Private Wine Tour from Santiago: What Is Included

A private wine tour from Santiago should take care of the whole day for you: pickup at your hotel, a private vehicle and driver, booked winery visits with tasting fees paid, and a clear plan for lunch. What changes from one tour to another is how many wineries you visit, which ones, and whether lunch is part of the price. Here is what to expect, and what to ask before you book.

Key takeaways

Private means your group only: your own vehicle and driver, no strangers, and a schedule that fits you.
Pickup is included: at your hotel in Santiago, Viña del Mar or Valparaíso, or at the cruise port, so everyone in your group can taste.
Tasting fees should be included: every winery visit on the itinerary is booked and paid.
Lunch depends on the tour: some tours include it, on others you pay at the restaurant.
Usually not included: wine you buy at the wineries, extra tastings you add on the day, and tips.

What private actually means

On a shared tour you join other travelers, follow a fixed route and leave when the bus leaves. On a private tour the vehicle and driver are only for your group. You can start a little later, stay longer at the winery you like, or skip a stop if you are tired. The winery visits themselves may be shared with other guests unless the tour says private tasting.

Pickup and the drive

Your driver picks you up at your hotel in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle and brings you back at the end of the day. Casablanca Valley sits between Santiago and the coast:

From Santiago: about 1 hour 15 minutes, on Route 68.
From Viña del Mar or Valparaíso: about 40 minutes.
From the cruise port: we pick up cruise passengers in Valparaíso and San Antonio. San Antonio is farther away, so pickup there has an extra charge.

You can also start in one city and finish in another, for example pickup in Santiago and drop-off in Viña del Mar. A one-way fee applies, and we include it in your quote.

What a private wine tour usually includes

Pickup and drop-off at your hotel
A private vehicle and driver for the whole day
Booked visits and tasting fees at two or three wineries
Lunch, on some tours, at a winery restaurant
Help planning the day before you arrive

Each of our tours lists exactly what is included, which wineries you visit and whether lunch is part of the price. See our Casablanca wine tours.

What the tastings look like

Most visits start with a short walk through the vineyard or cellar with a winery host, followed by a seated tasting of three to five wines. Casablanca is a cool coastal valley, so expect fresh Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and some cool-climate Syrah. Some wineries are large estates with a classic tour, others are small family wineries where you may meet the people who make the wine.

Is lunch included?

It depends on the tour. A long lunch at a winery restaurant is one of the highlights of a Casablanca day, often with tables among the vines and local seafood and produce. On some tours lunch is part of the price, and on others you order from the menu and pay at the restaurant. If lunch matters to you, look for the words “lunch included” on the tour page rather than guessing from the price.

What is usually not included

Wine to take home: bottles you buy at the wineries are paid directly.
Extra tastings: if you add a reserve or premium tasting on the day, the winery charges it directly.
Tips: optional and up to you.
Lunch, on tours where it is not included: paid at the restaurant.

Questions to ask before you book any tour

Is pickup at my hotel included, and at what time?
Which wineries are on the itinerary, by name?
Are tasting fees included at every winery?
Is lunch included, and where?
Is the vehicle only for my group?
Can I be dropped off somewhere else at the end of the day?

A good operator answers all of these clearly before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in a private wine tour from Santiago?

Usually hotel pickup and drop-off, a private vehicle and driver, and the visits and tasting fees at every winery on the itinerary. Some tours also include lunch. Each tour page lists exactly what is included.

Is lunch included?

On some tours, yes. On others, you pay directly at the restaurant. Check the tour page for the details.

Are tasting fees included in the price?

Yes. The tastings on the itinerary are booked and paid. Only extra tastings you choose to add on the day are charged separately.

Is a guide included?

Your private driver takes care of the day, and at each winery a host from the winery leads the visit and the tasting.

Can you pick us up in Viña del Mar, Valparaíso or the cruise port?

Yes. We pick up at hotels in Viña del Mar and Valparaíso, and cruise passengers at the port in Valparaíso or San Antonio. Pickup in San Antonio has an extra charge, as it is farther away.