4 Best Sights in The Central Valley, Chile

One of the best museums in Chile, this attractive, colonial-style, 20th-century building houses exhibitions on the history of the region. It's the largest private natural-history collection in the country and second only in size to Santiago's Museo Nacional de Historia Natural. Exhibits include pre-Columbian mummies, extinct insects set in amber viewed through special lenses, the world's largest collection of silver work by the indigenous Mapuche, and the only known original copy of Chile's proclamation of independence. A few early vehicles and wine-making implements surround the building. The museum is the creation of Santa Cruz native and wealthy businessman Carlos Cardoen. His foundation, Fundación Cardoen, runs three additional museums in greater Santa Cruz, which are dedicated to wine, antique cars, and indigenous arts and crafts. Purchase a Route of the Museums pass if you want to visit two or more.

The Gillmores, who own this winery, were instrumental in creating the VIGNO label, a type of appellation of origin for Maule Valley Carignan whereby wines must be made from at least 65% old-vine, dry-farmed grapes. This experimental vineyard has also raised the profile of Chile's long neglected País grape, which was previously used only for bulk wines. Try both, as well as the lush red blends, on a tour or tasting. In addition to making fine red wines, the Gillmores have created a fun place to stop and spend a couple of hours or stay on for a night or two. Take the Pan-American Highway to the "Camino a Constitución" turnoff, south of San Javier. Head west over the Loncomilla River and through the rolling hills of the Coastal Mountains for 20 km (13 miles); Viña Gillmore is on the right.

Despite dripping with charm and class, MontGras is one of the friendliest and most approachable vineyards in the valley, with excellent English-language tours of the property as well as the option to just taste wines by the glass. Creative tour options include a blind tasting, an open-air barbecue, or a “Winemaker for the Day” class where you can create your own blend. If your visit coincides with harvest (February-April), you can also do a “My Harvest” tour to pick grapes and then foot-tread them in a traditional way.

A great counterpoint to the huge wine exporters is this small, biodynamic winery 34 km (21 miles) south of Rancagua. It's run by a lovely French-Chilean couple who were regional pioneers in aging wines in clay amphoras. Intimate tours end with a tasting in the subterranean wine cave. You can also sleep on-site at the small B&B (from US$80 per room) to wake up ensconced in the wild organically grown vines.