Introduction

Concha y Toro is Chile's leading exporter of premium branded wine, with markets in over 110 countries around the world. From Beijing to Belfast and Denmark to Dublin, you will be sure to find Concha y Toro's wines on a wine list or a shop shelf. In 2005, the company exported 10,500,000 cases of wine, which accounts for 32% of total Chilean wine shipments. Domestically, Concha y Toro accounts for 27% of the total market. Amongst the many keys to this global success is an unswerving passion for wine and commitment to quality.

The longest, thinnest country in the world, Chile has an extraordinary diversity of climate and geography from north to south. The wine valleys lie across the middle of the country, each with their own unique growing conditions. Concha y Toro currently owns 6,700 hectares of vineyards, throughout Chile, which gives the company a very high degree of control and flexibility. The vineyards are planted with the most suitable grape varieties for the soils and climate, which means that the winemaking team have access to top quality fruit.

Concha y Toro's winemaking team is headed up by some stellar names. Marcelo Papa is the head winemaker of Casillero del Diablo and Marques de Casa Concha and one of Chiles most talented young winemakers. In 2006, he accepted a Gold Medal from the International Wine Challenge for Casillero del Diablo Merlot 2005. The same wine was also awarded an International Trophy for Best Red Wine Under 10 by the Decanter World Wine Awards. Ignacio Recabarren, responsible for Trio, Terrunyo and Amelia, is one of the original Chilean trailblazers. He was voted Winemaker of the Decade by the Guia de Vinos de Chile and he is particularly renowned for Sauvignon Blanc. Enrique Tirado is the head winemaker of Don Melchor, a wine which consistently scores above 90 points in The Wine Spectator. Don Melchor 2003 has been nominated the fourth best wine in the world by Wine Spectator. Tirado is also the Chilean winemaker of Almaviva, Concha y Toros joint venture with Baron Philippe de Rothschild.

History

Don Melchor de Concha y Toro and his wife, Dona Emiliana Subercaseaux, brought the noblest viniferous grapevine of the Bordeaux region to Chile and established one of Chiles most important and revered wineries, Via Concha y Toro. The Maipo valley, protected by the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, provides the ideal environment for grape growing, and it was here that Don Melchor planted his first vines and built his manor house, known today as La Casona de Pirque.

The family business grew quickly in reputation and size, to such an extent that in 1923 Concha y Toro began selling shares on the Santiago Stock Exchange. With the business in Chile firmly established, Concha y Toro started its export business, unloading its first shipment of export wine in the port of Rotterdam in 1933. The international presence of Concha y Toro wines has grown rapidly throughout the world. In October of 1994, Concha y Toro became the first Chilean winery to sell stocks on the New York Stock Exchange. In 1996, the winery furthered its expansion abroad by purchasing lands and wine producing facilities in Mendoza, Argentina, forming Bodegas y Viedos Trivento. In keeping with Concha y Toros continued commitment to development and modernisation, Via Concha y Toro persists in implementing the latest technology available and further developing the art of making fine wine.