OUR COMPANY

Our mission

Wine Travel was established to provide top quality tourist services spanning the fascinating worlds of wine, nature and gastronomy. Our services are geared towards travellers with exacting tastes and great sensitivity to new experiences.
The people who embark on our tours have the opportunity to learn about the culture and tradition of wine in Chile and to enjoy special interest activities such as agricultural and ecological tourism, hot springs and spas, skiing, golf, fly fishing and cruises.

Who we are

Our multidisciplinary team comprises professionals of the highest level, with experience in Chile and abroad.

DIRECTOR

Karen Gilchrist
With extensive experience in tourism development, marketing and communications in Chile, France, and the United Kingdom, Karen saw the opportunity to build a service revolving around the fascinating worlds of wine, fine gastronomy and the natural beauty of Chile. Karen is a graduate of the School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences of the Sorbonne University in Paris and the holder of diplomas in wine tasting, tourist studies and marketing from the London Chamber of Commerce and the British Industry Examinations Board, the fruit of studies during her eight years of residence in Europe. Her experience in connection with wine routes in Europe, Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Chile stood her in good stead as the General Manager of the Maule Valley Wine Route in Chile, which she successfully developed over a period of three years. During this time, Karen organized Chile’s first ever Carménère event, which was attended by the national and international press. She is currently a consultant in wine tourism and a freelance writer and columnist with a number of wine trade publications.

THE TEAM

Pascual Ibáñez
A sommelier with studies completed in Spain. Member and founder of the Sommeliers Association in Chile. Organizer of the Sommeliers school. Panellist for the Chilean Wine Guide.
A wine and gastronomy critic and columnist for a number of prominent specialized publications, Pascual Ibáñez has officially represented Chile in wine-related matters abroad.

Alex Ordenes
A sommelier with a degree from "Université du Vin" in France and from the Catholic University of Chile. Panellist and critic of Chilean wines for leading publications of the specialized press in Chile.

Marketing: Katharina Kastowsky

Broad experience in marketing and communications in major national and international companies in several sectors of industry.
Katharina has a traveller’s spirit and a curiosity which have led her to explore the Middle East, Europe, and America.
Katharina’s mission is to use her experience in communications to encourage the travelling spirit of anyone who approaches Wine Travel.

Events Producer: Rosa Elena Aravena
Rosa Elena´s experience in executive television production and her professionalism have taken her to the top of a major events production company in Chile.

Public Relations: Barbara Joseph
Born in the United States, Barbara completed her studies in marketing and public relations in the United Kingdom. She worked in Europe and the Bahamas in several tobacco and chocolate firms.

Guide: Lisa Barra

An English teacher with a degree from the University of Concepción in Chile. She has experience in the hotel sector as a director of marketing and public relations.
Lisa has lived in the United States and Puerto Rico and has extensive experience of travelling in Europe and the Middle East.

Editorial Content: Patricio Rojas
Specialized reporter and editor with the Chilean wine magazine La Cav, Patricio Rojas is a columnist and consultant of high repute among prominent national and international media.

Photographer: Fernando Gomez
A photographer experienced in matters of wine and gastronomy and a contributor to major books on Chilean wine and to the specialized magazine Vinos y más (www.fgomez.cl)

Design and communications: Duo Diseño
A company geared towards integrated communications through the development of corporate images for companies and web sites www.duo.cl

Specialized mountain tours: Franz Schubert

An Austrian with ten years’ experience as a mountain guide in different parts of the world. In 1993 he settled in Chile to start up his own mountain tour company and establish a guest house 250 km. south of Santiago, near the city of Talca.
He is the author of the first adventure guidebook for Central Chile "Adventure Handbook Central Chile" www.trekkingchile.com

Specialized Ornithology Tours: Gonzalo González
An agricultural engineer, ornithology guide, he has travelled throughout the Chilean Altiplano, central zone, Argentina and Atlantic islands for bird watching. A member of the Board of Directors of the Chilean Ornithologist Association from 2000 to 2001. He is currently working as a co-author of a Field Guide of Chilean Birds.

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© WINETRAVEL 2002
Valenzuela Castillo 1565, of.703 - Providencia
Tel/fax: (56 - 2) 236 9761 | Santiago - Chile
www.winetravelchile.com - info@winetravelchile.com