April 1 - April 30
The grape harvest festival or vendimia takes place in Chile in April.
The word "vendimia" is a general term for harvest, but it is usually applied to the grape harvest festival in Chile and Argentina. In both countries, this celebration is called "la fiesta de la vendimia" and is typically held in April each year.
Undoubtedly, the central location for the grape harvest festival in Chile is the Maipo Valley, conveniently located near the communication hub of the capital, Santiago. However, the celebration of vendimia also occurs in other wine valleys of the country, including the Colchagua Valley. Out of the 7,000 acres of vineyards in the Maipo Valley, most are used for producing Cabernet Sauvignon.
When is the grape harvest festival in Chile?
The grape harvest festival in Chile is celebrated in April. Throughout the country, wineries celebrate their harvest. Grapes are foot trodden, musical bands play, wine queens are crowned, and local delicacies such as liqueurs, chocolate, and honey are offered for tasting. Different cities hold their celebrations at different times, and this is announced in advance at the local level. Some of the harvest work is carried out from the end of February to the beginning of May.
Therefore, it is best to organize a visit to the festival at short notice.
Wine tasting in the town typically involves an event where you purchase a glass and tickets, and then choose the wines you want to taste. At the winery, you may need to buy a ticket in advance, spend a full day there, and/or help with the harvest.
Where to find the grape harvest festival in Chile
There are tours that organize the entire trip for you. However, if you want to do it on your own, try to find information about "De Martino" for visiting a winery. For cities, search using key words as follows and be ready to use a translator program.
Another popular area for wine tasting is the Colchagua Valley, which houses several wineries offering tours.
What to see and do in Chile
Nearby is Santiago with its Plaza de Armas in the center, poet Pablo Neruda's house La Chascona, the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, views from the San Cristobal or Santa Lucia hills, and the possibility of taking a city tour. To organize tours in the region or other places in Chile, we suggest you contact "Eco Chile Travel."
Additionally, you can visit the Vendimia of Argentina (fiesta de la vendimia), which takes place in Mendoza, so expect a lot of quality Malbec in February and March.
Flights to Santiago
Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport is located on the northwestern outskirts of Santiago. From here, there are direct international flights to Sao Paulo, Panama, Madrid, Auckland, Sydney, Montevideo, Caracas, Lima, and Buenos Aires. The Maipo Province is located directly south of Santiago, so you may be able to arrange a flight from the airport to the location of the grape harvest festival.