Yesterday was wine tasting in the Maipo Valley. First we visited a small producer, Perez Cruz, then the much larger Santa Rita. Perez Cruz was interesting because it’s family owned, albeit a very rich family, who built an award-winning winery with a well-known Chilean architect. It’s shaped like a barrel and is made of stone and wood – very cool, modern design. Santa Rita, conversely, is in a colonial building built in 1880. It also started as a family affair, (though it’s corporate-owned now) and the matriarch even played a role in the Chilean war for independence when she hid 120 soldiers from the Spanish. Hence the brand for their most popular wine – 120.
Ah yes, the wine. We did taste wine also and picked up a few tips for buying at home. Carmenere is a grape unique to Chile. It’s challenging in terms of wine- making, but very common, so will be in a lot of Chilean wines. Cot is another name for Malbec. Perez Cruz smartly markets their malbecs under this name so they don’t have to compete with Argentina on store shelves – you’ll find Cot under ‘other varietals.’ And apparently some Chilean wine makers are bringing in wine makers from Australia and New Zealand to help them with Sauvignon Blanc – so quality here is improving
The highlight of the tasting, though, was the lunch at Santa Rita. It was a 4-course affair with wine pairings served in the colonial dining room. (I’m having breakfast now, but I’m still stuffed from dinner!)
After a nap (yes, I napped! Nothing like wine with lunch and then a long, hot ride home to knock a person out), we went out exploring Santiago. I wanted to return to Lastarria, a cool neighborhood we saw on our walking tour the previous day. It’s a compact area with lots of shops and restaurants. We ended up having a beer at an outdoor cafe, sitting next to a fountain with a view of the (almost?) full moon and lots of people-watching. Like Buenos Aires, most Santiagoans have a European look, so we don’t stick out as foreigners until we open our mouths. It will be interesting to see the contrast in the north, when we head to the desert tomorrow.
But now it’s back to city touring. Today is also Election Day. There are 7 candidates running for president – we met one in Lastarria our first day. (Our tour guide knew him.) So hoping there will some events.
It's What We Do 
No surprise for me to say I envy your visits to the wineries — I think I'd really enjoy the smaller one but both seem most interesting. I'll add “cot” to my knowledge that I gain from your journeys to the wine countries. Scenery is nice as expected.any chance of going to the observatory??mom
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Thanks for including your very cool photo of the barrel room in today's post.
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