A Letter from Our Founder
When I first started guiding visitors through Chile more than 20 years ago, things looked very different. Smartphones didn't exist, online booking systems were rare, and integrated payment platforms were practically unheard of. Many days began with a paper map folded under my arm, plotting routes through wine country and occasionally getting lost along the way.
Back then, wine tourism in Chile was still finding its footing. Most wineries were focused on making great wine, not necessarily hosting visitors. Formal tourism programs, scheduled experiences, and dedicated wine tourism companies were uncommon. A visit often meant meeting someone at the winery and seeing whatever they happened to be doing that day. While there was something charming about that spontaneity, it was also clear that wine tourism in Chile had room to grow.
As a professional Tour Guide, Sommelier, and Graffiti Artist, I have always enjoyed creating experiences that didn't exist before. After settling in Valparaíso in 2006, I founded Chile's first dedicated wine tourism company (2008-09). I later created Chile's first street art tour (2011) I also acquired a hands-on Chilean cooking experience (2020) which now takes place in my house, along with blind tastings, and cultural activities designed to help visitors connect with Chile through food, wine, art, and authentic local experiences.
Over the years, my work has been featured by major international publications and organizations including The Guardian, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel, National Geographic, Vogue, AFAR, and The Culture Trip. Through it all, one thing has remained unchanged: my belief that the best travel experiences come from genuine local connections, good conversation, and a willingness to explore beyond the obvious.
Today, Valparaiso Wine Tours operates under my brand GetawaysDiscoveries, continuing the same philosophy that inspired those early days: authentic experiences, personal service, and a genuine connection to Chile's people, landscapes, and wine regions.
Thank you for considering us as part of your journey through Chile. I look forward to hopefully running into you and sharing a glass of wine and introducing you to a side of Chile that many visitors never get to see.
Al Ramirez Salamanca
Founder, Tour Guide & Sommelier
Back then, wine tourism in Chile was still finding its footing. Most wineries were focused on making great wine, not necessarily hosting visitors. Formal tourism programs, scheduled experiences, and dedicated wine tourism companies were uncommon. A visit often meant meeting someone at the winery and seeing whatever they happened to be doing that day. While there was something charming about that spontaneity, it was also clear that wine tourism in Chile had room to grow.
As a professional Tour Guide, Sommelier, and Graffiti Artist, I have always enjoyed creating experiences that didn't exist before. After settling in Valparaíso in 2006, I founded Chile's first dedicated wine tourism company (2008-09). I later created Chile's first street art tour (2011) I also acquired a hands-on Chilean cooking experience (2020) which now takes place in my house, along with blind tastings, and cultural activities designed to help visitors connect with Chile through food, wine, art, and authentic local experiences.
Over the years, my work has been featured by major international publications and organizations including The Guardian, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel, National Geographic, Vogue, AFAR, and The Culture Trip. Through it all, one thing has remained unchanged: my belief that the best travel experiences come from genuine local connections, good conversation, and a willingness to explore beyond the obvious.
Today, Valparaiso Wine Tours operates under my brand GetawaysDiscoveries, continuing the same philosophy that inspired those early days: authentic experiences, personal service, and a genuine connection to Chile's people, landscapes, and wine regions.
Thank you for considering us as part of your journey through Chile. I look forward to hopefully running into you and sharing a glass of wine and introducing you to a side of Chile that many visitors never get to see.
Al Ramirez Salamanca
Founder, Tour Guide & Sommelier
Valparaiso: Paseo Barbosa 151, Cerro Mariposa, Valparaíso 2340000
Chile Phone Number +569 32485231
Chile Phone Number +569 32485231
