The Long Way Down, Up and Around

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Roadside snacks

There´s a region just north of Santiago that´s famous for sweets, La Ligua (if memory serves me right...)

It´s kind of quirky, and probably a little dangerous, but all along the highway there are women with little baskets of cookies and pastries that wave down oncoming cars with those little white flags. Folks stop, stock up, and then keep going.

Chile - Wine Country

Indomita Vineyards, Casblanca Valley, Chile

A classy end to a long trip.

Chile´s wine country stretches around and down from Santiago towards the west and south With all the tourists heading for beaches or mountains, most are well-prepared to handle tours.

I swung by two vineyards and had a chance to see a different side of Chile´s export economy. Demand for both the mines and the vineyards are increasingly being driven by China, but that might be only thing they have in common. Men in hardhats were replaced by gracious hostesses and refineries were replaced by brand new wine showrooms.

Most of the wine business is relatively new - think 1980 and after - in this region, so the owners are eager to please and to grow their business. A good way to spend a day (or two... or three)... although I had to go really easy on the wine and be ready to head to Santiago the day after.

Casas del Bosque vineyard, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Tasting paraphernalia, Casas del Bosque Vineyards, Casablanca Valley

paraphernalia

Casas del Bosque vineyards, Chile

Casas del Bosque vineyards. I arrived towards the end of the harvest and there was plenty of activity at the production facility.

Casas del Bosque vineyards. More premium wines spend some time in these French oak casks. Mid-range wines will do about a year and super-premium wines will do about 2. Table wines usually go straight from the tank into bottles, or are ´aged´ in the stainless steel tanks for a few months.