An Introduction to Chile’s Food Scene

Chile has become the rising star of South America’s food scene. One of the country’s rich cultural influences comes from the Mapuche, Chile’s largest indigenous group. They have a word, ‘peumayen’, often rendered in English as ‘place of dreams,’ but truly encompassing dreams, hopes, wishes, and prophecies. It signifies either an idyllic dream or a fantasyland that captivates the imagination.

The Awe-Inspiring Vik Winery

Our journey took us to the Vik winery, located in the fertile valley known to the Mapuche as a ‘golden place.’ At the very entrance of the winery, a sweeping, water-filled plaza, created by Chilean sculptor Marcela Correa and architect Smiljan Radić, welcomed us. Their ‘water mirror’ installation is both a nod to the terroir and a marvel of sustainable engineering, designed to cool the wine cellar underneath. Radić’s innovative winery building, resembling a glowing spaceship, enhances the modern yet natural vibe with translucent-white canopies and glass façades that offer breathtaking views of the vineyards and Andes Mountains.

A Nation of Heritage and Abundance

Chile is not only rich in terms of per-capita GDP but also in culture, history, and natural beauty. During his inaugural address in 2022, Chile’s youngest-ever president Gabriel Boric highlighted Chile’s promising future rooted in its historical and natural wealth. My husband and I wanted to experience this duality of old and new, rural and urban, food and wine, and we enlisted the help of Travel Leisure A-list advisor Jean Sanz to craft a nine-day itinerary showcasing Chile’s heritage and abundance. Beginning at Vik was the perfect start.

Unveiling the Story of Wine in Chile

In 2006, billionaire investor Alex Vik and his wife Carrie bought 17 square miles in the Millahue Valley, aiming to produce world-class wine. They planted vines, and eight years later, their winery opened alongside a 22-room hilltop hotel. The hotel, designed by architect Marcelo Daglio, boasts a stunning bronzed-titanium roof. The Vik Winery isn’t just about exquisite wine but also about exploring the grounds that hold pieces of contemporary art. Guests can enjoy trails and guided horseback rides. As Andrea Garcia, our guide at Vik, explained, the story of wine in Chile is deeply tied to colonization and evangelization, with the Spanish introducing various grape varieties in the 1540s for communion wine.

Ultimately, this encounter with Chile brought us closer to understanding ‘peumayen’ – a true place of dreams that encompasses hope, heritage, and an inspiring blend of the past and the present.