Santa Rita Winery Selection Tour

Santa Rita’s Selection Tour gives you more than a quick tasting: you walk from the vineyards into the cellars, then finish with three wines and light snacks. The most unusual extra is the Andean Museum, included for unguided exploration after the wine portion.

I like the clear look at the full winemaking process and the tasting of one Gran Reserva and two Ultra Premium wines. I also like the small-group size, capped at 15 people. The main drawback is getting there from Santiago, since transportation is not included and the visit lasts only about 70 minutes.

Key points at a glance

• Three-wine tasting: Sample one Gran Reserva and two Ultra Premium wines with cheese and crackers.
• From vine to bottle: Walk through the vineyards, varietal garden, production areas, aging cellars, and bottling process.
• Two historic cellars: Cal y Canto Cellar and Patriots’ Cellar are named highlights of the route.
• A cultural extra: Your ticket includes free time in the Andean Museum, home to more than 3,000 pieces of pre-Columbian art.
• Small groups: The tour has a maximum of 15 people, making questions easier than on a large coach visit.
• Bring your timing hat: The tasting is for adults 18 and older, and missing the start because of late arrival is not refundable.

Why Santa Rita Makes a Good First Winery Visit

Santa Rita is in Alto Jahuel, outside central Santiago, at Cam. Padre Hurtado 0695 in Buin. This setting lets you see the winery as a working property rather than as a tasting room dropped into the city.

The visit begins with a guided walk through the vineyards and the varietal garden. That matters if you are new to wine. Instead of hearing only about finished bottles, you can connect the grape varieties with the place where the process starts.

Your guide then explains production, aging, and bottling. The tour is designed for both beginners and wine lovers with more experience, so you do not need a strong wine vocabulary before arriving. The focus is practical: how Chilean wine is made, how it is aged, and how different wines are presented at the table.

I also like the balance between the wine and the cultural side of the property. Once the guided part ends, you can visit the Andean Museum at your own pace. That gives non-wine companions something substantial to do, and it keeps the experience from becoming three glasses followed by a quick exit.

A 70-Minute Route From Vineyards to Cellars

The visit lasts about one hour and 10 minutes. That is long enough for a useful introduction, but not long enough for a slow half-day outing with a leisurely meal.

The first portion takes you through the vineyards and varietal garden. The garden is especially helpful for identifying the range of grapes involved in Chilean winemaking. Your guide can put the tasting into context before you sit down with the wines.

Next comes the production story. You follow the basic path from grape to bottle, including the making, aging, and bottling stages. The exact time spent at each point can vary with the group, but the promise is a complete overview rather than a tasting with a few decorative barrels in the background.

Two named highlights are the Cal y Canto Cellar and the Patriots’ Cellar. These areas give the tour a stronger sense of place and connect the winery’s present-day work with its older buildings and traditions. If you enjoy architecture and old cellars as much as wine, these stops should be among the most interesting parts of the walk.

The tour ends with the tasting. Since the whole route is fairly compact, wear shoes that are comfortable for walking through the property. The available information does not specify the surface or amount of walking, so I would avoid treating this as a sit-down tasting only.

What You Taste: One Gran Reserva and Two Ultra Premium Wines

The tasting includes one Gran Reserva and two Ultra Premium wines. Cheese and crackers are served with the wines, and alcoholic beverages are included in the price.

This is a stronger tasting lineup than a basic introductory flight. A Gran Reserva gives you one point of comparison, while the two Ultra Premium wines let you consider differences in style, balance, and finish. Your guide also explains Chilean wine and food pairing, so the tasting is not just a sequence of pours.

A particularly useful feature is the explanation of how the wines work with food. The supplied tour information does not identify the specific grape varieties or vintages, and those details can change. If you care about a particular varietal, ask the guide what is being poured that day.

The included cheese and crackers are modest snacks, not a substitute for lunch. Plan accordingly. Santa Rita has an à la carte restaurant called Doña Paula, but it is not part of this tour. There is also a cafeteria called La Panadería, and that is separate as well.

You receive a gift glass, which is a small but worthwhile extra. It gives you a keepsake without changing the short format of the visit.

The Andean Museum Adds More Than a Postscript

The Andean Museum is included, but the visit is not guided. You can explore more than 3,000 pieces of pre-Columbian art on your own after the winery tour.

This is a real advantage for anyone who wants cultural context alongside wine. It also helps make the trip worthwhile for a companion who is less interested in tastings. The museum gives you a second subject to think about, rather than leaving you with only the final sip.

Allow extra time if you want to see the museum properly. The advertised duration covers the guided winery experience, but the museum is free time after the tour. The information provided does not give a separate museum duration or opening schedule, so check the timing when you arrive if you have a fixed return plan.

The property also includes a centenary park with a neo-Gothic church. For this Selection Tour, the park is listed as not included. It is included with the Premium or Ultra Premium Tour options, so do not assume that the Selection Tour ticket gives access to every part of the grounds.

The Guide Can Make the Tasting Much Better

The tour includes a professional guide who explains the winery, Chilean wine, and food pairing. One useful detail from the tour feedback is that a Brazilian guide conducted a Portuguese-language visit and explained both winemaking history and pairing clearly.

A Portuguese option may be available, but the information does not guarantee a particular guide or language for every departure. If language matters to you, confirm it before booking rather than assuming the same guide will be working that day.

The group limit is listed as 15 people, although another capacity note refers to a maximum of 20. I would plan around the more specific 15-person limit. In either case, this is not presented as a huge bus group, and a smaller party should make it easier to ask about the wines or the cellars.

The guide-led structure is useful for beginners. You will not need to know how to taste wine or understand Chilean regions before arriving. If you already know a lot about wine, you may find the overview familiar, but the cellar access and three-wine tasting still give the visit a clear purpose.

Is $44.80 a Fair Price?

At $44.80 per person, the tour is priced above a simple tasting but includes several elements: the guided winery visit, professional guide, three wines, cheese and crackers, a gift glass, alcoholic beverages, and admission to the Andean Museum.

I consider that fair value if you want a structured introduction and are interested in the property itself. The price is less compelling if your only goal is to drink wine, since a short tasting room visit could take less time and cost less. Here, part of what you are paying for is the walk through the vineyards, the production explanation, and access to named cellar areas.

The price does not include transportation. It also does not include Doña Paula, La Panadería, the Casa Real Hotel, or the centenary park for this tour. Add those costs if you want to turn the visit into a longer outing.

Because the tour is booked an average of 15 days ahead, I would not leave it until the last minute if your Santiago schedule is tight. The advance booking pattern suggests that popular departure times can fill, especially during busy periods.

Getting to Alto Jahuel From Santiago

You meet at Viña Santa Rita, Cam. Padre Hurtado 0695, Alto Jahuel, Buin, in the Santiago metropolitan region. The tour ends at the same meeting point.

Transportation to and from the winery is not included, so you need to arrange your own route. The property is near public transportation, but the supplied information does not specify the exact bus, train, or transfer combination. Check the route carefully and give yourself a buffer before the start time.

This is one place where the short duration can work against you. A late arrival is not refundable, and the experience does not offer a casual hop-on format. Plan to arrive early enough to find the entrance and meeting point without rushing.

If you are staying in Santiago and want a winery visit without arranging a full-day wine itinerary, Santa Rita may fit well. If you prefer door-to-door convenience, remember that the tour price alone does not solve the transport problem.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most?

I would recommend it to a first-time wine visitor who wants a clear introduction without committing to a full day. The guide explains the process in an accessible way, and the tasting includes higher-level wines rather than only entry-level pours.

It also suits couples and small groups who want a winery visit with a cultural stop. The Andean Museum adds value for anyone who enjoys art and archaeology, and the church and historic property provide extra visual interest.

This is a good choice for adults 18 and older who want to taste. Anyone under 18 cannot join the alcoholic tasting, though a juice tasting is available. Families should confirm how the younger participant will fit into the group experience before booking.

I would be less enthusiastic about it for someone seeking an extended food-and-wine day. The cheese and crackers are snacks, the restaurant is separate, and the guided program ends after about 70 minutes. For a longer visit, you would need to add your own time at the museum or arrange a meal separately.

Practical Details Before You Book

Confirmation is provided at the time of booking. The tour accepts a maximum of 15 participants according to the most specific capacity information, so you should get a small-group setting rather than a large coach crowd.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

The winery visit is intended for most participants, and the property is near public transportation. Still, the program involves a walk through vineyards and winery areas, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask the provider for current access details before reserving.

If you miss the tour because you arrive late or do not arrive, there is no refund. That rule makes the meeting time important, particularly since transportation is your responsibility.

Should You Book the Santa Rita Selection Tour?

Book it if you want a compact, well-rounded introduction to Chilean wine, with a vineyard walk, cellar visit, three-wine tasting, and a museum included. The combination of wine and pre-Columbian art makes it more useful than a tasting alone, and the small group limit should keep the guide interaction manageable.

Think twice if you want a long meal, extensive grounds access, or included transport from Santiago. The tour is short, and the restaurant, cafeteria, hotel, and centenary park are separate from the Selection Tour.

For most visitors, the strongest plan is to arrive early, confirm the tasting language if needed, allow extra time for the Andean Museum, and treat the cheese and crackers as a snack rather than lunch. At $44.80, it is a sensible choice for a focused winery visit, especially if the museum and historic cellars appeal to you as much as the wine.

FAQ

Where does the Santa Rita Selection Tour begin?

It begins at Viña Santa Rita, Cam. Padre Hurtado 0695, Alto Jahuel, Buin, Región Metropolitana, Chile.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the Santa Rita meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The guided experience lasts approximately one hour and 10 minutes.

What wines are included in the tasting?

The tasting includes one Gran Reserva and two Ultra Premium wines.

Are food and snacks included?

Yes. Cheese and crackers are served with the wine tasting, and snacks are included.

Is the Andean Museum included?

Yes. The Andean Museum is included for unguided exploration after the tour.

Can children join the wine tasting?

The minimum age for the alcoholic tasting is 18. Younger participants can have a juice tasting.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation to and from the winery is not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.