Santa Rita announces major personnel changes

South America’s Santa Rita Estates, the Claro Group wineries of Santa Rita, Carmen, Sur Andino and Doña Paula, has announced key personnel changes for its winemaking and viticultural teams that seek “to boost the work of its professionals, while maintaining the experience, knowledge and trajectory of its great figures”.

Sebastián Labbé will take over the position of Premium and Ultra Premium Winemaker of Viña Santa Rita.

The company, recently recognised as Winery of the Year 2016 by Wines of Chile, has taken on the challenge of integrating new and younger talent into the winemaking teams who will work alongside its established winemakers.

Sebastián Labbé, current chief winemaker of Viña Carmen, will take over the position of Premium and Ultra Premium Winemaker of Viña Santa Rita. Labbé joined Viña Carmen after his stint as assistant winemaker in wineries in Australia and New Zealand.

He has stood out for “his strong spirit of innovation, which will continue to develop from his new position in Santa Rita”, the company said. Teresita Ovalle will work as the second winemaker, who has been part of the oenological team of Viña Carmen for the last two years.

Cecilia Torres, who has led Casa Real for almost 30 years will continue as consultant supporting the new team of the award-winning icon wine. He is recognized with the Oenological Trajectory Award granted by the Circle of Gastronomic Journalists of Chile in 2015.

Andrés Ilabaca, currently chief winemaker of Santa Rita, will take over as technical director of Research & Development. Ilabaca was named ‘Winemaker of the Year’ in 2014 by the Circle of Gastronomic Journalists of Chile.

Óscar Salas will continue to lead the Santa Rita Reserva wines, with brands such as Secret Reserve, Medalla Real Reserva and 120 Reserva Especial, the latter being the official sponsor of Arsenal.

César Catalán will be in charge of the varietal and national consumption wines of Santa Rita, including the brands Tres Medallas and Gran 120, aiming to maintain the leadership in these segments.

Viña Carmen will soon announce its new chief winemaker. The main goal will be to continue to position Carmen as an innovative winery in the development of wines of great recognition and to promote the Gold, Winemaker’s, Gran Reserva and Wave Series lines, and among others.

The Viticulture Department will continue to be led by Gerardo Leal, who assumed this position at Santa Rita Estates in 2015 after significant experience in Errázuriz and formerly in New Zealand. Gerardo has been a key piece in the development of emblematic projects for the group as the WiSe Project.

The Doña Paula team of Marcos Fernandez as chief winemaker and Martin Kaiser as head of viticulture will remain unchanged, and Eduardo Alemparte, director of vitiviniculture, will continue to manage the winemaking and viticultural teams in both Chile and Argentina.

Andres Lavados, CEO, Santa Rita Estates, said of the changes, ‘With this new structure Santa Rita Estates consolidates a top-of-the-line team in viticulture and oenology that will enable a true path to sustainability. This means the company takes on new challenges for 2017, with young professionals giving new impetus to the winery, working alongside successful and experienced winemakers who with their personality and talent have undoubtedly contributed to the successful history of Santa Rita.”