer drives. Your guide will not lead every winery tasting, but a helpful guide can connect the separate visits into one clear story.

By this stage, you will have tasted eight wines if you sample everything offered at the first three stops. Pace yourself. You can taste rather than finish every pour, drink water when it is available, and remember that lunch still lies ahead.

Casas del Bosque and Tanino lunch

The fourth stop is Viña Casas del Bosque, but this is not another included wine tasting. Instead, you have about an hour and 30 minutes for lunch at Tanino Restaurant, located within the vineyard.

Tanino uses a farm-to-table approach with locally sourced ingredients. The dining room and outdoor setting give you a slower break after the winery visits, and the vineyard surroundings make this feel like more than a roadside meal. A terrace may be available, depending on the day and seating arrangements.

Lunch is à la carte and paid separately. You choose what you want, which is useful if you prefer a light meal after wine tastings or want something more substantial. It also means you should budget before booking. One tasting-only tour review praised the meal highly, while another noted that Tanino felt expensive compared with what they were used to paying.

The restaurant can also serve as a change of rhythm. The day has been organized around scheduled tastings, but here you have time to sit, eat, and enjoy the setting without another formal winery presentation. A pisco sour may tempt you, but after three tastings, wine or a nonalcoholic drink may be the wiser choice.

What the $149 price gives you

At $149 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Casablanca Valley. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional local guide, admission to the four listed properties, and tastings at three wineries.

The value comes from combining transport, several winery visits, and a small group in one long day. Private transfers between Santiago and Casablanca can add up quickly, and driving yourself creates a problem once the tastings begin. Here, you pay for the practical work of getting there and back as well as the visits themselves.

The price does not include lunch. Tanino’s à la carte format lets you control the order, but it removes the certainty of an all-inclusive day. Set aside extra money for food and any bottles you may decide to buy.

I see the tour as good value if you want breadth. You visit organic, established, boutique, and restaurant-based wine settings rather than spending the whole day at one large estate. If you already know you prefer a slow, single-winery experience, four stops may feel too busy.

The pace, group size, and driving

The schedule is full, but not frantic. Each of the first three winery visits lasts about 75 minutes, and the lunch stop lasts about 90 minutes. Transfers between the valley and Santiago account for a large part of the nine-hour duration.

A maximum of 15 people keeps the group smaller than a large coach excursion. That makes it easier to hear the guide, ask questions, and keep hotel pickups moving. It does not guarantee a private experience, but it is a sensible size for a full-day wine route.

The pickup and return details matter. Santiago traffic can be difficult, especially near the city, so a capable driver is part of the experience. Past guide and driver pairings have been praised for punctual pickup, smooth communication, and safe handling of the roads. Exact pickup timing can vary by hotel, so be ready at 8:00 a.m. and confirm the meeting details after booking.

Who will enjoy this wine day

You should consider this tour if you want to compare several wineries without arranging transport. It suits couples, solo visitors, and friends who like a social day with a clear schedule. It also works well for people who want an introduction to Chilean wine rather than a narrow study of one grape or producer.

The range is a major strength. You can taste whites, reds, sparkling wines, and Pinot Noir, with each winery offering a different style. Bodegas RE adds creative blends, Emiliana brings organic farming, and Viñamar supplies a more established setting.

You may want another option if lunch cost is a concern, if you dislike early starts, or if you prefer not to spend much of the day in a vehicle. The tour has no stated health restrictions, and most people can take part, but wine tasting and a nine-hour schedule still require reasonable stamina.

The legal drinking age in Chile is 18. Service animals are allowed. The experience requires good weather, and it can also be canceled if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

Booking and cancellation details

This tour is often booked well ahead, with an average booking time of about 29 days. That is useful to know if your Santiago dates are fixed, especially if you want a non-Monday departure for Emiliana.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather or an insufficient number of bookings cancels the experience, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book it?

I would book this tour if you want a broad, easy introduction to Casablanca Valley and prefer to leave driving and planning to someone else. The three included tastings are varied, and the fourth winery stop gives you a good lunch setting rather than another hurried pour.

Before booking, accept two facts: lunch costs extra, and the day is long. If you pace yourself, use the drives to rest, and treat Tanino as a proper meal break, the $149 price is sensible for the transport, guide, admissions, and eight included wine pours. Choose another experience only if you want a private itinerary, a slower single-estate visit, or tighter control over food costs.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 8:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately nine hours, including transfers, winery visits, free time, and lunch.

How many wineries do you visit?

You visit four vineyards: Emiliana Organic Vineyards, Casa Valle Viñamar, Bodegas RE, and Viña Casas del Bosque.

Are tastings included at all four vineyards?

No. Tastings are included at Emiliana, Viñamar, and Bodegas RE. Casas del Bosque is the lunch stop, and its wine tasting is not included.

Is lunch included in the price?

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

What happens if I book on a Monday?

Emiliana is closed on Mondays. On those days, the tour visits Veramonte organic vineyard instead.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle are included.

What is the maximum group size?

The maximum group size is 15 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.