Viña Santa Rita is Chile’s winery of the year

Wines of Chile, the Chilean wine industry’s official trade organisation has chosen Viña Santa Rita as its 2016 winery of the year.

With more than 90 associated wineries, WoC’s award is an important distinction that reflects Santa Rita’s successful year in both the domestic and international markets.

Wines of Chile chairman, Mario Pablo Silva said: “Santa Rita seeks to strengthen the country image; we want Chile to be recognised in different markets through its production of high quality wines with their own identity that consumers will recognise and seek out. Our goal every day is to see that more people—not only in Chile, but around the world—have a glass of Chilean wine on their dining room tables,” said Viña Santa Rita CEO Andrés Lavados.

Silva also acknowledged the winery’s growth in the sale of premium wines and the awards and accolades received throughout the year, which includes Casa Real receiving the title of Best Chilean wine of the 2011 vintage from Wine Enthusiast; Cerro 94 being awarded the ‘Revelation Wine’ distinction in the 2016 Descorchados wine guide and the Santa Rita brand being named ‘Value Brand of the Year from US magazine Wine & Spirits.

“We want to grow our brand and be a benchmark for Chilean wines around the world, but we want that growth to be based on efficiency, sustainability and innovation that is built upon experience and tradition. Our commitment to this agenda is beginning to reap rewards, we were delighted to receive the 2016 ‘Most Innovative Wine Business Award’ from the Universidad de Los Andes,” Lavados concluded.