Santiago: Maipo Valley Wine Tasting Tour with 4 Vineyards

Maipo Valley is close enough to Santiago for a day trip, but this tour quickly trades city traffic for vineyards, mountain views, farm roads, and glasses of Chilean wine. The most interesting part is the mix: you begin at Campo La Quirinca, a family-run farm with alpacas and chickens, then move on to polished commercial wineries.

I like the range of experiences and the efficient route. You see how a small producer works, taste at Santa Ema, stop for lunch at TerraMater, and finish at the historic Undurraga estate. I also like the small-group setup, with a maximum of 15 people and hotel pickup in much of central Santiago.

The main point to understand is that this is advertised as four vineyards, but TerraMater is chiefly a lunch and olive-oil stop. You get proper wine tastings at three stops, plus plenty of wine across the day. If you expect four full winery tours, adjust your expectations.

Key points at a glance

• Start with a real working farm: Campo La Quirinca combines wine, gardens, alpacas, chickens, cheese, snacks, and Chilean pisco.
• Compare small and large producers: The day moves from a family operation to Santa Ema and then the much larger Undurraga.
• Expect about 10 to 13 wine samples: The exact number varies, but tastings are generous and spread across the wineries.
• Lunch is at your own cost: TerraMater’s Zinfandel restaurant gives you a proper break, but the meal is not included.
• Plan for an early start and late finish: Pickup is generally between 7:30 and 8:00 AM, with return around 6:00 to 6:30 PM.
• Choose your seat carefully: Some visitors found the van comfortable but noted that tall seatbacks can block views, especially from the back.

Why this Maipo Valley day trip works

At $134 per person, this is not the cheapest way to taste Chilean wine. But you are paying for a full-day outing, transportation from your hotel, a guide, several tastings, and a route that would be difficult to organize without a car.

The value comes from the variety. Instead of spending the day at one grand estate, you see different sides of Chilean wine production. The first stop feels personal and agricultural. Santa Ema offers a more polished tasting. TerraMater adds food and olive oil. Undurraga brings scale, history, cellars, gardens, and a large export operation.

I also like that the tour reduces the dead time between stops. The Maipo Valley is spread out, and arranging taxis or separate winery bookings could quickly become a nuisance. Here, your guide manages the schedule while your driver handles the roads.

You should still budget for lunch and tips. The price does not cover your meal at TerraMater, and tips are not included. Wine purchases are also extra, although several winery shops sell bottles and local products at appealing prices.

From Santiago to the Maipo River

Pickup usually begins between 7:30 and 8:00 AM. Service is offered from central Santiago, Providencia, Las Condes, Vitacura, Recoleta, and Estación Central, though the exact pickup point depends on your hotel.

The first scheduled pause is at the Maipo River, with about 15 minutes for photographs. This is a short stop rather than a full attraction, but it breaks up the drive and gives you an early look at the countryside.

The total day lasts about 10 hours. That sounds long, but the schedule keeps moving. The downside is that pickup and drop-off traffic can add extra time, especially if you are among the first people collected or the last people returned. One family reported spending about an hour at each end in Santiago traffic.

The air-conditioned vehicle is generally comfortable, especially with a small group. Still, seat selection matters. A few people found the high seatbacks made it hard to see the views, while another warned that the back seats can feel more jostling on bumpy roads. If you care about the scenery, ask about sitting nearer the front.

Campo La Quirinca: wine with alpacas and chickens

Campo La Quirinca is the most distinctive stop on the route. This is a family garage winery and working farm rather than a large polished estate. You walk through the gardens and agricultural areas, learn how the family produces wine, and see animal husbandry in action.

The farm includes alpacas, several breeds of chickens, and other elements of rural Chilean life. That makes the visit useful even if you are not a serious wine student. You are not only hearing about grapes and barrels. You are seeing how wine fits into a broader country lifestyle.

The tour usually lasts around 90 minutes to two hours. After the walk, you sit down for wine, cheese, local snacks, and Chilean pisco. The pisco adds a distinctly Chilean touch, and the tasting is often generous enough that you should eat something before the tour begins.

The setting is relaxed and informal. Guides connected with the farm, including Mary on some departures, bring plenty of personality to the visit. This is the stop where the small-group format matters most, since you have more room to ask questions and browse the local products.

You can buy wine and other farm goods here. It is a good place to look for something more personal than a standard supermarket bottle. I would not rush this stop. It gives you the clearest sense of place on the entire day.

Santa Ema and the move to polished wine tourism

The next stop is Santa Ema, usually lasting about 45 minutes to one hour. Here you taste three premium wines in a more formal setting, including one of the winery’s signature wines.

Santa Ema provides a useful contrast with Campo La Quirinca. The first stop is intimate and hands-on. Santa Ema feels more organized around wine presentation and tasting. You have less time here, so expect a focused tasting rather than a long walk through every part of the estate.

The Santa Ema stop may sometimes be connected with the El Peral wine shop or tasting area, depending on the day’s arrangements. This is one reason the precise order and length of stops can vary. If you are hoping to buy a particular bottle, ask your guide what is available that day.

The tastings are a strong part of the tour. One useful tip is to ask about the Sauvignon Blanc if it is not part of the standard flight. A few people singled it out as worth trying, though availability and inclusion can change.

TerraMater: a useful lunch break, not a fourth tasting

Around 12:30 PM, you reach Viña TerraMater. This is the day’s main meal stop, with lunch at the Zinfandel restaurant at your own expense.

The restaurant gives the schedule a needed pause. By this point, you have already tasted several wines, so a sit-down meal helps pace the day. You can choose from a range of food, and the setting is described as pleasant, including outdoor seating on some departures.

TerraMater is also known for olive oil. The winery produces an award-winning Chilean olive oil, and its shop sells bottles at cellar prices. If you enjoy food products more than souvenirs, this may be the best shopping stop of the day.

Be clear about what is included. Lunch is not part of the $134 price, and this stop is not normally a full wine tasting. You may see or buy wine, but the main purpose is food, a break, and the olive-oil shop.

This is also the point where the four-vineyard description can feel a little loose. You visit TerraMater, but you should count on three proper winery tastings rather than four complete tasting sessions. That is not necessarily a problem. Most people will have had plenty of wine already, and a meal is more welcome than another rushed flight.

Undurraga: the grand finale with gardens and cellars

Undurraga is one of Chile’s older and more traditional wineries, with about 130 years of experience. The visit lasts around 90 minutes and gives you the broadest formal introduction to the country’s wine industry.

The tour includes the gardens, vineyards, production warehouse, and wine barrel cellar. There is also a pre-Columbian exhibition, which adds cultural context beyond the usual grape-to-bottle explanation.

You finish with a tasting of four premium wines and receive a wine glass as a gift. The glass is a practical souvenir, not just a token, and several people appreciated having something useful to take home.

Undurraga is also the most commercial stop. That has advantages: the estate is large, the facilities are impressive, and you get a clearer idea of how a major Chilean producer operates. The shop usually has a wide range of bottles.

The tradeoff is atmosphere. Some departures have had excellent local guides who answered questions and gave the visit real energy. On other days, the tour felt rushed, crowded, or light on explanation. One person found the final guide unable to answer much, while another called the stop a favorite because the guide was exceptionally well prepared.

That inconsistency is worth keeping in mind. Undurraga is still interesting, but it may feel less personal than Campo La Quirinca. If you prefer small organic or family-run producers, the first two stops may be your highlights. If you want to see the scale of Chile’s export wine business, Undurraga is important.

The guides make a real difference

The guide is a major part of the experience. The strongest departures have included Pablo, Nacho, Esme, Alexia, Ramses, Paulina, Francisca, Tephi, and others. Their styles differ, but the best guides keep the group together, explain the schedule clearly, answer questions about Chile, and switch comfortably between English and Spanish.

Pablo is often described as warm, attentive, and entertaining. Nacho is praised for his energy and ability to move between English and Spanish. Esme has received similar praise for her English and friendly manner. Other guides, including Alexia and Ramses, are noted for keeping the day fun while adding useful facts about the region.

Your guide may not be one of these named leaders, so treat those names as examples rather than a guarantee. The tour’s local winery guides also matter. Mary at Campo La Quirinca has a lively style, while Benjamin at Undurraga has been especially strong at explaining the winery and answering detailed questions.

The driver matters too. You will spend several hours in the vehicle, and safe, calm driving makes a big difference after a day of wine. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle and a dedicated driver, so nobody in your group needs to drink and drive.

Wine, food, and pacing across the day

The exact number of wines varies by departure, but the total can reach roughly 10 to 13 samples. One person counted 11 wines across the day, while another recalled about 13 glasses. The schedule usually includes at least three tastings, with several wines at each winery.

That is a generous amount. Eat breakfast before pickup, drink water when you can, and use lunch as a real break rather than treating it as an afterthought. Campo La Quirinca provides snacks, cheese, and local food, but you should not rely on those alone as your morning meal.

The day is not physically demanding, though you will spend time standing during tastings and walking through vineyards, gardens, and production areas. One person found the standing tiring. Comfortable shoes are sensible, particularly at the larger estates.

The social side is part of the appeal. Groups often include people from several countries, and the small size makes it easier to meet others than on a large coach excursion. If you want a private, quiet tasting with lots of unhurried time, this is not that kind of outing.

Who should book this tour

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Santiago and want a simple way to reach Maipo Valley without renting a car. It suits first-time visitors who want a broad introduction, couples who enjoy a full day out, and small groups looking for a mix of wine, food, scenery, and conversation.

It is also a good match for people who want context. You see farming, production, cellar work, historic winery buildings, olive oil, and modern wine retail in one day.

You may want a different experience if you are a serious wine collector seeking long technical tastings, vineyard walks at every stop, or a private appointment. The schedule is busy, and the final winery can feel commercial. You also need to accept that the day includes one lunch stop rather than four full tastings.

For wheelchair users, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Still, it is wise to confirm the exact vehicle and winery arrangements when booking, since the day includes gardens, walking areas, and multiple facilities.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Pickup is included, but if your accommodation falls outside the regular zones, you may be given a nearby meeting point. If one listed winery is unavailable, the operator may substitute Viña Ballek or another local provider.

Should you book the Maipo Valley wine tour?

Book it if you want variety and convenience more than a slow, specialist tasting. The family farm, three wine-focused stops, lunch, pisco, local snacks, and hotel transport make the $134 price reasonable for a full day, especially if you would otherwise need to arrange several separate visits.

Go in knowing that TerraMater is mainly the restaurant stop and that Undurraga may feel more commercial than the earlier wineries. Eat before you leave, bring water, ask for a front seat if scenery matters, and keep some extra money for lunch, bottles, olive oil, and tips.

For a first taste of Chilean wine country from Santiago, I would book this tour. Its strongest feature is not any single vineyard. It is the clear comparison between small-scale rural wine making and the polished machinery of a major Chilean producer.

FAQ

How long does the Maipo Valley wine tour last?

The tour lasts about 10 hours, with pickup generally between 7:30 and 8:00 AM and drop-off around 6:00 to 6:30 PM.

How many wineries does the tour visit?

The route visits Campo La Quirinca, Santa Ema, TerraMater, and Undurraga. TerraMater is mainly a lunch and olive-oil stop, so you should expect three main wine tastings rather than four full tastings.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch at TerraMater’s Zinfandel restaurant is at your own expense.

Where can pickup take place?

Pickup is available from many central Santiago areas, including Downtown Santiago, Providencia, Las Condes, Vitacura, Recoleta, and Estación Central. If your accommodation is outside the service area, you may receive a nearby meeting point.

Are hotel drop-off and transportation included?

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

What languages are offered?

The tour is offered in English and Spanish.

How many people are in the group?

The tour is limited to 15 participants.

What wine is tasted at Campo La Quirinca?

Campo La Quirinca includes wine and Chilean pisco tastings, along with cheese and local snacks.

What happens at Undurraga?

You tour the gardens, vineyards, production areas, barrel cellar, and pre-Columbian exhibition. The visit includes four premium wine tastings and a wine glass gift.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.