A country pile with a Chilean twist: this place is heaven for wine-lovers, and would make a relaxing detour for families after bustling Santiago.
La Casona at Matetic Vineyard is in Chile's Central Valley, 1.5 hours by car from Santiago, and 50 minutes to the beaches of Vina del Mar.
In keeping with the Colonial architecture, the 7 spacious rooms are decorated in a traditional style with fresh floral bed-linen, spring hues, and polished wooden floors. All have private terraces that overlook a palm-tree shaded courtyard – perfect for a vino-induced nap in the afternoon.
Matetic's restaurant has a great reputation with locals: perched next to the lantern-lit pond, and overlooking the picturesque gardens, it serves delicious gourmet fair, made from fresh regional produce. The chefs will also be happy to knock up something light to enjoy on your terrace, and for breakfast there’s a hearty buffet with hams, home-made breads and sheep’s milk cheese, made on the estate. During the day you can relax on one of the day-beds by the pool, with views over the sweeping valley and vineyard.
The wine-making facility is state of the art, and it’s fascinating to visit the laboratory and wine-cellar, learning about the wine-making process, bottling and storage. After the theory, you can put your sommelier skills to the test by tasting their finest selection of organic wines. Wine tasting sessions can also be arranged in the beautiful Rosario Valley, where you’ll appreciate not only the scenery but how the region and climate affect the wine. If you feel like a bit of a detox after this, you can hit the well-marked trails, and go mountain-biking or horse-riding through prairies, forests, mountains and gorges.
Just 50 minutes away by car, Vina del Mar makes a wonderful day-trip. The beaches aren’t really suitable for swimming as the water is fairly cold, but there’s plenty to see with craft-markets and roller-bladers along the promenade, and incredible sea-food brought in by the strong currents.