The subsidiary of Viña Concha y Toro inaugurates the exclusive Don Melchor Experience in the Casona located in Pirque, opening this historic place to a tourist offer of the highest level.
Santiago, Chile.- 21 kilometers from Santiago, in Pirque, Viña Don Melchor inaugurated a luxury tourist offer in the heritage of Chile’s iconic wine, the Casona Don Melchor.
Through five alternatives, the Don Melchor Experience allows visitors to explore the origins and the delicate process behind one of the world’s great wines in the historic Casona de Pirque, located in the prestigious wine region of the Maipo Valley.
“After more than 30 years, Don Melchor has achieved a solid position that allows it to face new challenges, based on its maturity and ability to express its own identity through Viña Don Melchor. This new step of the Cabernet Sauvignon icon of the Puente Alto terroir aims to give visitors the opportunity not only to taste an exceptional wine, but also to live the Don Melchor Experience”, explains Don Melchor’s CEO, Enrique Tirado.
Viña Don Melchor, a subsidiary of Viña Concha y Toro, is responsible for producing the icon Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor. The homonymous vineyard that gives life to this wine is located in the renowned appellation of Puente Alto, in the Maipo Valley, at the foot of the Andes Mountains. It is currently available in the markets with its 2020 vintage, with which it has become the only Chilean wine to be classified in the “Best of the Best Wines of the World” by Robb Report, the most prestigious publication in the global luxury market. It recently released its 2021 vintage, the 35th in its portfolio, with which it has also been awarded outstanding recognitions, such as the 96 points obtained by Wine Spectator -the highest score ever given by this media to a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon and which has been awarded five times to Don Melchor-, and excellent 99 points attributed by James Suckling. It is important to remember, as well, the excellent 100 points obtained with its 2018 vintage, thus achieving the perfect score by this same specialised critic. In this way, the remarkable balance between the expression of the vineyard and the finesse so typical of the Puente Alto terroir is once again evident.
Casona de Pirque is a building that dates back to 1870 and was declared a National Historic Monument in 1971. It was the summer residence of Melchor de Concha y Toro and his family, the founders of Viña Concha y Toro in 1883, and is located in the highest part of the estate, which provides a privileged view of the vineyards, the beautiful gardens in which the classic French style blends with English gardening and the majestic Andes Mountains. This park was designed by the French landscape designer Guillaume Renner, who was in Chile to beautify different sites in the capital, in commemoration of the country’s centenary, such as San Cristóbal Hill and Cousiño Park, now O’Higgins Park.
Don Melchor’s different tourist proposals range from tasting its different vintages, to touring the Casona, enjoying a luxury gastronomic experience and even creating your own wine.
The Experiences
Don Melchor Collector’s Experience
Come and experience an unforgettable journey into the world of Chilean winemaking excellence. Discover the origins and delicate process behind each bottle as you enjoy a private tour of the gardens, cellar, and interior of Casa Concha’s Don Melchor manor house.
During your visit, you will have the opportunity to exclusively taste the latest vintage of Don Melchor, a selection of three glasses from the Puente Alto terroir parcels that give rise to our iconic wine.
Don Melchor Winemaking Experience
Discover and live the experience of creating your blend of wine by tasting and selecting from each of the seven plots of the Don Melchor vineyard to achieve a wine that is the reflection and best expression of Puente Alto’s terroir, led by our Sommelier.
We invite you to live the experience of walking through Melchor de Concha y Toro’s summer residence, which remains faithful to the 19th-century original style. You can tour the gardens created by French designer Guillaume Renner and the historic cellar where Don Melchor ages in French oak barrels.
Next, we offer the challenge to make your blend of Don Melchor, trying to get as close as possible to the essence of the terroir that is the birthplace of our iconic Cabernet Sauvignon in terms of sight, aroma, and flavor.
Don Melchor Top 100 Vertical Tasting
Experience a vertical tasting of six iconic Don Melchor vintages (1988,1993, 2003, 2014, 2018 y 2021), that were chosen among the Top 100 ranking of the prestigious specialized magazine Wine Spectator and awarded by the renowned wine critic James Suckling.
Explore the remarkable transformation of our iconic Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto during a tour of Don Melchor’s summer residence, its stunning gardens crafted by Guillaume Renner, and the cellar’s rich history. As a finale, you will have the privilege to visit the Don Melchor Collection Room, featuring a collection that spans from the very first vintage in 1987 to the latest one.
Lunch in Casona
In our Casona, located in the heart of the historical heritage of Don Melchor de Concha y Toro, you can have a unique gastronomic experience where excellence and quality come together to give you a personalized moment with a perfect three-course menu designed by our chefs to pair our best wines perfectly.
Don Melchor Experience – Kenoz
WINE & CAVIAR. Born under the influence of the generous Andes Mountains, their climate, and abundant waters, Don Melchor and Kenoz caviar are two products of exquisite delicacy. This gastronomic journey unites two experts to deliver an extraordinary and unique experience that elevates the senses to their maximum expression.
Schedules and Reservations
These experiences last between 90 and 180 minutes, depending on the alternative you choose, and can be scheduled from Monday to Saturday, between 10 and 15 hours, through the website of Don Melchor www.donmelchor.com section “Experiences”.
