Viña Santa Rita

Good to know

• Vineyard
• Open daily10 AM–6 PM
• Under 1 kmfrom Alto Jahuel, Buin center
• Wheelchair accessentrance
• Parking
• 4.6 / 51,093 reviews
• Alto Jahuel, Buin

A Living Piece of Chilean History

The estate at Alto Jahuel traces its origins to a 16th-century hacienda, but its most famous chapter unfolded in 1818. After the patriot defeat at the Battle of Cancha Rayada during Chile's War of Independence, the owner Paula Jaraquemada sheltered 120 soldiers in the cellar of the main house. That act of courage inspired Santa Rita's flagship wine line, 120, still produced today and named in honor of those men.↗↗

The land's story reaches even further back. The great Inca road QhapagÑan passed through this area around 1400, and in 2005 workers discovered a cemetery of the Llolleo culture beneath the wine cellars, with artifacts dating to approximately 500 AD. In 1972 the houses, park, chapel, and cellars were collectively declared a National Historic Monument, acknowledging the property's remarkable layered past.↗↗

By the early 20th century the hacienda had grown into a self-contained town with more than 130 houses, a school, a soccer field, a cinema, a bakery, and even its own railway. The famous Chilean folk singer Violeta Parra once lived here, and it was at Santa Rita that she met a woman who first sparked her passion for music.

The Park and Its Architecture

The Centenario Park, designed by French landscape architect Guillermo Renner, is considered one of the most beautiful gardens in central Chile. Strolling its paths you'll encounter statues, reflecting pools, an artificial lagoon, and a magnificent collection of century-old trees — conifers, cypresses, araucarias, firs, sequoias, and cedros — framing views toward the Andes.↗↗

The main house, built in a grand Pompeian style in the late 19th century, now operates as Hotel Casa Real, a boutique luxury hotel recognized with its first Michelin Key. The neo-Gothic chapel, designed by German architect Teodoro Burchard, adds another layer of architectural distinction to the grounds.↗↗

Wine Tours and Experiences

Guided tours walk you through the historic cellars, explain the winemaking process, and end with tastings paired with local cheeses. Options range from a compact Classic tour to a premium Carménère experience that combines a horse-drawn carriage ride through the park with an extended tasting. For hands-on visitors, the Winemaker Experience lets you blend your own wine and take home a personal bottle in a keepsake chest. A Pedal Bar cycle-carriage tour adds a playful twist, while a picnic set on the grounds with gourmet sandwiches, cheese boards, and reserve wines is perfect for a relaxed afternoon.↗

Tours are offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese with several daily start times. The restaurant Doña Paula serves traditional Chilean cuisine accompanied by Santa Rita wines, and a café and wine shop let you linger or take a bottle home.↗↗

Museo Andino

Free to visit and open daily, the Museo Andino houses over 200 pre-Columbian art objects accumulated by businessman Ricardo Claro over four decades. The collection spans the cultures of the Andes and offers a compelling complement to the winery tour — a window into the civilizations that inhabited this very valley long before vineyards existed.↗↗

Planning Your Visit

Viña Santa Rita is open every day of the year from 10 AM to 6 PM. It sits about 45 minutes south of Santiago in the commune of Buin, at the foot of the Cordillera de los Andes in the Maipo Valley. The entrance and parking are wheelchair accessible. Bookings for tours and groups can be made via reservastour@santarita.cl or by phone at +56 2 2362 2520. If you want to make a full day of it, suggested programs combine a museum visit, lunch at Doña Paula, a wine tour, and an afternoon walk through the Centenario Park.↗↗↗

For those who want to extend the experience, Hotel Casa Real offers overnight accommodation in the original manor house. The property also hosts weddings, corporate events, and private dinners amid its gardens and historic halls.↗↗