An Unexpected Refuge in Colchagua Wine Region

LOCATION: SAN FERNANDO, CHILE

Tucked away in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in San Fernando, Chile is the coziest lodge. The instant you pull into the property you can feel your shoulders drop and you begin breathing a little deeper. Walking up to the lodge you’re greeted by two friendly Saint Bernards who then escort you to the door. You’re shown to one of four rooms to drop of your luggage before joining the others for a glass of wine by the fire.

As soon as we settled in I knew that we had haphazardly stumbled upon something special. To be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect when we booked our stay. We chose the lodge for its affordable rooms and its proximity to wineries and hiking trails. The experience we had was far beyond anything I imagined. Every single detail of your experience at Tumuñan Lodge has been carefully thought out by Will and Carolina, the couple who built and expertly run this little oasis.

During our stay, Will spent time talking to us about all the different wines in the region and his personal process in starting his own vineyard on the property. One day he organized a trip for us to explore the impressive museum in Santa Cruz, a delicious seafood lunch at Ristorante Vino Bello, and a tour of Neyen Vineyards where we learned more about the wine making process. Carolina prepared absolutely incredible food at every meal. I don’t know if I can truly pick a favorite because it was all so delicious, but the beef stew was particularly amazing (and I’m not usually that much of a beef fan). Because there are only four rooms in the lodge everything can be and is tailored to your needs and desires. The day that we went on a hike they packed a picnic lunch for us to enjoy while we were out and, we ended up rounding off the day with a wine tasting at the lodge.

What I really loved about Tumuñan Lodge was that you could make your stay whatever you wanted it to be - a relaxing getaway spent with wine and good books, a place to explore the bountiful nature in the valley, or a retreat after a day of visiting wineries in the area. I was so blown away by our experience at Tumuñan Lodge - the service and the attention to detail were top-notch. So if you’re looking to explore Chile’s wine regions or just looking for a quiet weekend getaway, you don’t want to miss out on this place. I’d go back in a heartbeat.