Where Food, Wine, and Poetry Converge

In the coastal hills of Chile’s San Antonio Valley, cooled by breezes from the Pacific Ocean, growing wine grapes isn’t easy. Still, there was something about this magical coastline that captured the attention of María Luz Marín and inspired her to choose the steep coastal village of Lo Abarca as the site for her dream vineyard—even against the advice of those around her. Marín was Chile’s first female winery founder, and her Viña Casa Marín—located less than 2.5 mi / 4 km from the ocean, where it is enveloped in fog and shaped by fierce winds—has produced some of the country’s most renowned and award-winning wines.

                       Vina Casa Marin – Photo by Richard E.

The imagination and inspiration rooted in Chile’s coastal beauty played a prominent role in The World’s recent Destination Experience during its journey from Valparaíso to Isla Negra. When living and traveling aboard The World, Residents & Guests are more than passersby: They are warmly welcomed by the people they meet to experience life’s richest moments and immerse themselves in the true spirit of each destination.

In the coastal village of Lo Abarca, Residents & Guests were invited for an exclusive afternoon at Viña Casa Marín—one that not only celebrated the bounty of the land but also brought together a sensational pairing of two unique visionaries from Chile.

This special day began in the home of poet Pablo Neruda, perched on the rugged Pacific coastline. As Resident Richard E. recalled, “This feels almost like a visual version of his poetry…. In his memoirs, he wrote that the wild coast and the restless ocean allowed him to devote himself fully to the creation of this work.

                       Vina Casa Marin – Photo by Richard E.

“After exploring the grounds and peering into Neruda’s private home filled with maritime antiquities and curiosities as well as personal dedications to fellow poets, our group moved onto Viña Casa Marín for the main event.

“A leisurely lunch provided a fitting transition from poetry and landscape to the flavors of Chile’s coastal wine country,” Richard E. continued. “Each course drew inspiration from Neruda’s poetry, linking the region’s culinary traditions with the lyrical sensibility that defines his work.”

                      Pablo Nerdua Home – Photo by Richard E.

Before each course, a printed card was presented describing the dish and its wine pairing, along with an excerpt from one of Neruda’s poems. It explained how the expressions in the poem echoed the flavors of the pairing, creating “an imaginative bridge between the poet’s words and the pleasures of the table.”

By connecting the sensory pleasures of food and wine with the emotions and imagery of poetry, the meal unfolded slowly and intentionally—a true homage to a land filled with such intense meaning.

Naturally, the essence of those flavors and stories made their way back on board The World. It is no coincidence, then, that Chile holds a special place in The World Barrel Program. The Journey, The World’s own bespoke wine label, features a 2023 vintage of Clos Apalta, a celebrated Bordeaux-style blend from Chile’s Colchagua Valley, crafted in collaboration with Domaine Bournet-Lapostolle. Like the afternoon in Lo Abarca, it is a wine shaped by a remarkable land. Residents & Guests will have the opportunity to experience both vintages of The Journey—the 2023 Chilean and a 2024 Australian Shiraz from Torbreck Vintners—as they are poured in The World’s restaurants and bars and available for purchase on board.

The World Barrel Program represents another premier offering enjoyed exclusively by Residents & Guests—only 288 bottles were produced for each edition. The 2023 Clos Apalta is a blend of Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, drawn from some of the estate’s most prestigious parcels in Chile’s Colchagua Valley—first planted in 1907 and home to old vines that benefit from warm days and cooling Andean influences. The estate has earned multiple 100-point scores and was named Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator, affirming its place among the world’s leading wines. Much like the afternoon in Lo Abarca, which weaved together poetry, landscapes, and the pleasures of the table, The Journey is an invitation to let a place speak through a glass, long after the coastline has faded from view.