South America is the tour's most exhilarating stop — a place where vineyards climb into the Andes and the wines come with sunshine and altitude baked in.

Argentina's heights

Mendoza turned Malbec into a global star: plush, dark-fruited and generous. Climb higher into Salta and you'll find some of the world's loftiest vineyards, producing intense reds and perfumed, aromatic Torrontés.

Chile's range

Hemmed between the Andes and the Pacific, Chile spans it all — the classic Cabernet heartland of Maipo near Santiago, the powerful Carménère and Syrah of warm Colchagua, and crisp, cool-climate whites from coastal Casablanca.

The new wave

Across the river, Uruguay's Atlantic-cooled Tannat is bold yet fresh — proof that this continent still has surprises. Few places offer this much character for the price.