FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Chile, Casablanca Valley, Various Wineries

Jan 1, 2012
2012 / January 2012

It began in 1982 when Pablo Morandé planted the region’s first vineyards — four acres of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling. It made news in 1989 when Ignacio Recabarren captured the winegrowing potential of Chile’s Casablanca Valley with his Sauvignon Blanc, the region’s first commercial wine. Until then, no one thought of Casablanca Valley — north of Santiago and cooled by the Pacific Ocean, barely 20 miles away — as an ideal place to produce cooler-climate wines.

Today, Casablanca Valley has 9,000 acres of vineyards, primarily in Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; most were planted in the past seven years. While Chile’s other notable wine regions provide excellent conditions for Bordeaux-style wines, Casablanca is now acknowledged as the country’s premier cool-grape valley.

At a recent tasting, I concentrated on two of Casablanca’s most successful wines — Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The Sauvignon Blancs are all an inviting pale lemony-yellow and have alcohol levels that balance nicely with the weight of each wine. Veramonte Reserva 2011 is a textbook young Sauvignon Blanc — citrusy, grassy aroma; fresh, clean taste; vibrant acidity. Casas del Bosque Pequeñas Producciones 2011 displays an interesting spiciness but is still an awkward, high-acid youth; it needs time to develop. Kingston Family Cariblanco 2010, a year older, is rounder, more evolved and well-balanced. And Cono Sur 20 Barricas 2009 is soft and silky with a mild spiciness.

Pinot Noir, the red grape of Burgundy, has not always adjusted easily to other regions. Casablanca Valley, however, may prove to be a home away from home in capturing the varietal’s elusive qualities.

The grapes of Emiliana Gran Reserva Novas Pinot Noir 2010 come from the world’s largest organic vineyards, and the wine nicely expresses the subtle personality of the varietal. While it is a dry wine, its aroma is so cherry-like it almost seems sweet — a lovely Pinot Noir. Quintay Q Pinot Noir 2010 is still young, still evolving but promising. It needs a year or two to mature. Morandé Edición Limitada Pinot Noir 2008, also of organic grapes, is a lovely, subdued version with good structure and attractive cherry-like tones.

Prices generally range from $15–25.

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Hotels
May 18, 2025

Aman Announces Global Aman Club Expansion

Aman Club continues its global expansion with the introduction of Aman Club at Aman Nai Lert Bangkok. This invitation-only club offers a lifetime of privileged access across Aman’s hotels and resorts as well as Aman’s future 10 properties currently in development in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.

Explore Europe with the Best River Cruise Line this November

Experience Europe from a fresh perspective with AmaWaterways, just awarded Best River Cruise Line by Global Traveler for the third consecutive year. Step aboard, unpack once and embark on a cruise through iconic capital cities and awe-inspiring landscapes. AmaWaterways' ships, which accommodate an average of just 156 guests, offer a spacious yet intimate setting. Throughout your journey, you'll enjoy exquisite farm-to-table dining; unparalleled service; and a variety of included excursions, from city tours for gentle walkers to thrilling bike rides along the rivers.

Cruises
May 17, 2025

Viking Takes Delivery of Newest River Ship in Europe

Officially delivered March 18, Viking’s newest Longship Viking Nerthus was presented at Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock Warneműnde, Germany. Accommodating up to 168 guests, Viking Nerthus spans 84 staterooms, all featuring Viking’s signature Scandinavian design.

Daily
May 16, 2025

New Kosovo Philharmonic Opera, Ballet and Theatre Hall to Open This Year

A new opera and ballet theater in Kosovo will house four performance halls and a new public plaza in the capital city of Prishtina. As the first opera house in the Republic of Kosovo, the theater symbolizes the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage while reflecting a new identity for Prishtina, rooted in creativity and a commitment to the country’s artistic growth.

Royal Air Maroc Introduces Groundbreaking Safety Video: A Captivating Invitation to Discover Moroccan Heritage

Royal Air Maroc continues to elevate the passenger experience with the launch of its new in-flight safety video — a cinematic journey that seamlessly blends essential safety instructions with a celebration of Moroccan cultural heritage.

Daily
May 16, 2025

Inkaterra Hotels Make a Peru Trip Unforgettable

Looking to plan the ultimate trip to Peru, but not sure where to start? Inkaterra is here to help. With properties in multiple cities throughout the country and various immersive itineraries, Inkaterra makes it easy for your dream trip to Peru to come to life.

Daily
May 14, 2025

6 Unforgettable Dining Experiences Around the World

Hungry for adventure? These destinations offer unique dining experiences worth the trip.

Find Your Perfect Escape with Paradisus by Meliá — More Than Just All-Inclusive

Luxury travel today is about more than just beautiful accommodations — it’s about experiencing the destination. Paradisus by Meliá takes traditional all-inclusive resorts to the next level by offering indulgence with immersion, experiences and authenticity. Each resort is shaped by its location, local flavors and curated Destination Inclusive® experiences that bring you closer to the heart of the destination.

eFlyer Reviews
May 14, 2025

Hotel Van Zandt Review

One step onto Austin’s Rainey Street and you’ll feel like you’ve joined the cool kids at the best playground in the city. Just behind the cottage bars, pint-sized skyscrapers soar. One of them, Hotel Van Zandt, the Rainey district's pièce de resistance, beckons with a song-like spirit —apropos because the independently owned property, rife with music motifs, was named after beloved singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Sixteen stories high, the hotel embodies Austin’s lust for music, manifesting with a vinyl corner; trumpet chandeliers; myriad musical references; replica vintage posters in frames; and its own live music venue, which doubles as its acclaimed restaurant, Geraldine’s. Don’t miss the mesmerizing installation of colorful origami-like birds composed from vinyl records that flitter from an old phonograph.