August 25, 2010 (Chile) – As a part of our “Wines of Chile Experience” program we invited 5 journalist from the US to Chile to experience what our country had to offer in Wine Tourism.

It was a one week trip full of activities that took place from August 18th until august 24th. Among the group we had Bill Marsano (Freelancer and founder of Poured with Pleasure), Tim Leffel (Luxury Latin America), Erika Hueneke (Destination Weddings and Honeymoons), Patricia Burness (Northside San Francisco and SF Examiner) and Madelyn Miller (TravelLady)

We visited many wineries that offer a wide variety of activities; from food pairing tastings, make your own wine, horseback riding, interactive cooking classes, bicycle rides and many more. The group also had the opportunity to ski at Valle Nevado who offered us a great tasting as part of their wine week program that is held every year in August. The group had also the change to see how close the Andes Mountain are from the coast as they when from skiing in the morning to watching the sunset at the beach in one day. Pablo Neruda’s museum house at Isla Negra was also a must visit for the journalists as well as Valparaiso.

The visited wineries where Undurraga, Casas del Bosque, Matetic, Altair, Haras de Pirque and Concha y Toro.

July 15, 2010 (New York, NY) – Wines of Chile (WoC) launched its “Wines of Chile Experience” campaign with an event at Puro Chile in Downtown New York on Wednesday, July 14th. Created to showcase Chile’s wine country as a destination waiting to be discovered, guests were taken on a virtual tour through Chile’s diverse and distinct winemaking regions. With the assistance of partners such as Puro Chile, Chile Brands and LAN and Turismo Chile, guests were able to see modern Chile and enjoy first class wines.

Over sixty attendees, including wine tour operators as well and travel and lifestyle press were taken on virtual tour through Chile. Lori Tieszen, Executive Director of Wines of Chile brought to life wine tourism; Juan Pablo Chovar, Director of Turismo Chile highlighted popular tourist destinations and Paolo Dino, Leisure Market Manager for LAN Airlines showed guests the only way to travel to Chile.

The Wines of Chile Experience is the first initiative of WoC that supports its wine tourism campaign. Specifically focused on creating awareness for Chile as a destination for the curious and epicurean traveler, the campaign seeks to take advantage of the many assets that Chile has to offer. “From the stunning beaches to the Antarctic glaciers, Chile offers multiple opportunities for exploration,” said Lori Tieszen, executive director, WOC USA, “Our efforts are focused on revealing the Chilean wine tourism experiences available to the traveler today.”

Safe, inviting and hospitable, the wine country rewards the curious traveler with experiences that can be punctuated with a variety of engaging activities. From gastronomic discovery via Chile’s rich food culture to adventure exploration from archeological tours to cultural activities, there are adventures for every kind of traveler.

The vast climate and geographic diversity make Chile a viticultural paradise that is ripe for exploration. This impressive geography underscores the contrasts of terroirs and the diversity of wine styles that have made Chilean wine renowned worldwide. With over 450 years of winemaking tradition and the emblematic varietal Carmenere, as well as stunning whites and innovative blends, Chilean wine country is also a traveler’s paradise. Adds Lori Tieszen, “It is our sincere hope that travelers will get to experience Chilean wine country and all that it has to offer.”

The evening culminated with an exclusive raffle drawing. The Grand Prizes, awarded to Margaret Murphy from United States Tour Operators Association and J.C. Rivero from First in Service Travel were round trip tickets to Chile on LAN Airlines. The first prize, awarded to Claire Baumann from Academic Arrangements Abroad was a gift basket filled with fine wines, provided by Wines of Chile and delectable condiments, provided by Puro Chile.