The most fabulous wine hotels in South America

Starting as we mean to go on, the class act of The Vines Resort & Spa is set to impress wine connoisseurs and amateurs alike. Located at the base of the Andes in West Argentina where a number of boutique wineries have formed a village, The Vines Resort & Spa operates a number of luxury villas. There are Wine Camp experiences for guests to immerse themselves in the world of wine, on terroir discovery sessions, sensory tastings and more. Beyond wine, guests can try out the pool and spa or trot through the Uco Valley on horse rides led by local gauchos before stretching out upon the estate’s 1,500 acres for group yoga sessions. To cap off the perfect day? A seven-course fire-cooking experience from celebrity chef Francis Mallmann at on-site restaurant Siete Fuegos. Read our guide to the very best of gay Argentina to see what else is in store in the nation.

Our third mention in the Argentina wine country known for its Malbec is Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort, a luxury lodging also benefitting from magnificent Andes backdrops and fine Uco Valley views upon 790 acres. The architecture of Case de Uco is inspired by the landscape, allowing the space to fit seamlessly in with its surrounds, across its Wine Bar & Lounge, game room and fire-centred living room. Also on-site is the award-winning restaurant, outdoor dining spaces, spa and wine cellar, holding some of the best wine in Argentina. Heading home after a weekend of horse riding, cycling and lazing by the lagoon, guests of Casa de Uco can consider investing in their own private vineyard (The Vines has a similar offering), buying a small acreage of professionally managed land and having a say in the production of your very own wine blend.

Sample more of the best wines of Argentina at Cavas Wine Lodge, our final but very worthy fourth mention in Mendoza. Detail is everything at the Spanish colonial-style Cavas Wine Lodge, whether in a smattering of rose petals, a batch of warm cookies or a candlelit jacuzzi experience, it’ll be hard not to be seduced. Attuned to the needs of celebrities, staff at Cavas Wine Lodge can be as hands-on as you’d like, always discreet and respectful of their guests’ privacy. The 55-acre estate is a sun-kissed dream in any season, allowing for on-foot exploration through the vineyards or a picnic paired with a bottle of the red wine Argentina is famous for. Otherwise, the on-site restaurant’s seasonal à la carte menu is available for you to sample Argentinian produce at its best.

Cavas Wine Lodge will also exceed expectations in terms of sustainability, using natural fertilizer and re-used water to feed its gardens and vineyards and solar panels to cut unclean energy consumption in half.

From the capital of Santiago, travellers on wine tours of Chile have a number of options, but, Maipo, the wine region surrounding Santiago, is perhaps the most convenient place to start. Lucky for us lazy travellers, the Alto Maipo wine valley has a whole host of great hotels to provide us with comfy accommodation, including Hotel Casa Real de Viña Santa Rita backdropped by grand mountains. Unlike other options, Casa Real is old school in its provisions, keeping things classy yet understated inside a well-kept 19th-century estate. What the hotel lacks in futuristic amenities it more than makes up for by way of attentive hospitality, handling day trip bookings out to Santa Rita’s historic Cal y Canto wine cellars and other regional attractions. Alternatively, make your own way around the estate’s 40-acre park, adjacent neo-Gothic chapel and neighbouring wineries (such as Antiyal, Carmen and Pérez Cruz).

After exhausting the wonders of Maipo, discover more of the best wine regions Chile has to offer by heading west to Casablanca or San Antonio or south towards Cachapoal, Colchagua or Maule. Those heading north may miss the more developed wine regions of Chile but can still have an impressive time of it in Aconcagua, Limarí or Elqui.

Level up your Instagram content with a stay at the five-star Narbona Wine Lodge, a classic boutique lodging with original flair. There are only five rooms at Narbona, but they are spread across 123 acres of land, allowing for a tranquil getaway on the shores of the Rio de la Plata. Tannat is the wine variety of choice here in the Carmelo region and Narbona has about 15 hectares dedicated to this type, alongside pinot noir, petit verdot and viognier y shiraz. The farm here has a long history of producing premium wines, with fruit jams, olive oil and cheese on the side! When exploring the property, make sure to take a look inside the cheese maturing chamber and sample a glass of red at the century-old wooden bar within the tri-lounge restaurant.