I enjoyed the wines here and getting to tour a winery that, unlike the ones in CA, wasn't built in the past 20-50 years. There's almost 150 years of history behind this place, and the facilities and wines show that.
What made my visit even more enjoyable was doing it through La Biciclete Verde (https://labicicletaverde.com/tour/bike-wine-tour-cousino-macul-vineyard/), which pairs a tour of the winery with a bike tour of the vineyards, including a tasting under the trees and a tasting after the tour.
Wines: I loved the Sauvignon Gris, which I'd never tried before. It tasted like a crisper and even less sweet Sauv. Blanc. I really enjoyed the Chardonnay, which is unusual for me. I found the Syrah to be very good. But my favorite was the Lota red blend, which I had an opportunity to try in their wine bar, and absolutely worth the ~$15 for a glass (the bottles retail for about $80).
Facilities: With that 150 years of history, there are buildings here that have survived from day one, severe Chilean earthquakes notwithstanding. The wines aren't aged in the original cellars anymore due to a mold that's taken hold in them, but because of Chile's antiquities laws, all of the original fermentation vessels remain, as well as endless rows of barrels down in the dungeons. There's an impressive combination of the new (modern PLC-controlled stainless steel processing equipment) on grounds hosting some 80+ year old vines that are still watered by redirected streams from the Andes.
The People: Our guide Adriane was very informative and gave the tour in a Spanish that I could completely understand (the Chilean dialect can be difficult to those of us so used to the Mexican variety). The wine bar staff were very helpful in answering additional questions, and of course, providing that lovely, decanted Lota red.
Getting There: An easy 30 min Metro ride from greater central Santiago, followed by a ~$5 cab ride, which is even cheaper if you get off at the right stop. And for leaving, an employee was giving ~$1.50 rides back to the Metro in her Chrysler minivan. read more