Another year is gone… we have meet so many nice people from all over the world and the most important thing is that we have learned from each other, sharing our culture differences, the languages and even sharing some political point of views! What we really like is for guests to leave Casa Newen and Chile with great memories and new friends.

One of the great things that happened last year was related to the wine industry in our country. One of our wines was awarded by the Magazine “Wine Spectator” as being amongst 100 top wines from all over the world, our “Clos Apalta 2005” from “Casa Lapostelle - Colchagua Valley” won 1st Prize.

The Colchagua region is located about 128km southwest of Santiago. It enjoys a balmy, Mediterranean climate matched in only a few other places on earth. Currently the Colchagua Valley has about 50,000 acres of vineyards. The predominant varietals are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Malbec, and Syrah, with lesser amounts of Chardonnay, Sémillon, and Sauvignon Blanc. Most of our guests visit the picturesque town of Santa Cruz, located in this region.

Talking about wine we would like to rise our glasses with a nice Chilean Carmenère and say SALUD! and wish all our guests from the past years and the future, a very Happy and rewarding 2009!!

After being spectators to the magnificent fireworks in Viña del Mar, we are ready to welcome the New Year and of course our new guest!

Hi everyone,
This year we went down to the local park Inez de Suarez, Providencia, Santiago, to celebrate Independence day and took some photos. We had some ¨churros¨ which are doughy sweet sticks covered with icing sugar, tried some Chicha (sweet fermented wine) and had a dance to ¨La Cueca¨ under the Chilean Flags.

Every house in Chile is dressed in white, blue and red. Our national flag waved of joy at Casa Newen. September has woken up with music and flavour…the 18th is coming and we will celebrate our Independence Day with “empanadas” and “cuecas”.

Our souls step to their own dance and the kites graciously race to touch the sky.
With barbecues, “empanadas” and a beautiful glass of red wine on the 18th of September.

While couples dance the “cueca”, the children are busy kicking the ball…
The “asado” is ready! everyone to the table we are going to toast :
For our Independence Day and democracy!! Without it we couldn`t celebrate. It would be like an “empanada” without the filling or a barbecue without a glass of red wine.

¡Viva el 18 de Septiembre!

Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast

Did you know that for the second consecutive year our Chilean wine “Don Melchor” from the Concha y Toro vineyard reached the fourth place of the top ten international wines for 2006 according to the North American magazine Wine Spectator. The winner was Italy with “Casanova de Neri” sold at US$70 compared with our “Don Melchor” sold for US$47. For this year`s ranking they tasted 13,500 wines worlwide

Recently Luis and I have had the pleasure of enjoying the “Tantehue” Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon from Ventisquero Vineyard it isn’t one of Chile´s traditional brands, but we find it quite nice, with a plumb aroma and very smooth, ideal for a barbecue, cuisines and cheeses. By the way…Chilean tennis star Fernando Gonzalez promotes the “Tantehue” wine, and according to him it’s fantastic and youthful.

The best thing is that it’s inexpensive and can be found at “Jumbo” supermarkets in Santiago, the biggest store is close to Casa Newen, in Francisco Bilbao Street. The other young brand is “Calama” you can also find it at “Jumbo” supermarkets in Santiago.

For those interested in Chile´s main vineyards, they are located in the “Valle del Maipo” which is within the Metropolitana region, this means within Santiago and sorroundings areas. The two main vineyards are Cousino Macul and Concha y Toro. Santiago also has an interesting Wine Train Program “Tren del Vino”, were you can have a cocktail and wines of the region on board . Luis and I havent had the pleasure of enjoying this tour YET, but we are sure we will have the oppurtunity very soon!

Adda Y Luis from Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast