February 1-15, 2025 with Marcelo Padua
The Andes is the longest mountain range on earth and it is at the heart of this tour, as we explore both the East and West slopes, and never venture too far from the foothills. We started our tour in Santiago, the capital of Chile that is nestled between the Western slope of the Andes and the pre-cordillera mountain range. The area is rich with endemics, and we found many of them, such as Chilean Mockingbird, Austral Blackbirds, Dusky-tailed Canastero, Crag Chilia and Moustached Turca. We also ventured up the Andes to find Andean Condors, Gray-breasted Seedsnipe, and even the scarce Diademed Sandpiper-plover.
On the wine front, we enjoyed the famous Carmenere wines of Chile, but also grapes such as Carignan, which do very well in the dry climate of Chile. We also enjoyed some excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, all of it paired with an abundance of sea food that is unparalled, and some wonderful beef.
We then made our way across the Andes into Argentina on a day that is forever imprinted in our brains. This is one of the most scenic drives on earth, and along the way we picked up Andean Goose, Black-fronted Ground-tyrants, Scale-throated Earthcreeper and several others that were found at the foot of Aconcagua Mountain, the tallest mountain in the world outside of the Himalayans. The change once we made our way to the Eastern slope was abrupt, with grilled steak dominating the menus, Malbec wine taking the center stage, and birds such as Hooded Siskins, Chiguanco Thrush, Grayish Baywing and Shiny Cowbirds dominating the checklist.
The following days were spent savoring the wines of Mendoza and sampling Malbecs, Bonarda, Torrontes and many others, while eating more beef than it seemed humanly possible, and enjoying fantastic birds like Crested Gallito, Patagonian Earthcreeper, Ticking Doradito, Chilean Flamingos, Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper, Red-tailed Comet, and every shape and size of Canastero imaginable.
Our tour ended with a couple of fabulous days along the coast of Chile, with Inca Terns, Chilean Seaside Cinclodes, Blackish Oystercatchers, Whimbrels and several others right outside of our bedroom windows. We also explored the mouth of the Maipo River and some nearby areas, picking up some iconic birds such as Des Murs’s Wiretail, Ticking Doradito, Rufous-tailed Plantcutter, and Fire-eyed Diucon.
We finished our tour with an unforgettable lunch in the Casablanca Valley, complete with the area's Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling wines and Pinot Noir wines. I loved doing this tour once again, and I look forward to repeating it next year, and I hope we meet again in the future to enjoy some great birds, drink some fabulous wine and share incredible meals.
Mammals during the tour:
European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
European Hare (Lepus europaeus)
Southern Mountain Cavy (Microcavia australis)
Highland Yellow-toothed Cavy (Galea musteloides)
Coypu (Myocastor coypus)
Dusky Dolphin (Sagmatias obscurus)
South American Gray Fox (Lycalopex grisea)
Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus)
South American Sea Lion (Otaria byronia)
Guanaco (Lama guanicoe)
Wines we sampled:
Concha Y Toro, Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc , 2024, Central Valley
Concha Y Toro, Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay, 2022, Limari Valley
Concha Y Toro, Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere, 2021. Peumo Valley
Miguel Torres, Estelado Brut Rose, No Vintage, Sparkling Wine
RETA, Quebrada Chalinga Pinot Noir, 2022, Limari Valley
Lapostolle, Cuvee Alexandre Chardonnay, 2019, Casablanca Valley
Santa Rita, Floresta Chardonnay 2022, Limari Valley
Santa Rita, Pewen de Apalta Carmenere, 2022, D.O. Apalta
Santa Rita, Triple C Blend, 2021, Maipo Valley
Santa Rita, Medalla Real Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Leyda Valley
Carmen, Winemaker’s Black Blend 2021, Colchagua Valley
Santa Rita, Floresta Cabernet Franc, 2022, Maipo Valley
Fernando Almeida, Anduriña Albariño, 2022, Curicó Valley
Bodegas RE, Vigno Carignan, 2019, D.O. Maule
Koyle Costa, Cuarzo Sauvignon Blanc, 2023, Colchagua Valley
Perez Cruz, Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022, Maipo Valley
Bodega Murville, Sexto Sentindo Chardonnay,2024, San Rafael
Catena, Saint Felicien Malbec, 2023, Lunluta
Salentein, Reserve White Blend, 2023, Uco Valley
Salentein, Primus Malbec 2021, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
La Azul, Azul Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
La Azul, Azul Reserva Blend 2022, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
La Azul, Azul Gran Matilda Cabernet Franc 2022, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
La Azul, Jauria Blend, 2020, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
La Azul, Petite Lou Rose Merlot/Cabernet Franc, 2024. Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Salentein, Brut Nature Cuveé Exceptionelle, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Salentein, Numina Chardonnay 2023, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Salentein, Primus Chardonnay 2021, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Salentein, Reserve Merlot 2022, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Salentein, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Salentein, Numina Cabernet Franc, 2023, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Salentein, Single Vineyard Los Nogales Sauvignon Blanc, 2021, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Salentein, Single Vineyard La Pampa ’97 Malbec, 2020, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
FOW, Efusivo Sauvignon Blanc, 2023, San Rafael. Mendoza
Zuccardi, Q Cabernet Franc, 2022, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Santa Julia, Alambrado Sauvignon Blanc, 2021, Tupungato. Mendoza
Los Haroldos, Estate Bonarda, 2020, Mendoza
Alfredo Roca, Fincas Pinot Noir, 2024, San Rafael,Mendoza
Falasco Wines, Hermandad Blend, 2020, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
La Vigilia, Rosado, 2023, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
La Vigilia, Syrah 2023, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
La Vigilia, Brut Nature sparkling, 2022 Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Famille A&M Bonnie, Diamandes de Uco Viognier, 2022, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Huentala, As Isabel Estate Malbec, 2021, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Zuccardi, Q Malbec, 2022, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Santa Julia, Malbec 2024, Maipú. Mendoza
Luigi Bosca, Brut Nature Sparkling, Lujan de Cuyo. Mendoza
Viña Cobos, Vinculum Chardonnay, 2022, Lujan de Cuyo. Mendoza
Maal, NN Malbec Clarete, 2021, Las Compuertas. Mendoza
Balestra Zingaretti, Flor Silvestre Sangiovese, 2022. Tupungato. Mendoza
Santiago Vignoni, Ligaria Bonarda, 2022, Montecaseros. Mendoza
Matias Riccitelli, Viejos Viñedos Malbec, 2021, Las compuertas/Vistalba
Zuccardi,Malamado Fortificado Viognier, no vintage, Valle de Uco. Mendoza
Casas Del Bosque, Small Parcels Sauvignon Blanc, 2024, Casablanca Valley
Casas Del Bosque, Small Parcels Syrah, 2022, Casablanca Valley
Garces Silva, Amayna Sauvignon Blanc, 2024, Leyda Valley
Tarapaca, Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, 2023, Aconcagua Valley
Matetic, Coastal Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, Casablanca Valley
Matetic, EQ Limited Edition Pinot Noir, 2021, Casablanca Valley
Matetic, EQ Cool Climate Syrah, 2018, San Antonia Valley
Matetic, Corralillo Late Harvest, 2022, Aconcagua Valley
Montes, Outer Limits Sauvignon Blanc, 2024, Zapallar
Viñamar, Brut Unique, No Vintage, Casablanca Valley
San Pedro,Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, Elqui Valley
Leyda, Coastal Vineyards Falaris Hill Chardonnay, 2022, Leyda Valley
San Pedro,Castillo de Molina Chardonnay, 2022, Casblanca Valley
San Pedro, Tayu Pinot Noir, 2022, Malleco Valley
Tarapaca, Organic Wine Red Blend, 2021, Maipo Valley
San Pedro, Desert Valley Syrah, 2021, Elqui Valley
Tarapaca, Etiqueta Negra Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021, Maipo Valley
Viñamar, Moscato Sparkling, No Vintage, Casablanca Valley
You can see my complete trip report on eBird at this link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/436365
You can download a combined PDF of this page and the eBird report at this link: https://fieldguides.com/triplists/caw25TRIPLIST.pdf
-- Marcelo Padua