Private Full Day Tour of Viñas Tarapacá and Santa Ema Isla de Maipo

A private wine day, done right. This 6 to 7 hour outing pairs Viña Tarapacá and Viña Santa Ema, two established wineries in Isla de Maipo, with lunch at Zinfandel restaurant. I like the private transportation and the clear tasting focus: four wines at each winery, with a cheese board at Santa Ema. The main drawback is that lunch is not included in the $180 per person price, so your final cost will be higher.

I also like the balance between vineyard scenery, cellar visits, and time at the table. The service has earned strong praise for punctuality, careful organization, and a personal touch from the guide and company owner. Since the tour depends on good weather and requires a minimum number of participants, keep a little flexibility in your schedule.

Key points to know before booking

• Eight wines are included: You taste four Gran Reserva Tarapacá wines and four Santa Ema selections.
• Two wineries give the day variety: Tarapacá focuses on its park, native species, soils, and wine history, while Santa Ema adds vineyard management and winery operations.
• Lunch is reserved, not paid for: Your table is arranged at Zinfandel in Viña TerraMater, but food and drinks at the restaurant are your responsibility.
• Private transportation is included: Only your group takes part, giving the day a more personal pace than a large coach outing.
• The full outing takes about 6 to 7 hours: Each winery visit is listed at about two hours, with additional time for driving and lunch.
• The tour has a strong service record: Punctual pickup, polished transport, and friendly personal attention are repeated themes in the available feedback.

Why Isla de Maipo works for a wine day from Santiago

Isla de Maipo gives you a countryside break without turning the day into a major expedition. From Santiago, you get vineyards, winery buildings, tasting rooms, and open views in one organized outing. The route also lets you compare different wine producers rather than spending the entire day at a single estate.

That comparison is the point. At Tarapacá, the visit begins with the setting itself: the emblematic casona, the park, and a trail featuring native species. At Santa Ema, the emphasis shifts toward vineyard management, production areas, stainless steel vats, and a guided tasting with cheese. You get two different ways to understand Chilean wine.

The private format matters here. A group of only your own party can ask questions, linger over a tasting, or move along when the cellar talk has run its course. You should still expect a planned day, not a free-form visit. The timing is built around three stops of roughly two hours each, so this is best for someone who wants structure with personal attention.

The tour is generally offered Tuesday through Friday during the stated operating period. Pickup is offered, and private transportation is included, but you should confirm the exact pickup arrangement when booking. The published opening information runs from 8:30 in the morning to 9:00 at night, though the actual departure time will depend on the reservation.

Viña Tarapacá: native plants, old stories, and four Gran Reserva wines

Your first stop is Viña Tarapacá, where the visit begins at the winery’s distinctive casona. Rather than rushing directly to the tasting room, the tour takes you through the park and along a trail of native species. That is a useful start because it connects the wine to the land around the vines.

You learn about the winery’s history and soils during this walk. The information provided does not give a full list of subjects or the exact walking distance, so you should expect a guided introduction rather than a technical field study. Still, this part gives the tasting a frame. You are not simply handed a glass and told a label name. You first get a sense of the estate and its growing conditions.

The tasting includes four Gran Reserva Tarapacá wines:

• Sauvignon Blanc
• Carmenere
• Cabernet
• Gran Reserva Tarapacá Organic wine

That lineup gives you both a white and several red styles, with Carmenere offering a particularly useful Chilean comparison. The organic wine adds another point of discussion, especially for anyone curious about how farming choices affect what reaches the glass.

The entire Tarapacá visit lasts about two hours, including the welcome, park walk, trail, history, soil discussion, and tasting. If you are not especially interested in wine, two hours at the first winery may feel long. If you enjoy seeing how a producer presents its estate and range, the pacing should feel more satisfying than a quick tasting-room stop.

The scenery is part of the appeal. The available feedback gives special weight to the attractive views and countryside around both wineries. Bring your attention outdoors, not only to the wine list. This is one of the reasons the tour works well for a relaxed weekday outing.

Zinfandel at Viña TerraMater: a proper lunch stop

The middle stop takes you to Zinfandel, a restaurant located at the TerraMater vineyard. This is a reservation for lunch at what is described as one of the best restaurants in Isla de Maipo. The meal breaks up the two winery visits and gives you a chance to sit down before the afternoon tasting.

The important practical point is cost. Lunch is not included in the $180 price. The company makes the reservation, but you pay for the food and drinks yourself. That arrangement gives you some control over your spending, but it also means the headline price does not cover the entire day.

The supplied information does not provide a menu, a set price, or details about dietary accommodations. You should ask about the current menu and payment arrangements if those details matter to you. Do not assume a fixed tasting menu or a meal included with the tour.

The restaurant has received especially positive comments for its service and food. That matters on a full wine day. A poorly timed or rushed lunch can make the afternoon drag, while a comfortable meal gives the schedule a useful pause. Since lunch is expected to take about two hours, it is not a quick sandwich stop squeezed between wineries.

You should also remember that this is a wine tour. Pace yourself at lunch, especially with another four-wine tasting still ahead. The day offers many samples, but you do not need to treat every glass as a challenge.

Viña Santa Ema: from vineyard work to stainless steel vats

The final major stop is Viña Santa Ema. Here, the tour starts in the vineyards, where you learn about wine management. The description is broad, so the exact depth will depend on the guide and the season, but the focus is practical: how the vineyard is handled before grapes reach the winery.

You then visit the winery itself. One notable feature is the view of the stainless steel vat room from above. This gives you a sense of the production scale and the equipment used to handle fermentation and storage. It is a useful contrast with the outdoor vineyard walk because you see both the agricultural side and the working winery.

The Santa Ema visit ends with a guided tasting of four wines from the Select Terroir Reserva, Gran Reserva, and Amplus lines. The tasting is served with a cheese board, which adds a simple food pairing and makes the final stop feel complete.

The exact four bottles are not specified, so do not book expecting a guaranteed list of labels. The important point is the range across several lines, rather than one single tier. You get a chance to compare how a winery presents different levels and styles within its portfolio.

This stop also lasts about two hours. After the Tarapacá tasting and lunch, you may notice the alcohol more than you expect. Eat enough, drink water when available, and use the private transport as a reason not to worry about driving.

What the $180 price really covers

At $180 per person, this is not the cheapest way to visit wineries near Santiago. The price makes more sense if you place value on private service, transportation, planning, and a full day with two winery tastings.

Your included benefits are:

• Private transportation
• A private tour for your group
• Four-wine tasting at Viña Tarapacá
• Four-wine tasting at Viña Santa Ema
• A cheese board at the Santa Ema tasting
• A lunch reservation at Zinfandel

You pay separately for lunch. The tour also does not list hotel accommodation, extra meals, or any additional purchases as included. Because the group size is private, the cost may be easier to justify for couples, families, or friends who would rather avoid a large shared vehicle.

I see the strongest value in the service rather than the number of stops alone. The company has been praised for being punctual, organized, friendly, and careful with the transport. That can save you the trouble of arranging separate winery reservations and figuring out how to move between estates.

Still, you should compare this tour with your own priorities. If you mainly want the lowest possible price and do not mind joining other people, a shared excursion may cost less. If you want a private day and would otherwise need to arrange transport, book lunch, and coordinate two winery visits yourself, the price becomes easier to defend.

Private transport and the day’s pace

The tour lasts roughly 6 to 7 hours, though the three main stops are each listed at about two hours. Add driving time between Santiago, the wineries, and the restaurant, and the schedule can fill most of a day.

Private transportation is included, which removes the obvious problem of wine tasting and driving. You can focus on the scenery and the guide rather than traffic, directions, or parking. The service has also received praise for punctuality and polished transport, two details that matter when winery appointments run on fixed schedules.

The private format means only your group participates. That is helpful if your party has different levels of wine interest. Someone can ask about soils, organic production, or cellar equipment without feeling they are holding up a busload of people.

The tradeoff is that private tours can feel less economical for a solo visitor or a very small party. The supplied price is listed per person, but no group-size details are provided, so ask how the final rate is calculated for your party before paying.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions cause a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. A minimum number of participants also applies, and if that number is not reached, you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this wine experience most

I would recommend this day to you if you want a polished introduction to Chilean wine without planning each piece yourself. It suits people who enjoy a mix of scenery, guided explanation, tasting, and a sit-down lunch.

It is especially useful for:

• Couples seeking a private day outside Santiago
• Friends who want winery visits without driving
• First-time wine visitors who value an organized introduction
• Wine fans who like comparing two producers
• Private groups that prefer personal attention
• Visitors who want lunch built into the schedule, but are comfortable paying separately

You may want a different option if you dislike structured visits or want to spend many hours at one estate. This tour gives you two wineries in one day, so the experience is broad rather than slow and highly specialized.

It may also be less suitable if you need a detailed menu, fixed wine labels, or a guaranteed departure time before booking. Those details are not provided. Ask the company before confirming if they are important to you.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. No special fitness requirement is stated, though the day includes a park and vineyard walk. If mobility is a concern, ask how much walking is involved and whether the route can be adjusted.

Is this private Isla de Maipo tour worth booking?

Yes, if you want a well-organized private wine day and can accept the extra cost of lunch. The best parts are the two contrasting winery visits, the eight included tastings, the Santa Ema cheese board, and transport that lets you enjoy the wine without driving.

I would book it for a couple or small group that values punctual service and a personal guide more than the absolute lowest price. I would skip it if your priority is a cheap outing, a flexible self-guided visit, or a single winery studied in great depth.

Before you reserve, confirm the pickup point, departure time, lunch budget, expected walking, and how the private rate applies to your group. If those details suit you, this is a strong, practical way to spend a day among the vineyards of Isla de Maipo.

FAQ

How long does the private wine tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 6 to 7 hours. Each of the three scheduled stops is planned for about two hours, with travel time between locations.

Which wineries are included?

The tour visits Viña Tarapacá and Viña Santa Ema. Lunch is arranged at Zinfandel restaurant, located at the Viña TerraMater vineyard.

Are wine tastings included in the price?

Yes. Tastings at both Viña Tarapacá and Viña Santa Ema are included. Tarapacá offers four wines, and Santa Ema offers four wines with a cheese board.

Is lunch included?

No. The company makes the lunch reservation at Zinfandel, but you pay for lunch separately.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation is included, and only your group participates in the tour. Pickup is offered, but you should confirm the exact meeting arrangement when booking.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. The tour may also be rescheduled or refunded if poor weather or an insufficient minimum number of participants causes cancellation.