In conjunction with the British wine magazine, The Drinks Business, Don Melchor held in London a complete Masterclass on the Puente Alto Denomination of Origin.

With the participation of Patrick Schmitt, Master of Wine and Editor-in-Chief of the world’s leading beverage trade magazine, and Marcelo Papa, Technical Director of Viña Concha y Toro, the Masterclass on the prestigious Puente Alto Denomination of Origin, now known as the birthplace of the world’s finest high-end Cabernet Sauvignons, was presented to over 35 attendees, including journalists, educators, sommeliers, and consultants.

To reflect our entire history and trajectory in Puente Alto, where the first pre-phylloxera vines were planted in 1883, participants had a chance to taste four iconic vintages of Don Melchor: 1988, 2001, 2014, and 2021, demonstrating how the terroir, with its unique soil and climate qualities, provides the perfect conditions for the production of Don Melchor and solidifies itself as one of the world’s best places for producing Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

“It was a great privilege to have Marcelo Papa present the wines of Puente Alto in person to the UK trade. Covering the key aspects of Puente Alto terroir, from the soils to the climate, he painted a clear picture of what makes this part of Chile so special for Cabernet Sauvignon, while drawing attention to the quality and ageability of Don Melchor. With a particular focus on viticulture, it was a revelation to see how aspect, rootstocks, and ungrafted vines affect the character of Cabernet in this special part of the Alto Maipo. Indeed, while the masterclass sought to promote Puente Alto, it was also an education in viticultural R&D, as well as a showcase for the outstanding 2021 vintage of Don Melchor,” comments the editor-in-chief at The Drinks Business, Patrick Schmitt.

With this Masterclass held in the city of London, Don Melchor concludes its 2023 global tour to promote the D.O. Puente Alto and is planning to continue developing activities like this to further establish Puente Alto as the birthplace of the world’s finest Cabernet Sauvignons.