JF HILLEBRAND TROPHY FOR CHILEAN PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: VIÑA CONO SUR
Created in 1993 as a subsidiary of Concha y Toro, the name Cono Sur refers to the winery’s geographical origins in South America’s Southern Cone. The company’s ever-expanding empire spans from the northernmost to the southernmost frontiers of Chilean viticulture, taking in Limarí, Aconcagua, Casablanca, San Antonio, Maipo, Colchagua, Curicó, Maule and Bío-Bío. Passionate about Pinot Noir – the estate’s icon wine Ocio is described by winemaker Adolfo Hurtado as “Chile’s first ultra-premium Pinot Noir” – Hurtado produces a plethora of other varietal wines including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Syrah, under the 20 Barrels, Reserva and Visión ranges.
This March, Cono Sur was crowned Green Company of the Year at The Drinks Business Green Awards for its innovative environmental initiatives and the scale of its carbon savings. Since its conception, Cono Sur – now the second largest bottled wine exporter in Chile – has been characterised by its green agenda, the ethos of the company being that high-quality wine production can work hand in hand with eco-friendly practices.
Location had a big part to play: with the Atacama desert to the north, Antarctica to the south, the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Chile is in a privileged position for sustainable grape growing.
Organic farming began in 2000 on 40 hectares of the Chimbarongo estate, and in 2002 Cono Sur was the first South American winery to receive double ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification.
A year later, the first certified organic Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère grapes were harvested. Today, Cono Sur has 290 certified organic hectares across its Santa Elisa and Las Lomas de Peralillo estates in Colchagua, and Campo Lindo in San Antonio.
