The wine tourism experience offered by Concha y Toro in Pirque won the top award at the Chile 2024 Wine Tourism Awards, where it had previously won the regional prize. The experts highlighted its innovation, accessibility and appreciation of enogastronomy.
Concha y Toro won the award for ‘Best Wine Tourism Experience’ at the national level for its emblematic Casillero del Diablo night tour. This recognition was given by Enoturismo Chile, where a demanding jury highlighted the innovative, enogastronomic and cultural proposal that takes place from Tuesday to Saturday at the Concha y Toro Wine Centre, in Pirque (Metropolitan Region).
Concha y Toro’s wine tourism proposal is the Casillero del Diablo Night Tour + Dinner, which immerses visitors in a unique experience that combines history, mystery, wine and gastronomy. The award, which is part of Corfo’s Chilean Wine Tourism Programme, is the result of a selection process in which more than 60 experts participated, who evaluated criteria such as innovation, accessibility and the valorisation of enogastronomy. Concha y Toro’s proposal stood out for its unique character, which includes a three-course dinner paired with different Casillero del Diablo wines.
“This award is a valuable recognition that celebrates the work of our tourism proposal, where history, heritage, gastronomy and wine merge to create a unique experience. It fills us with pride and motivates us to continue positioning this destination, so that everyone can discover what Concha y Toro has to offer,” said María del Pilar Vicuña, Commercial Manager of the Pirque Tourist Centre.
Wine tourism has become a key activity for the development of tourism in Chile. For the Undersecretary of Tourism, Verónica Pardo, “wine tourism is one of the most outstanding experiences that Chile offers its tourists. Today, 22.7% of those who visit us make visits to vineyards, seeking to learn about our winemaking tradition and live authentic experiences in the midst of our beautiful landscapes. In addition, 61% of tourists are looking for a gastronomic experience, which is always accompanied by a good wine or local liquor. This type of tourism not only boosts our wine industry, but also promotes the culture and products of our regions, consolidating Chile as a unique and quality destination.”
Claudio Cilveti, president of Enoturismo Chile, said that “the Enoturismo Chile Awards consolidate a fundamental activity for the positioning of Chile in the field of global tourism. These awards reflect the effort and creativity of those who promote the sector, from large wineries to emerging projects, and highlight the ability of wine tourism to bring the identity of Chile to new audiences.”
The Legend that gave birth to the tour
According to legend, over 130 years ago, the founder of Concha y Toro, Don Melchor Concha y Toro, hid a very particular collection of his wines in his private cellar. As they were one of a kind, they were to be kept hidden; but over time, Don Melchor noticed that part of his collection was missing.
The secret place was discovered and thieves broke in to steal those precious bottles. For that reason, Don Melchor decided to spread the rumour that it was the Devil himself who guarded his cellar, giving birth to this unforgettable legend.
More information about characteristics, prices and reservations for this experience, on Concha y Toro’s website (‘Gastronomical Experiences).
