Proust Q&A: Eduardo Chadwick

Eduardo Chadwick, president of Viña Errázuriz that owns Don Maximiano, Seña and Viñedo Chadwick, is one of Chilean wines’ foremost champions. After chatting to dbHK about the Asian market, Cabernet Sauvignon’s potential in Chile and the legendary 2004 Berlin tasting, the vintner shared his definition of happiness, his love for mountain climbing, swimming and his ideal dinner party with Angelina Jolie.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
My definition of happiness is to be in balance with your life, your principle. Enjoying the life you are happy with and spending your time accordingly.

Which living person do you most admire?
People who are true to what they believe, who can lead a life true to themselves and don’t follow others.

What is your greatest extravagance?
I like mountain climbing. I really enjoy taking these off trips to the mountains on my own or with my friends, just getting myself away from the world. And the same goes for swimming. I love swimming and I am a good swimmer.

What is your current state of mind?
I am happy because I am pursuing this dream to get recognition for our wines for many years, and finally I am seeing that it’s happening.

What is the quality you most like in another person?
Humbleness and being transparent and honest. Just be yourself.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
My wife and my four daughters. I live for them.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Finesse and elegance [breaks out in laughter]. I am embarrassed to say but it’s true. We were always trying to express what we do, and I think I overused it. I apologise for that.

When and where were you happiest?
I love a house by the sea, overlooking the ocean. Nice music, relaxing mood at home with my family.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
I’d like to have more patience and to be more in control.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I would like to have more artistic talents to appreciate music and art.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
From a business perspective, we helped the world to recognise quality wines from Chile, and to put Chilean wines on the map. That’s something on the professional side, but on the family side, I am very proud of my family, my daughters.

Where would you most like to live?
I love living in Chile, but it’s far from the rest of the world. It’s a long journey to everywhere we go but it’s a lovely place, with ideal weather.

Who is your favourite writer?
Isabel Allende, a Chilean writer. She has very nice novels on Chile. She is a very talented writer.

Who is your hero of fiction?
Let me think about that. Normally when you think of hero of fiction, you think of Superman. I don’t know if he is my hero but that’s what comes to my mind when I was reading comic books.

What is your greatest regret?
I had the loss of two children. They were born but suddenly died. It’s a lifelong regret.

What is your motto?
This is just the beginning.

Who would be your ideal dinner party guests and what three wines would you serve?
I guess I would love to invite Angelina Jolie. I would have to say my wife as well, but [would invite them] separately of course [more laughter]. Also, Jeannie Cho Lee MW, who is a very fond friend of mine. Every time I come to Hong Kong, I would try to see her. It’s funny she also has four girls so we are really good friends. I would have a very nice selection of wines, starting with Aconcagua Costa Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, perhaps followed by some nice Cabernet from Chile and Bordeaux. I love Margaux, it’s my favourite first growth. I was also very close to the late winemaker Paul Pontallier. We spent some time in Chile together. Margaux has been my benchmark wine, and of course I would serve Viñedo Chadwick.