After Don Melchor 2020 was recognized among the "Best of the Best Wines of the World" by the global luxury magazine Robb Report, Enrique Tirado - CEO and Technical Director of Viña Don Melchor - speaks about this recognition and what lies behind the production of this iconic Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto.

In the program “Juntos” hosted by Karla Rubilar and Christian Pino, Enrique Tirado spoke about the importance of this recognition for Don Melchor. “When we have such great accomplishments like the Best of the Best, knowing that our wine was selected as the Best Chilean wine in the world, it is important to spread the news and our pride in Chile and Puente Alto, the birthplace of this wine,” he says.

The conversation also touched on how to achieve a wine of this level of global recognition. “It has to do with the terroir, and terroir has four elements: the soil, the climate, the vineyard, and the team behind the wine. You make a wine like Don Melchor by perfectly combining these 4 elements,” notes Enrique. 

Delving further, he explains how these elements come together in Puente Alto, as the origin of Don Melchor: “The soil is poor in nutrients, with the presence of stones, but at the same time, it is complex. For Cabernet Sauvignon – which is the foundation of Don Melchor – this is perfect for the growth of the plant, maturation, and the production of high quality wines. The second thing is the cold climate. Thanks to its location in the foothills of the Andes, it experiences a significant temperature difference between day and night, and that aids the ripening process and helps preserve all the flavors and aromas.” With respect to the vineyard where Don Melchor is grown, the winemaker continues: “we have divided the vineyard into several parcels, and each of these Cabernet Sauvignon parcels contributes aromas, textures, and flavors to the final blend. This is what gives us consistency in the quality, expression, and personality of Don Melchor.”

In terms of the Don Melchor wine itself, Enrique describes it as: “the best expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto. A wine that combines two forces. On the one hand, when you taste Don Melchor, you’ll feel the expression, energy, red fruit, floral notes, and a lot of character. And on the other, you’re going to sense the finesse, balance, harmony, and elegance. Bringing together these two expressions – which we could summarize as energy and finesse – is what defines Don Melchor, and that is thanks to its place of origin.”

The interview concluded by referring to Concha y Toro’s tourist program offered in Pirque, a site that welcomes over 200,000 visitors each year and has become an obligatory stop for those wanting to explore the world of wine. Regarding Don Melchor, Enrique talked about the “Don Melchor Experience,” a 1.5-hour tour that showcases the entire history behind this iconic Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto. “You’ll tour the estate home that Don Melchor built in the early 1900s, explore the history of the vineyards, and the cellars. Then you have a chance to taste wine from some of the Don Melchor parcels and create your own blend, followed by a wine tasting of selected Don Melchor vintages.” Before concluding, he invites listeners to visit Pirque, emphasizing that it is “a unique place if you want to get to know Don Melchor, taste the wines, and purchase different vintages.” 

Watch the interview here. [3:38 – 28:18]