Concha y Toro highlights latest achievements

During Vinexpo, members of Concha y Toro’s senior management team emphasized the company’s latest initiatives in production, innovation and sustainability as it continues to build its global brand network.

The press conference panel at the Concha y Toro booth consisted of Christian Lopez, Concha y Toro’s corporate director for Asia; Sebastian Aguirre, global brand director for Casillero del Diablo; Isabel Guilisasti, Concha y Toro’s fine wines director and co-owner and regional director, Guy Nussey.

Firstly referring to Concha y Toro’s ‘Excellence in Production’, the panel outlined how Casillero del Diablo championed Chile’s native grape variety, País through its Pais Cinsault blend from old vines in Maule and the Itata Valley under its Marqués de Casa Concha label as well as Terrunyo adding the limited edition Terrunyo Lot 1 to its range with the “new style” of Carmenere made by winemaker, Ignacio Recabarren.

As part of its ‘Excellence in Innovation,’ Concha y Toro opened its new US$5 million centre for research and innovation in 2014 – a hub for applied research worldwide in partnership with UC Davis and Mercier. The centre endeavours to address the challenges faced by the global winemaking industry through knowledge exchanges between winemakers and researchers and also serves to emphasize the role of new technology in winemaking and agricultural processes.

Concha y Toro’s successful global digital marketing campaigns for its Casillero del Diablo and Frontera brands were also highlighted.

The company was the first winery to measure its water footprint and still continues to lead initiatives across biodiversity, waste management, eco-friendly packaging and carbon footprint reduction. Its ‘Excellence through Sustainability’ is achieved, said Lopez, by incorporating sustainable practices into each step of the winemaking process and from supply chain and products to employees and local communities.

Lopez closed the press conference, commenting: “Innovation is integral to Concha y Toro at every step of our business and winemaking process.

“With a focus on evolving ranges to meet consumer tastes; corporate, social and environmental sustainability; and reaching out to a new generation of consumers through pioneering digital communications, Concha y Toro is forever strengthening its position at the forefront of innovation for winemakers around the world.”

With wine brands in 145 countries, Concha y Toro is the second largest vineyard owner in the world and the fourth largest wine company by volume with sales in excess of US$1 billion in 2014.