December, 2011.-

San Pedro counted 8 scores equal or higher than 90, among which the 2008 Kankana del Elqui stood out, obtaining 92points and being part of the Best Syrah and the Chosen from the North rankings.

“From the quarter N°10, at the Las Rojas vineyard (at the Elqui) (…) this wine follows the path of its origin and deepens in its character (…) A tremendous Syrah”, states Tapia on his review.

Also, the 2009 vintage of 1865 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon obtained 92points. “A fresh, herbal wine, with very good acidity, a neat texture and great softness. A wine with character…”, held the critic.

On the other hand, the 2009 vintage of 1865 Single Vineyard Syrah, the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc from Leyda –the white in this line–, and the 2009 vintage of 1865 Limited Edition Syrah, were rated with 91points each. Besides, 2008 Tierras Moradas, the 2008 vintage of 1865 Limited Edition Blend and 2011 Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc from Elqui were awarded with 90points. “Showing its origin with the clarity of a mirror (…) The heat of Pencahue expressing all its sun”, said Tapia in his guide regarding Tierras Moradas.

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August, 2011.-

- On its August Edition, prestigious Chilean magazine,  La Cav –the Wine-lovers’ Club, which reaches over 13,000 subscribers monthly–, dedicated its Tasting Panel to Malbec wines and Red Blends, and gave 90 points to 1865 Single Vineyard Malbec 2008, highlighting its “intense, pleasant, sweet and structured mouth, light, but ripe and warm tannins”.

- Besides, the also Chilean publication Vinos&Más, qualifying Syrah and Carmenere in its tasting panel for the July-August 2011 edition, awarded 90 points to 1865 Single Vineyard Syrah 2007, spotlighting it as a “soft, mature, lovable (…) sweet-toothed” wine, and equally, gave 90 points to 1865 Limited Edition Syrah Elqui 2007, describing it as “big”.

- As for the rest of the world, renowned wine-writer Deborah Parker Wong –who visited SanPedro in April this year–, highlighted 1865 Single Vineyard  Carmenere 2009, describing its “spicy green olive aromas with bright, juicy black fruit, complex notes of tobacco, green olive, vanilla mid-palate with graphite minerality on the finish”, in the article “Flare with Carmenere”, she has just published in Augusts’ edition of the American magazine The Tasting Panel Magazine, where she highlighted the Chilean wines of this variety that most caught her attention.

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June, 2011.-

It was at the wine classification called “Wine Consumers Report”, which is carried out by one of the three major newspapers in that country, the Joongang Ilbo, jointly with the wine retailer Wine Nara.

These competitions take place every month with different topics and the wines are evaluated by two different panels: Wine Connoisseur and Wine Lovers. Adding up both resulting points, the wines are finally ranked.

The theme of the 6^th Wine Consumers Report for this month was Chilean Red Wine, and San Pedro’s 1865 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 was selected as the No.1 Chilean red wine by the Korean wine lovers’ panel. This is very important, because they represent the taste of Korean wine consumers and are the ones who actually purchase the wines in the stores and supermarkets.

Furthermore, San Pedro’s 1865 Single Vineyard Carmenére 2007 was ranked 6^th within the wine connoisseur’s panel, what is also very relevant, as experts are the ones who advice consumers about which wines to acquire.

It is due to the great job done by San Pedro’s ally in Korea, Keumyang International, and recognitions like these, that our brand 1865 Single Vineyard goes on growing in presence and position in that country, one of its most important markets worldwide.

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December, 2010.-

Connecting with the Korea Heart Foundation, San Pedro’s importer in that country, Keumyang International Inc., has been doing a huge charity promotion with our brand 1865 Single Vineyard nationwide since November.

The formula is that for each bottle of 1865 Single Vineyard bought, KRW 1,865 is automatically donated from the consumer and Keumyang. And once the contribution becomes KRW 18,650,000, it will be donated to the Korea Heart Foundation to help those patients who cannot afford the necessary medical care.

This campaign is being supported by a web-page, mass-media communications, besides banners, posters and cards, which have been distributed to all the on and off channels that Keumyang has.

The sites where the information is posted are:

- KEUMYANG HOMEPAGE: www.keumyang.com

- 1865 Campaign Page: www.keumyang.com/1865/

- Korea Heart Foundation: www.heart.or.kr/

“The responses from the press and consumers have been quite nice so far”, stated Mike Kang, from Keumyang’s Marketing Planning Department. “We believe that this is a very positive event”.

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October, 2010.- Marco Puyo, Chief Oenologist of Reserva and Premium Wines

On this occasion, journalists and specialized media had the chance to taste some varieties of Castillo de Molina, 1865 Single Vineyard, and the 2006 harvest of our Ultra Premium Cabo de Hornos wine, which has just been launched in that country.

Below, are the links to some interviews given by Marco Puyo to the Colombian media: http://www.notasdecata.com.co/blog/marco-puyo-estuvo-en-colombia-2.htm ver video entrevista de “Con todo el gusto”

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September, 2010.-

Epicuro is a prestigious magazine specialized in wine, gourmet and good living, edited by Tapia and Fredes, two of the most influential wine critics in the country. Among several writings, Tapia is the author of the Descorchados Guide, which is published in Chile, Argentina and Brazil, and associated editor for the American Wine&Spirits Magazine. César Fredes, in turn, has been a wine&food journalist for more than 30 years now; he writes for a number of magazines and was founder-partner of La Vinoteca, a well-known national wine store.

For what they defined as “the best tasting we have ever had in Epicuro” and coincidentally with Chile’s Bicentenary, the critics decided to taste this country’s traditional variety, stemming from the very birth-place of Chilean viticulture. “….the results were excellent (…) not only for the wine’s quality we found, but also because of the sample’s character”, they emphasized, alluding to the participation of all local main Cabernet exponents in their tasting.

About our wine, which the experts called “the superlative San Pedro’s 1865”, they highlighted its profound flavors, herbal notes, soft tannins and acidity that goes along accompanying all those before mentioned elements. “A real surprise in terms of great character and, mainly, showing lots of ripe, juicy and concentrated fruit, which doesn’t tires up at all”. They also talked about its origin, an alluvial terrace of Linderos, “the best terroir for CS at the Alto Maipo”, as well as about its price “not nearly the most expensive (…) what speaks of a democratization of quality”.

An acknowledgement that makes us really proud!

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June of 2010.-

The Food & Wine Classic is the most popular “foodie” event of the year in North America. For three days, the stellar line-up of culinary masters and wine connoisseurs share trade secrets and techniques with 5,000 foodies and vinophiles at over 80 cooking and wine seminars, tastings, demonstrations, celebrity chef receptions, parties and other entertainment.

“So, it is the premier wine event in the US, to showcase top wine companies, such as San Pedro, and food related products”, says VP Sales and Marketing North America, Mark Vanston.

In the Grand Tasting Tents featured at the Food & Wine Classic, 50,000 bottles wine were available to sample, among them, San Pedro’s prestigious brands 1865 Single Vineyard and Castillo de Molina, and exhibitors shared their latest products.

This festival is related to the stylish and trend-spotting epicurean American magazine FOOD & WINE, edited by American Express Publishing, a leading luxury lifestyle magazine’s publishing house. This magazine has a monthly circulation of over 925,000 and is online at foodandwine.com.

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May, 2010.-

This time, the renowned wine-publication highlights on the Buying Guide of its July issue San Pedro’s wine 1865 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009, made of grapes grown at the refreshing Leyda Valley, scoring it with 90 points, what is equivalent to qualify this wine as excellent and highly recommendable.

According to the magazine’s review, “nettle, citrus, green herb and mineral aromas announce its coastal SB roots, while the juicy citrus and stony mineral quality are just what they should be. There’s even some tarragon and juniper in the mix. Really good Chilean Sauvignon Blanc that is improving year after year since debuting in 2007.”

This wine is the third vintage since San Pedro’s Premium brand 1865 Single Vineyard began to include a white vine into its range. It is elaborated from the finest Sauvignon Blanc grapes planted in the Leyda Valley, only 4km away from the Pacific Ocean, being one of the vineyards located closest to the sea in Chile, what allows its grapes to ripen very slowly and acquire a notable and unique mineral-salty character and elegance.

Without any doubt, an origin to keep in mind: Las Gaviotas Vineyard!

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April of 2010.-

San Pedro offered the delegations coming from the five continents and from the best restaurants in the world, a lunch at the W Santiago Hotel, where it delighted its guests with a journey through this country’s main valleys, presenting the latest vintages of its Premium and Reserve brands, 1865 Single Vineyard, 1865 Limited Edition and Castillo de Molina.

The lunch –which took place just some hours before the long-awaited Great Final, where the UK’s candidate, Gerard Basset, turned out to be the winner–, was attended by the 53 delegations accredited in the Concours Sommelier du Monde, formed by the Sommelier’s Associations’ Presidents, each region’s best Sommelier and also the most prestigious wine journalist of each country.

It was a unique occasion, without a doubt, since it included those who make Chilean wine buying decisions at the most distinguished international restaurants. A perfect instance to continue captivating the world with the excellence of San Pedro’s wines.    

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The article appears right after Puyo met the American wine writer during a Winemaker’s tour to New York last week, focusing on Marco’s and San Pedro’s ongoing projects progress, the company’s continued focus in Premium wines and to show JM the new releases of 1865 Single Vineyard and Cabo de Hornos.

About a year ago, Molesworth also wrote a note in his blog after meeting with the winemaker, entitled “A sit down with Chile’s Marco Puyo”, where he expressed positive expectations for his work and new plans in San Pedro.

In his new post, entitled “Marco Puyo: Leading the way in Chile’s Elqui Valley”, Molesworth speaks about the new VSPT Wine Group, Marco’s projects in this Northern Chilean valley and mentions him as one of the Chilean winemakers who caught his attention six years ago, during his first visit to the country, and who has become one of the Wine leaders to the industry.

“This is another project –writes the expert– in a recent trend (…of) wineries that are pushing the viticultural boundaries of Chile, aiming for higher acid, more elegant expressions of wine (…) It’s a trend that’s helped push Chile to greater heights with its wines in recent vintages. It’s a trend I’d like to see continue”, says Molesworth.

It’s the second time Molesworth states San Pedro’s leadership in Elqui. The Wine Spectator’s May 31st edition included his special on Chile, in which he named the 2008 Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc from Elqui among the most interesting examples of Chilean whites, and commented that “Viña San Pedro has the lead in developing vineyards here (the Elqui Valley), notably for Sauvignon Blanc”.

Download this article (PDF)

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