Vik Chile

Yes, it’s the same Vik, the one who’s quietly taking over South America. Not with a staggering number of hotels — for Alexander Vik and his hotel group, it’s about impact. In Uruguay, he’s made a splash with a series of remote and avant-garde beach getaways, known for their dazzling contemporary architecture, over-the-top luxury and lively art collections. He brings the same sense of style and whimsy to one of Chile’s famed wine-growing regions with Vik Chile, a 29-suite hotel and spa perched on a hilltop and surrounded by vineyards.

It’s one of those hotels where the guest rooms and suites are nearly as impressive as the smartly designed public spaces. Which is saying something, considering the wow factor of the airy central living area, the verdant gardens, and the cantilevered granite swimming pool that seems to extend into the landscape like a series of interconnected mountain lakes. All guest suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows that provide unobstructed views over the pristine surroundings — some overlook the vineyards and the Colchagua Valley beyond, while others face the snow-capped Andes.

Unsurprisingly, Vik brings the drama, both inside and out: think sleek white and blonde wood with one-of-a-kind woven throw rugs, elegant writing desks, and sculptural molded chairs where you can sit and feast your eyes on the paradise outside while sipping Cabernet Sauvignon produced on the premises. And art, of course, and lots of it, from tabletop sculptures and paintings to graphic screen-printed pillows. King-sized beds with Egyptian cotton sheets, complimentary minibars, and huge bathrooms, stocked with natural products made with grape seed extract, are standard.

Tempting as it is to, well, stay in your room, you definitely won’t want to: winery tours and tastings, trail rides, and loaner rental bikes are all included in the room rates, as is access to the infinity pools, fitness center, and sauna. The hiking trails nearby are free, too, though you’ll want to hurry back to the hotel afterward for a massage in the Vik wine spa followed by a gourmet asado, or Chilean barbecue, paired with Vik wines and served al fresco. If this is Vik’s idea of a South American retreat, consider us onboard.

How to get there: Vik Chile is approximately two hours by car from Santiago International Airport (Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport) via Ruta 5.