Internationally renowned figures in gastronomic innovation and wine culture visited Casa Don Melchor in Pirque for a day dedicated to discovering Chile’s winemaking history, heritage and some of the company’s most distinguished wines. The visit took place during their stay in Chile to attend the International Innovation Congress organised by Universidad San Sebastián.

Ferran Adrià and Ferran Centelles visited Casa Don Melchor and the newly renovated Concha y Toro Wine Centre in Pirque as part of their itinerary in Chile. During the visit, they explored the country’s winemaking culture and the Wine Centre’s distinctive offering, which brings together wine, heritage, culture, nature, gastronomy and an immersive museum experience.

“It has been a wonderful visit. I believe this is a unique place in the world, where the beauty of this extraordinary garden comes together with the beauty of the wine crafted by the family. Thank you so much for your generosity,” said Ferran Adrià following his visit.

“The Concha y Toro Wine Centre offers two fabulous, immersive hours exploring wine culture, winemaking and sensory tasting. The two hours fly by because there is so much to discover through a sensory experience that is clear, beautiful and engaging. It draws you into wine culture and helps you understand wine so you can enjoy it even more. I highly recommend coming to experience it,” added Ferran Centelles.

The visit, which took place on 24 October, was particularly significant given both guests’ distinguished careers and their close ties to innovation and knowledge in gastronomy and wine. Ferran Adrià is president of elBullifoundation, the creator of the Sapiens methodology and one of the world’s leading figures in gastronomic innovation and creativity. Developed by Adrià and the elBullifoundation team, Sapiens is a methodology designed to investigate, connect knowledge and foster understanding through a holistic, systemic perspective, with applications spanning areas including creativity and innovation.

Ferran Centelles, meanwhile, was a sommelier at elBullirestaurante and is currently head of beverages at elBullifoundation. He also leads Sapiens del Vino, a Bullipedia project dedicated to connecting and deepening knowledge of the world of wine. The initiative has resulted in a series of eight volumes covering subjects ranging from viticulture, winemaking and sommellerie to wine tasting and the guest experience in restaurants.

A Journey Through Chilean Wine Culture

The day began at Casa Don Melchor and continued with a visit to the Wine Centre’s immersive museum experience, introducing the guests to Concha y Toro’s history and the many dimensions of Chilean wine culture.

The group then visited the Gran Barra Bodega 1883, a space dedicated to discovering Chile’s diverse wines, styles and terroirs. Measuring more than 25 metres in length, this monumental bar features decorative elements incorporating the bases of 5,184 bottles and offers more than 50 wine labels by the glass or bottle.

The visit continued at Casa Don Melchor with a presentation by Concha y Toro’s Research and Innovation Centre (CII), led by Gerard Casaubon. The session provided an engaging opportunity to explore knowledge and innovation, two areas that have been central to Ferran Adrià’s work.

The experience concluded with an aperitif and lunch at Casa Don Melchor, accompanied by a selection of Concha y Toro’s iconic wines: Amelia Chardonnay 2025 and Pinot Noir 2023, Carmín de Peumo 2023, and two vintages of the iconic Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 and 2023.

Innovation as Common Ground

The visit to the Concha y Toro Wine Centre followed Ferran Adrià and Ferran Centelles’ participation in the International Innovation Congress, “Challenging Boundaries in Health and Rehabilitation”, organised by Universidad San Sebastián on 22 and 23 October at its Bellavista Campus. The event brought together specialists from different disciplines and explored topics including innovation in nutrition, research and development, speech and>As part of the congress, Ferran Adrià delivered the keynote lecture “Sapiens Methodology: Understanding to Innovate” and took part in the discussion “Eating as an Act of Care”, alongside chef Rodolfo Guzmán, founder of Boragó, researchers, family members and experts by experience.

Charles Zuker, a sensory neurobiologist at Columbia University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, also joined the visit to the Wine Centre. Recognised with the 2026 Wolf Prize in Medicine for his research into the mechanisms of taste, Zuker was another international guest at the congress, where he delivered the lecture “The Journey of Flavour: From the Tongue to the Brain”.

Ferran Adrià and Ferran Centelles’ visit to Pirque brought innovation, creativity and knowledge into conversation with the world of Chilean wine, in a setting designed to share its history, culture and heritage with visitors from Chile and around the world. Inaugurated in 2025 and located just 20 kilometres from central Santiago, the Concha y Toro Wine Centre spans more than 12,000 m² and brings together nature, art, wine, gastronomy, technology and historical heritage.