La Serena to Conception

 

Today the boys made an early start and took a decision to not enter into Santiago de Chile but rather spend some time in the wine resorts on the southern side of Santiago.

So off they went along the narrow stretch between the Andes mountains and the Pacific before entering the valley in which Santiago is based.

 

Santiago de Chile or simply Santiago, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the centre of Chile’s largest and the most densely populated conurbation.

The city is entirely located in the country’s central valley. Most of the city lies between 500 m and 650 m above mean sea level.

Founded in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia, Santiago has been the capital city of Chile since colonial times.

The city has a downtown core of 19th-century neoclassical architecture and winding side-streets, dotted by art deco, neo-gothic, and other styles.

Santiago’s cityscape is shaped by several stand-alone hills and the fast-flowing Mapocho River, lined by parks such as Parque Forestal. The Andes Mountains can be seen from most points in the city. These mountains contribute to a considerable smog problem, particularly during winter. The city outskirts are surrounded by vineyards and Santiago is within a few hours of both the mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

 

More than 7,3 Million people live in Santiago de Chile so the boys thought it would be unwise to enter this town and spend hours in slow moving traffic

 

Option 1 – Santiago & Option 2 – the Winelands

 

Without any hesitation Team Lipstick decided to hit one of the many wine estates along the road to Concepcion and they identified Casa Silva as being the most opportune estate to taste some Vino

 

CASA SILVA

 

The Vitis wine magazine describes Casa Silva as the most rewarded Winery I the 21st Century and the estate is located in the famous Colchagua Valley which houses the best wine estates in Chile. The Colchagua Valley is divided into the Andean Sector, which is influenced by the mountains, a central sector on the flatlands, and a coastal sector with lots of influence from the Pacific Ocean

 

few tastes of Casa Silva’s famous Sauvignon

 

The boys had a nice meal with a few tastes of Casa Silva’s famous Sauvignon Gris before they hit the road again and reached Concepcion in the late afternoon

 

Sauvignon gris is pink colour wine grape that is a clonal mutation of Sauvignon blanc. The grape is primarily found in Bordeaux and Chile, where it was imported with Sauvignon blanc and Sauvignon vert cuttings.

 

Day 40 – 24nd February – La Serena to Conception