Chile
Chile captivated Richard Gonzmart with its soaring Andes, storied vineyards, and rich cultural heritage. From the lively streets of Santiago to historic wine estates in the Maipo Valley,
these are the places that left him inspired.
Santiago
Restaurants
Restaurant Doña Paula
Address: Buin, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile - Restaurante Doña Paula is more than a restaurant — it is a living piece of Chilean history. Located on the grounds of the Santa Rita estate, this hacienda-style landmark is named for the courageous woman who famously sheltered General Bernardo O’Higgins and 120 soldiers during Chile’s fight for independence.
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Inside, guests are surrounded by colonial-era charm, with high ceilings, antique Spanish artworks, and warm red walls that open onto a wide veranda. The menu highlights fresh Chilean seafood, seasonal produce, and award-winning wines from the estate’s cellar. After lunch, guests can enjoy a fine cigar or cognac while overlooking herb gardens or take a guided tour of the historic underground cellars where O’Higgins once hid.
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This is a destination where food, wine, and national pride come together in unforgettable ways.
Cuerovaca Restaurant
Address: P.º Peatonal El Mañío 1659, 7630244 Vitacura, Región Metropolitana, Chile - Santiago's top steakhouse focuses on providing carnivores with the finest cuts of meat available in Santiago, including wagyu, the Japanese-origin Kobe beef, lamb from the Falklands Island, and locally produced Angus and Hereford beef. If you're not a beef eater, there are seafood dishes that specialize in Easter Island imports and locally produced salmon. Cuerovaca strives to educate diners and build a "culture" around the appreciation of fine beef, and they'll happily provide you with background information about your cut. The ambience is urban-contemporary, with flagstone walls, wood, and glass, and they feature an outstanding wine list.
More info: https://cuerovaca.com/
Acommodations
Casa Real Hotel
Address: Cam. Padre Hurtado 695, Alto Jahuel, Buin, Región Metropolitana, Chile - Hidden from view, the lavish Pompeiian-style mansion built in 1880 by the winery's founder is accessible only to fortunate guests staying in its 16 rooms. The sumptuous salons of the main house and exquisite nee-Gothic chapel transport you back to an era of grace and privilege. Sip tea on the veranda overlooking a European-style park with statues, fountains, forests, gardens, ponds, orchards, and sweeping lawns. Black-necked swans whistle like Andean flutes as you bike to the pool or tennis courts. Your dinner entree is expertly paired with a Santa Rita wine and followed by a game of billiards on the original George Wright & Co table. It's a delicious opportunity to nurse delusions of grandeur in a setting which, were it a museum, would be behind velvet ropes.
Attractions
Miguel Torres Winery
Address: Longitudinal Sur Km 195, Curicó, Maule, Chile - Miguel Torres Winery is a pioneer in Chilean winemaking, known for introducing stainless steel fermentation and French oak barrels to the Curicó Valley. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, the estate offers guided tours through its modern production facilities, aging cellars, and barrel rooms.
*The image above shows Richard Gonzmart and Casey Gonzmart Sr. with Miguel Torres.​​
The Torres and Gonzmart families have a long-standing connection rooted in tradition, hospitality, and a shared passion for wine. That bond continues at this
More info: https://www.migueltorres.cl/en/
Carmen Winery
Address: Buin, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile -
Founded in 1850, Carmen is Chile’s first and oldest winery — and the birthplace of the Carmenere revival. This historic vineyard gained global recognition when it rediscovered the long-lost Carmenere grape growing in its own fields, helping redefine Chile’s role in the international wine world.
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With vineyards across the country’s finest terroirs, Carmen is known for producing elegant, expressive wines that reflect each grape’s ideal environment. Visitors can explore the winery's legacy while tasting award-winning selections that capture the depth, balance, and spirit of Chilean winemaking.
More info: https://www.carmen.com/en/
Museums
Museo Andino
Address: Cam. Padre Hurtado 0695, Buin, Región Metropolitana, Chile -
In the midst of the vineyards of the Alto Jahuel winery - at the foot of the Andes and next to the old colonial estate house - stands the Andean Museum. 1,800 pieces of pre-Colombian art collected by businessman Ricardo Claro over 40 years are exhibited in the modern 1,500m2 building.
A stone wall inspired by the Incas and a sculpture by Jose Vicente Gajardo mark the entrance to the building, which is in the modern style yet reminiscent of the pre-Colombian period. The tour begins with an Easter Island room and its collections of old wooden moais. Then comes the room with archaeological pieces from Arica culture. Further on, there are works from San Pedro culture, to which has been added an important collection of brightly-colored wickerwork. One continues on to the largest room, which contains the Diaguita collection. The visit continues to the Mapuche section, where a large window with silver objects, mainly from the nineteenth century, stands out. There are also various wooden masks, musical instruments, ceramics, pipes and jars.
