De Martino

De Martino was founded in 1934 when Pietro De Martino Pascualone, an Italian immigrant who had emigrated seeking agricultural opportunities, established a winery at Isla de Maipo in the central Maipo Valley. Isla de Maipo (literally Maipo Island) is a Maipo River town roughly 50 kilometers south of Santiago, named for the geographical island formed by the river's branching channels around the historical settlement. The alluvial gravel soils and Mediterranean climate of the central Maipo bend made it an ideal site for Bordeaux varieties, and the family established a commercial Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère base on what would grow into a 300-hectare estate. Through the second and third generations the family expanded vineyard holdings and built regional reputation as a quality producer; the third generation was represented by Pietro, Marco, and Remo De Martino. The transformative fourth generation, now led by brothers Marco Antonio De Martino (general management) and Sebastián De Martino (technical direction), took over operational leadership in the late 1990s and 2000s and pivoted the winery from commercial Cabernet specialist to a multi-valley terroir innovator. Marcelo Retamal joined as winemaker and anchored the producer's identity for over two decades; Nicolás Pérez succeeded him in 2021 and continues the minimal-intervention, terroir-driven approach Retamal established.

• Founded 1934 by Italian immigrant Pietro De Martino Pascualone at Isla de Maipo, a Maipo River town 50 km south of Santiago named for the island formed by the river's branching channels
• Third generation represented by Pietro, Marco, and Remo De Martino; fourth generation by brothers Marco Antonio De Martino (general management) and Sebastián De Martino (technical direction)
• Marcelo Retamal anchored the producer's identity for over two decades as winemaker; Nicolás Pérez succeeded him in 2021 and continues the minimal-intervention, terroir-driven approach
• Family-owned across four generations; never sold to corporate or external investment groups; among the most influential producers in the modern Chilean terroir movement

De Martino's most documented historical contribution to Chilean wine is the 1996 first commercial labeling and export of Carmenère as a varietal wine, just two years after French ampelographer Jean-Michel Boursiquot's 1994 identification at Carmen winery that the variety previously called Merlot in Chile was in fact Bordeaux's Carmenère. The breakthrough wine was sourced from Alto de Piedras vineyard, planted in 1992 on a 1.5-hectare parcel at Isla de Maipo, originally designed as a Carmenère-Cabernet Franc co-planted site. The wine is 85 percent Carmenère and 15 percent Cabernet Franc co-fermented, with the Cabernet Franc contribution lifting Carmenère's tendency toward soft mid-palate and adding violet floral and savoury herbal complexity. From 2003 the wine was marketed under the Alto de Piedras single-vineyard name within the De Martino Single Vineyard Series, and the bottling remains the producer's most distinctive premium Maipo expression. Alto de Piedras is fermented with native yeast, aged 24 months in a 2,500-liter foudre, and presents the deeply savoury Carmenère signature: black olive, dried herb, smoked paprika, ripe blackberry, and the structured tannins of Isla de Maipo's deep alluvial gravels.

• First Chilean producer to label and export Carmenère as a varietal in 1996, two years after Jean-Michel Boursiquot's 1994 ampelographic identification at Carmen winery
• Sourced from Alto de Piedras vineyard, planted 1992 at Isla de Maipo on 1.5 hectares; co-planted as a Carmenère-Cabernet Franc site
• Bottling: 85 percent Carmenère and 15 percent Cabernet Franc co-fermented; native yeast; aged 24 months in 2,500-liter foudre; from 2003 marketed under the Alto de Piedras single-vineyard name
• Style: deeply savoury Carmenère with black olive, dried herb, smoked paprika, ripe blackberry; structured tannins from deep alluvial gravels and the violet floral lift contributed by Cabernet Franc

De Martino has sourced from over 347 vineyards across Chile, the broadest geographic footprint of any single Chilean producer. The Single Vineyard Series, launched in the early 2000s and progressively expanded, presents each distinctive terroir as a discrete single-bottling identity. The geographic breadth spans Isla de Maipo (Alto de Piedras Carmenère), Cachapoal Andes (La Aguada Cabernet Sauvignon), Maule (Las Cruces Carignan, Empedrado slate work), Itata Coastal Cordillera (Guarilihue old-vine Cinsault and Muscat at 22 km from the Pacific), Choapa Valley (Quebrada Seca Vineyard Syrah at the extreme northern viticultural fringe), Limarí (limestone-bedrock Chardonnay distinct from Chile's predominant granite and alluvial soils), Elqui (altitude reds in the extreme north), and Malleco (volcanic clay Chardonnay in the country's southernmost wine zone). Choapa, in particular, was a De Martino discovery: the team identified the Quebrada Seca site at the desert-adjacent transverse valley between Limarí and Aconcagua and demonstrated Syrah could ripen on that extreme-north fringe. The Single Vineyard Series operates parallel to the Itata Series (Gallardía and Viejas Tinajas), the Old Vines series (including VIGNO Maule Carignan), and the De Martino Series (Estate, 347 Vineyards, Legado Reserva) for a portfolio that spans value entry tier to premium single-site bottlings.

• Sourced from over 347 vineyards across Chile spanning at least 8 distinct valley terroirs; among the broadest geographic footprints in the country
• Single Vineyard Series: Alto de Piedras Carmenère (Isla de Maipo), Quebrada Seca Chardonnay (Limarí limestone), La Aguada Cabernet Sauvignon (Cachapoal Andes), Las Cruces Carignan (Maule)
• Choapa Valley discovery: De Martino identified the Quebrada Seca site at the extreme northern viticultural fringe and demonstrated Syrah viability on the desert-adjacent transverse valley
• Limarí Chardonnay: limestone bedrock terroir distinct from the country's predominant granite and alluvial soils; Quebrada Seca Chardonnay anchors the De Martino premium white tier

The 2011 launch of Viejas Tinajas Cinsault was a turning point for Chilean wine. Marcelo Retamal had identified the Itata Valley's centuries-old dry-farmed bush-trained Cinsault, País, and Muscat of Alexandria vines, planted continuously by smallholder rural families on the granitic Coastal Cordillera hills around Guarilihue (located 22 kilometers from the Pacific and 400 kilometers south of Santiago), as one of Chile's most underexploited heritage tiers; the grapes had historically been sold to volume producers for anonymous bulk wine despite the vines being among the oldest in continuous viticulture in South America. The Viejas Tinajas program partners with smallholder growers in Coelemu, Trehuaco, Guarilihue, and Portezuelo, sourcing ungrafted bush-vine fruit (some vines planted in 1975, others much older). The wine is fermented as whole berries in century-old Chilean clay tinajas (the traditional pre-industrial Chilean fermentation vessel, similar in shape and function to Spanish tinajas and Georgian qvevris) with native yeasts and no added sulfur, aged on skins through winter, and bottled unfined and unfiltered after spring malolactic completion. De Martino now uses approximately 150 century-old tinajas rescued from abandoned vineyards across Chile, each averaging around 150 years old. The first vintage 2011 was the internationally visible validation of the Itata heritage tier and directly inspired the subsequent artisan vigneron wave (Roberto Henríquez, A Los Viñateros Bravos, Pedro Parra y Familia, Bouchon País Salvaje, Louis-Antoine Luyt's Chile work). De Martino was also a founding 2010 member of the VIGNO (Vignadores de Carignan) consortium and bottles a VIGNO-qualifying Old Vines Carignan from dry-farmed bush-trained 30+ year old Cauquenes vines; the 2019 vintage scored 97 points from Robert Parker.

• Viejas Tinajas Cinsault first vintage 2011: whole-berry native-yeast fermentation in century-old Chilean clay tinajas (no added sulfur); aged on skins through winter; bottled unfined and unfiltered after spring malolactic
• Smallholder partnerships in Coelemu, Trehuaco, Guarilihue, Portezuelo (Itata Coastal Cordillera): ungrafted bush-vine fruit from vines planted 1975 and earlier; 22 km from the Pacific on granitic Coastal Cordillera
• Approximately 150 century-old Chilean tinajas in active use, rescued from abandoned vineyards; each averaging around 150 years old; provide natural oxygen exchange and kinetic lees movement without bâtonnage
• VIGNO (Vignadores de Carignan) founding 2010 member: De Martino VIGNO Old Vines Carignan from dry-farmed bush-trained 30+ year old Cauquenes vines; 2019 vintage scored 97 points from Robert Parker

De Martino has been organic certified since 1998 (BCS Oko-Garantie, the German organic certifier), making it one of the earliest organic adopters in the Chilean industry. In 2009 the producer became the first carbon-neutral winery in Latin America and the first winery worldwide to generate carbon bonds, achieved through the Water Treatment Plant project that converts wastewater treatment offsets into tradable carbon credits. The carbon-neutral certification covers the full operational footprint: vineyard operations, packaging (lighter glass bottles), transport, and winery energy consumption. Beyond the certifications, the underlying philosophy commits to minimal-intervention viticulture (organic farming on all owned parcels, biodynamic transition for select sites), dry farming with horses at the Guarilihue Itata estate, native-yeast fermentation across the premium tiers from 2011, elimination of all new oak from 2011 (preference for older French barriques, 2,500 to 5,000-liter foudres, concrete tanks, stainless steel, and tinaja amphora vessels), and exploration of underutilized regions like Malleco at the country's southern fringe. The Viejas Tinajas program is the most visible expression of the cellar philosophy: amphora fermentation and aging eliminates oak influence entirely and presents the old-vine fruit character without intermediation.

• Organic certified since 1998 (BCS Oko-Garantie, German organic certifier); among the earliest organic adopters in the Chilean industry
• First carbon-neutral winery in Latin America (2009); first winery worldwide to generate carbon bonds via the Water Treatment Plant project converting wastewater treatment offsets into tradable carbon credits
• From 2011: native yeast fermentation across the range, eliminated all new oak (older French barriques, 2,500-5,000 liter foudres, concrete, stainless steel, tinaja amphora preferred)
• Dry farming with horses at the Guarilihue Itata estate; exploration of Malleco (Chile's southernmost wine zone) with volcanic clay Chardonnay; underpins the producer's terroir-discovery reputation

De Martino has earned consistent international recognition over two decades. Industry awards include Winery of the Year 2011 (Wines of Chile Gala de Vino, the Chilean wine industry's most prestigious annual honour), Chilean Wine Producer of the Year 2005 (IWSC, International Wine and Spirits Competition London), and Decanter New World Icon of Tomorrow 2007. Robert Parker, James Suckling, Decanter, and Wine Spectator have all rated De Martino premium bottlings in the 91 to 97 point range with frequent placements in annual best-of-Chile reports. The De Martino VIGNO Old Vines Carignan 2019 vintage scored 97 points from Robert Parker. The Single Vineyard Quebrada Seca Chardonnay (Limarí limestone) is often cited as a benchmark Chilean Chardonnay and a key validation of Limarí's limestone terroir for premium white wine. Beyond external accolades, De Martino's industry influence operates through the producers it has shaped: many of the artisan vignerons defining the contemporary Chilean small-production landscape (Roberto Henríquez, A Los Viñateros Bravos, the broader Itata revival cohort) trace direct lineage or inspiration to the early Viejas Tinajas partnerships and Marcelo Retamal's subsequent consulting work after his De Martino tenure. The producer functions as both a premium commercial business and a kind of de facto industry incubator for the modern Chilean terroir movement.

• Awards: Winery of the Year 2011 (Wines of Chile Gala de Vino), Chilean Wine Producer of the Year 2005 (IWSC London), Decanter New World Icon of Tomorrow 2007
• Consistent 91-97 point ratings across Robert Parker, James Suckling, Decanter, and Wine Spectator for premium tiers; De Martino VIGNO Old Vines Carignan 2019 scored 97 points from Robert Parker
• Single Vineyard Quebrada Seca Chardonnay (Limarí limestone) often cited as benchmark Chilean Chardonnay and validation of Limarí's limestone terroir for premium white wine
• Industry influence beyond accolades: artisan vignerons including Roberto Henríquez, A Los Viñateros Bravos, and the broader Itata cohort trace direct lineage to early Viejas Tinajas partnerships and Marcelo Retamal's subsequent consulting work