Influential Asian KOLs visit Chile to discover viña Don Melchor and viña Amelia

During May, four leading figures from the world of wine, gastronomy and luxury lifestyle in China visited Chile for an exclusive experience centred on two of Viña Concha y Toro’s flagship luxury brands: Don Melchor and Amelia.

The group of Key Opinion Leaders included Lu Yang, China’s first Master Sommelier and a leading authority in the wine and luxury industries, founder of Grapea & Co.-specialising in WSET education, TOP SOMM Studio and Savour. Li Jiawei, Executive Chef of La Bourriche 133 (#48 Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026); Liu Yuhua, publisher of TARGET luxury lifestyle media; and Diao Xin, editor-in-chief of the influential gastronomic publication Mingchu.

After travelling more than 20,000 kilometres across the Pacific, the guests arrived in Chile to deepen their understanding of the origin, philosophy and winemaking vision of Don Melchor and Amelia, two luxury icons of Viña Concha y Toro that today represent some of Chile’s most prestigious and distinctive terroirs. Don Melchor, awarded “Wine of the Year 2024” by Wine Spectator, and Amelia, internationally acclaimed for its excellence, precision and freshness from an extreme northern Chilean origin, formed the central focus of this experience.

The experience invited guests to discover two brands that reflect the excellence of distinct Chilean origins: Don Melchor, from the Don Melchor Vineyard located in the Puente Alto Denomination of Origin, a unique Andean terroir at the foot of the Andes Mountains; and Amelia, whose identity comes from the Quebrada Seca vineyard in the Limarí Valley, an extreme terroir shaped by the influence of the Pacific Ocean and extraordinary levels of luminosity. Two expressions of origin that reflect how the strength of the Andes and the influence of the Pacific enable the production of wines of remarkable character, precision and excellence.

Together with Marcelo Papa, Technical Director of Viña Amelia, the group explored the singularities of Quebrada Seca, the origin of Amelia Quebrada Seca Chardonnay and Amelia Quebrada Seca Pinot Noir. On this occasion, they experienced first-hand the exceptional conditions of this extreme northern Chilean terroir, where strong oceanic influence, calcium carbonate-rich soils and a cool climate of outstanding luminosity give rise to wines of great freshness, tension and precision, now internationally recognised as benchmarks for both varieties.

The experience continued at Viña Don Melchor, where together with its CEO and Technical Director, Enrique Tirado, the guests toured the historic Don Melchor Vineyard, located in the Puente Alto D.O., the origin of one of the world’s most iconic Cabernet Sauvignons. During the visit, they discovered the heritage, vision and meticulous craftsmanship behind Don Melchor, a wine that in 2024 reached one of the most significant milestones in its history when its 35th vintage was named Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator.

Together with Enrique Tirado, the group also visited the historic Casa Don Melchor and took part in an exclusive tasting of the seven Cabernet Sauvignon parcels that make up the Don Melchor vineyard, an experience that allowed them to better understand how each parcel contributes character, complexity and balance to the final blend that defines Don Melchor.

The itinerary also included a distinguished gastronomic tour that highlighted Chile’s positioning as one of the most relevant culinary destinations in the region. Restaurants visited included Bodega 1883, Concha y Toro Group’s restaurant in Pirque; Fukasawa, by chef Marcos Baeza (#100 Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants); Casa Las Cujas (#14 Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants); Boragó, by chef Rodolfo Guzmán (#23 The World’s 50 Best Restaurants); and Demo Magnolia (#31 Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants). An experience that demonstrated how Chilean wine and gastronomy operate in perfect harmony, projecting a contemporary identity that positions Chile as a destination of excellence for wine, gastronomy and luxury tourism.

This visit further strengthened the positioning of our ultra-premium wines in a highly strategic market such as Asia, reaffirming the region’s growing interest in great Chilean wines and reinforcing ties with leading figures in haute cuisine. An experience that projects Don Melchor and Amelia internationally, connecting territories and cultures through a shared vision of excellence and origin.