Viña Santa Rita

Owners: Claro Group
Chief Winemaker: Sebastián Labbé, Teresita Ovalle
Website: santarita.cl
Commercial Contact:
America: agauci@santarita.cl
EMEA: tpennington@santarita.cl
Asia: rmartinez@santarita.cl



History
Founded in 1880 in Alto Jahuel, in the Maipo Valley, Viña Santa Rita is one of the most important and traditional wineries in Chile. With 140 years of history, it has developed a significant commercial presence in more than 70 countries across five continents.

With vineyards in the most relevant winemaking valleys in the country, such as Maipo, Apalta, Colchagua, Leyda, Limarí, Casablanca, and Maule, it produces its wines in its winery located in Alto Jahuel, in the oldest wine cellars in the country currently in use, with an annual production of more than 80 million litres.

In the same place is the founder Domingo Fernández Concha’s mansion, now converted into the Casa Real Boutique Hotel, a chapel, a 40-hectare centenary park, the historical wine cellars, and the Doña Paula Jaraquemada house, all declared a Historic Monument in 1972. Additionally, within the winery is the Andean Museum of the Claro Vial Foundation, which contains one of the most important ethnographic collections in the country.

This significant historical and cultural heritage allows the winery to receive a large influx of national and international tourists, exceeding 140,000 visitors annually, which has led it to be chosen as one of the best wineries to visit in the world, according to the World Best Vineyards Ranking. It has also received recognitions such as “Best Contribution to Wine Tourism” at the Drinks Business Awards 2023, “Best Wine Tourism Experience” in Chile at the “Premios Enoturismo Chile” and the distinction of “Best Responsible Wine Tourism Experience” by the World Wine Tourism Organisation.

Moreover, Santa Rita has a solid sustainability programme that encompasses environmental, social, and economic pillars, with various initiatives throughout the entire wine production chain, from the vineyards to the community. In this way, the winery seeks to be a benchmark in the sustainable development and growth of the wine industry, captivating consumers worldwide through experience, innovation, and quality.

Vineyards
Limarí Valley
134 hectares of vineyards located 28 km from the Pacific Ocean, 400 km north of Santiago, feature characteristic soils of the second terrace of the Limarí Valley. These soils consist of alluvial deposits with an initial clay-textured layer and a second clay-loam layer with stones, with calcium carbonate deposits between both layers. The climate, strongly influenced by the proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the low hills of the Coastal Range, presents coastal fogs that dissipate by midday, allowing a moderate increase in temperature thanks to cool sea breezes. In January, the hottest month of the year, relatively high afternoon temperatures can reach 20°C. The average annual temperature is 15.3°C, with average annual rainfall of 150 mm. Varieties planted: Chardonnay and Syrah.

Casablanca Valley
Vineyards located 80 km from Santiago and close to the Pacific Ocean (26 km), at an average altitude of 500 m above sea level. The soils are of colluvial-alluvial origin, with loam and sandy loam texture, poor in nutrients, highly permeable, and with low moisture retention. These characteristics result in low yields and highly concentrated varietal profiles. The climate is Mediterranean, with a thermal amplitude of 16°C between day and night. The most significant influence in Casablanca is the proximity to the sea and its cooling effect on the valley. The average annual temperature is 13.4°C, with average annual rainfall of 450 mm. Varieties planted: Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

Leyda Valley
85 hectares of vineyards located just 14 km from the Pacific Ocean, in the Coastal Range, southwest of Santiago. The soils are thin and clayey, of granitic origin. The thermal conditions are Mediterranean, with low temperatures due to the proximity to the sea. The average annual temperature is 14.2°C, and the average annual rainfall is 471 mm. Varieties planted: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

Maipo Valley
Located 40 km south of Santiago, at the foothills of the Andes, it has soils of alluvial and colluvial origin. The climate is semi-arid Mediterranean, characterised by cold winters with moderate rainfall and warm, dry summers. The thermal amplitude can reach 20°C. The average annual temperature is 13.9°C, and the average annual rainfall is 400 mm. Varieties planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Franc.

Colchagua Valley
Located 181 km south of Santiago and 45 km from the Pacific Ocean, the soils are of volcanic origin, with clay and loam-clay and sandy textures. The climate is dry and warm, with dry summers and rainy winters, and is strongly influenced by the Coastal Range. The average annual temperature is 14.9°C, with average annual rainfall of 595 mm. Varieties planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Carménère.

Apalta Valley
Located 190 km south of Santiago, the upper and middle sectors have soils of granitic sediments deposited at the base of the hills, with sandy loam and clay loam texture. The lower sector consists of alluvial deposits and loam and loam-clay soils. The climate has a significant thermal amplitude and presents cool breezes from the coast, through the Tinguiririca River. The average annual temperature is 14.7°C, and the average annual rainfall is 684 mm. Varieties planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Carménère.

Curicó Valley
The Curicó Valley, with a winemaking history dating back to the 19th century, is located 200 km south of Santiago. This valley is distinguished by its wide variety of soils, ranging from volcanic to alluvial, with different levels of moisture and retention. These characteristics allow producers to select the most suitable soil type for each grape variety, optimising the wine’s flavour. The region's sub-humid Mediterranean climate favours the cultivation of a wide variety of red and white grape varieties. In this valley, Santa Rita has more than 400 hectares planted, dedicated to the production of high-quality wines. Main varieties planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carménère, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.

Maule Valley
It is the largest and most diverse wine region in Chile and allows the cultivation of both red and white grape varieties. The vineyard has around 170 hectares planted, benefiting from a Mediterranean climate and the influence of cold winds from the Andes Mountains at night. This climatic combination increases the daily thermal amplitude and shortens the period of maximum temperatures, allowing slow and optimal ripening of the fruits. Unlike other Chilean wine regions, the Maule Valley does not have maritime influence, which contributes to a particular aromatic intensity in the Carménère, with notes of spices and black pepper. Maule is also home to some of the oldest vineyards in the country, with dry farming and bush training, standing out as an excellent area for producing exceptional Carignan. Main varieties planted: Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carignan.

Wines from Viña Santa Rita