Top 10 winery hotels in South America
Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay offer plenty of options for wine lovers in search of a getaway. Amanda Barnes recommends the best places to stay
SOUTH AMERICA USED to be the domain of gap year backpackers and shoestring tourism. That isn’t the case any more. There’s been a boom in luxury adventure tourism across the Southern Cone, with five-star hotels nestled into the desert plains of the Atacama and down to the waterfalls and glacier lakes of Patagonia. In the wine regions too you can experience the wilderness of the landscapes and the soul of the local culture while sleeping on high-threadcount cotton sheets and sipping the finest wines.
BEST FOR HONEYMOONERS 1 Cavas Wine Lodge Luj‡n de Cuyo, Argentina
The first luxury wine resort in Argentina and still reigning supreme, the charm of Cavas is in the detail. From personalised notes on pots of homemade scones and well-timed hot water bottles at the foot of the bed; to the full-blown romance of a candlelit Jacuzzi, or rose-petal strewn cushions set by a wood fire ready for an evening of stargazing. It is impossible not to fall in love with Cavas; it respires romance. Each villa offers complete privacy, from your rooftop terrace to the personal plunge pool under the pergola. You can interact as much, or as little, as you like – which explains why it is a hot spot for demure celebs who hire the master villa with a personal chef.
Owners Cecilia Diaz Chuit and Martín Rigal offer an array of safari-inspired activities including horseback riding to nearby wineries and afternoon cookouts at the barbecue. Evening cellar tastings offer a wine tour of Argentina; then choose a bottle from the award-winning wine list to enjoy with dinner at the excellent, intimate restaurant upstairs. 17 villas (two master villas); £300-£2,500 B&B; www.cavaswinelodge.com
BEST FOR DESIGN LOVERS 2 Viña Vik Cachapoal, Chile
When Norwegian billionaire Alexander Vik built his wine estate in Chile, he spared no expense: 4,500ha (hectares) of virgin land planted with more than 300ha of vines, following 4,000 soil studies; a state-of-the-art winery; and a hotel constructed with some of the greatest architectural prowess in South America.
The swooping titanium roof shimmers gold and purple in the sunshine and is the crown atop this eccentric art hotel. Each of the 22 suites is decorated by different artists from around the globe and unique in design, sharing only the stunning view of the valley through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Colourful furniture and artwork throughout the hotel has been handpicked by the Viks, who have a clear passion for design. A visit to the winery offers another stunning experience and it is here, between the hundreds of small, micro-vinification tanks, that you can understand the owner’s ambition to make a world-class wine.
Guests will try Vik wines during a tasting at the winery and dinner at the fantastic restaurant (one of Chile’s finest), which is all included in your full-board stay, along with horse riding and use of the fabulous pool and spa area. Spa treatments are not included; if you’re feeling flush try the vinotherapy bath, where an entire bottle of Vik’s £115 wine is poured into your tub for good measure. 22 suites; £730-£1,050 full board www.vinavik.com