South American wine regions are romantic destinations, but you don’t have to kiss goodbye to all your pesos to sample the fruit of the harvest.
Get a good-value glass – or bottle – and explore some of the world's best wineries with these tips from The Best Things in Life are Free.
Mendoza on two wheels – Argentina
Rent a bicycle and explore los caminos del vino (roads of wine) close to the city of Mendoza. Mr. Hugo Bikes offers bicycles, lockers and maps, and organises tours.
Mrhugobikes.com; Urquiza 2288, Maipú, Mendoza; reservations online.
Salentein Winery – Valle de Uco, Argentina
In Argentina’s buzzed-about Uco Valley, you’ll get more bang for your peso if you time your winery visit with one of the many cultural events on schedule at Salentein’s amphitheatre.
Bodegasalentein.com; RP 89, Los Árboles, Tunuyán, Argentina; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat; tastings AR$150.
Cayfayate wine region – Argentina
Fewer tourists make it to Cafayate (welcomeargentina.com/cafayate), Argentina’s ‘other’ wine country, famous for the aromatic white varietal Torrontés, but it’s an easy side trip from Salta, a city many travellers pass through on their way to or from Bolivia.
Finca Narbona – Uruguay
The wineries around Carmelo are the places to sample little-known Tannat. You don’t need to be an overnight guest at Narbona Wine Lodge to see the impressive winery: just come for lunch with wine pairings.
Narbona.com.uy; Ruta 21, km 267, Carmelo, Uruguay.
Concha y Toro – Chile
The largest wine producer in Latin America may not be especially quaint, but you can at least get to it on the metro from downtown Santiago.
Conchaytoro.com; Virginia Subercaseaux 210, Pirque, Chile; 10am-5pm; tastings CH$12,000.
Casablanca Valley – Chile
You came to Valparaíso for picturesque architecture and Pablo Neruda, now take a day tour with Wine Tours Valparaíso – the perfect way to see the nearby Casablanca Valley.
Winetoursvalparaiso.cl; Cerro Alegre, Valparaíso, Chile.
Casa Valduga – Brazil
One of the big players in Vale Dos Vinhedos – ground zero for Brazil’s up-and-coming wine scene – the popular Casa Valduga offers a basic tasting of three wines for free.
Casavalduga.com.br; Via Trento 2355, Vale Dos Vinhedos, Brazil; 9.30am-6.15pm; free.
Montgras Winery – Santa Cruz, Chile
Make a day of it at this beautiful winery located in Chilean wine region Colchagua Valley: in addition to tasting Carménère, you can go hiking or mountain biking.
Montgras.cl; Camino Isla de Yáquil s/n, Palmilla; 10am-4.30pm; tasting with food pairing CH$15,000.
