The feng-shui winery
A gravity-flow cellar built into the hill following feng-shui principles, where energy and gravity — not pumps — move the wine, and barrels age to Gregorian chant.
Viña Montes · Apalta · Colchagua Valley
Private tour to the icon of Apalta
A private Viña Montes tour in the Apalta amphitheater, Colchagua: a feng-shui, gravity-flow winery where the icon wines rest to Gregorian chant. Taste Alpha M, the Purple Angel Carmenère and the Folly Syrah from the steepest slopes in Chile — with hotel pickup from Santiago in a Jaguar XF or Porsche Cayenne.
- 1988Founded by Aurelio Montes & partners
- 2 h 30From Santiago to the Apalta amphitheater
- ApaltaSteep hillside vines · Chile’s grand cru
- Alpha MIcon blend · Purple Angel & Folly
The story
A feng-shui winery where wine ages to Gregorian chant
Founded in 1988 by winemaker Aurelio Montes and partners, Viña Montes turned the Apalta amphitheater into one of Chile’s greatest terroirs. Its gravity-flow winery was designed under feng-shui principles, and the barrels rest in a circular cellar filled with soft Gregorian chant to harmonize the aging wine. From the steep granite slopes of Apalta come the icons Montes Alpha M (a Bordeaux blend), Purple Angel (one of the world’s great Carmenères) and Folly (Syrah). Tourevo arranges private full-day visits with a house sommelier.
The Apalta amphitheater
Steep granite hillsides forming a natural amphitheater that protects old-vine Carmenère and Syrah — often called Chile’s grand cru, on a guided vineyard walk.
Alpha M, Purple Angel & Folly
Taste Montes’ icons: the Bordeaux-blend Alpha M, the deep Purple Angel Carmenère and the hillside Folly Syrah from the steepest slopes in the country.
Tasting with a sommelier
A guided premium tasting in a private setting — terroir, the angel philosophy, oak aging and pairings, about 45 minutes away from the public flow.
Sample itinerary
Your day at Montes Apalta
Full day · ~9 hours · recommended pickup at 08:30. All times are adjustable.
- 08:30 Pickup at your hotel · briefing with your driver-guide
- 11:00 Arrival in Apalta · welcome at Viña Montes
- 11:15 Feng-shui winery & Gregorian-chant cellar tour
- 12:00 Vineyard walk in the Apalta amphitheater
- 12:45 Icon tasting with a sommelier · Alpha M, Purple Angel, Folly
- 13:45 Optional lunch at the Montes Apalta restaurant
- 15:00 Return to Santiago · estimated arrival 17:30
· Premium fleet
Travel in an icon
Your tour is door-to-door in a hand-picked vehicle with a professional bilingual chauffeur, bottled water and on-board details included in every kilometer — never a shared van or a fixed schedule.
For couples · city & wine tours
Jaguar XF
British elegance with adaptive suspension, premium sound and Windsor-leather finishes — ideal for the drive from Santiago to the wine valleys.
- Guestsup to 4
- Luggage3 cases
- Engine3.0 Turbo
- Climate4 zones
For families · groups up to 5
Porsche Cayenne
All-wheel drive, generous torque and a cabin built for long journeys — the perfect companion for the wineries plus the Andes the same day.
- Guestsup to 5
- Luggage5 cases
- EngineV6 Turbo
- DriveAWD
For solo travelers · value
MG3 Hybrid+
A modern, efficient hybrid for one or two travelers who want the full private-guide experience at a friendlier price — same service, same care.
- Guestsup to 3
- Luggage2 cases
- EngineHybrid+
- EcoLow CO₂
What our travelers say
Rated 4.9/5 by 861 travelers
4.9
861 verified reviews
“The Jaguar XF, the bilingual driver and an itinerary built exactly to our taste. We visited three vineyards, Valparaíso and the Neruda House without lifting a finger. We’ll be back.”
“I asked for a gastronomy itinerary and Tourevo made it happen: La Vega market, a chef class, a pairing in Colchagua. For a foodie, it’s the best tour I’ve ever done.”
“We did the Maipo Valley with the Cayenne and it was another level. The guide knew every viewpoint and every winery. Truly professional, door to door.”
Plan your visit
Montes Apalta tour from Santiago · everything you need to know
A Viña Montes tour in Apalta is a Colchagua highlight: a feng-shui winery, the Gregorian-chant cellar and the steep amphitheater that produces some of Chile’s greatest reds. Apalta is about 2.5 hours from Santiago, so we run it as a comfortable private full day, door-to-door.
People ask what Montes Apalta costs, which wines you taste and whether lunch is available. The private tour at USD 215 per person includes the winery tour and a sommelier-led tasting of Alpha M, the Purple Angel Carmenère and the Folly Syrah. You can add a lunch overlooking the amphitheater, and combine Montes with VIK or Lapostolle for a two-icon Apalta day.
Popular combinations
Add another icon or experience
Montes pairs with the other icons of Apalta and Colchagua.
+ VIK
Two architectural icons: the feng-shui Montes amphitheater and the titanium bodega of VIK across Colchagua and Cachapoal.
VIK winery tour →+ Colchagua icons
Add Lapostolle’s Clos Apalta or Viu Manent on a full Colchagua wine day.
Colchagua Valley tours →+ Wine country lunch
A pairing lunch overlooking the Apalta amphitheater between the tour and the tasting.
Wine Tours Chile →Frequently asked questions
FAQ · Montes Apalta tour
What does the private Montes Apalta tour include?
Round-trip hotel pickup from Santiago in a Jaguar XF or Porsche Cayenne, a bilingual driver-guide, a tour of the feng-shui gravity-flow winery and the Gregorian-chant cellar, a vineyard walk in the Apalta amphitheater, and a premium tasting of Alpha M, Purple Angel and Folly with a house sommelier. An optional lunch is quoted separately.
Why does the wine age to Gregorian chant?
Viña Montes was designed under feng-shui principles, and its founders believe soft Gregorian chant helps harmonize the wine as it ages in the circular barrel cellar. It is one of the most distinctive winery experiences in Chile.
Which wines will I taste?
The tasting centers on Montes’ icons: Alpha M (a Bordeaux blend), Purple Angel (one of the world’s great Carmenères) and Folly (a hillside Syrah). The exact labels and vintages vary with availability.
How far is Apalta from Santiago?
The Apalta amphitheater, near Santa Cruz in Colchagua, is about 2.5 hours from Santiago. Because of the distance, we run Montes as a full-day private tour, door-to-door.
Can I have lunch at Montes?
Yes. The Montes Apalta restaurant offers a pairing lunch overlooking the amphitheater. We coordinate the reservation; lunch is paid directly and quoted separately.
Can I combine Montes with another winery?
Yes — popular pairings are Montes + VIK (two architectural icons) or Montes + Lapostolle / Viu Manent for a full Colchagua wine day.
Book your visit to Montes
Tell us how many you are and your date — we confirm availability at Viña Montes and send a final quote in under 24 hours.
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