Montes

Viña Montes was born from a first harvest in 1987 by Aurelio Montes Sr. and Douglas Murray, which became the inaugural Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon release. In 1988, Aurelio and Douglas formally constituted the winery alongside two additional partners, Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand, initially under the name Discover Wines (DiscoverWine Ltda). Aurelio Montes Sr. had spent 16 years rising through the ranks at Viña Undurraga and Viña San Pedro before co-founding Montes, bringing the technical winemaking expertise to the partnership. Douglas Murray contributed export and marketing strategy, identifying premium international markets as the target from day one; Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand brought commercial and operational depth. The four founders described the venture as a passion project aimed at producing wines of a quality far superior to those being made in Chile at the time, when the country was internationally regarded as a source of value commodity wine. Montes grew without foreign investment or consulting winemakers, making it a fully Chilean-owned success story from outset to the current era.

• First harvest 1987 by Aurelio Montes Sr. and Douglas Murray; inaugural Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon release
• Viña Montes formally constituted 1988 as Discover Wines (DiscoverWine Ltda) with Aurelio Montes Sr., Douglas Murray, Alfredo Vidaurre, and Pedro Grand as the four founding partners
• Aurelio Montes Sr. had 16 years of prior experience at Viña Undurraga and Viña San Pedro before co-founding Montes; Douglas Murray contributed export and marketing strategy targeting premium international markets
• Founding philosophy: produce premium wines at a level that did not yet exist in Chile, targeting export markets from day one; grew without foreign investment or consulting winemakers

Montes' historic significance rests on multiple pioneering contributions to Chilean fine wine. Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, released from the 1987 harvest, was the first premium Cabernet Sauvignon exported from Chile, establishing the international template for Chilean premium reds at a time when the country's wine industry was still primarily oriented toward value-tier production. In 1993, Aurelio Montes Sr. introduced Syrah to Chile with the planting at Apalta that would eventually produce Montes Folly. Montes pioneered hillside viticulture in Apalta when flat-valley planting was the Chilean norm, planting steep slopes up to 45-degree inclines on the granite hillsides of the Apalta amphitheater; the hillside parcels produce the structurally concentrated Apalta fruit that anchors the Folly, Alpha M, and Purple Angel icon wines. Montes brought French virus-free clones to Chile from the late 1980s, reduced yields to premium levels, and planted at higher densities than was standard in Chile at the time, importing French viticultural standards alongside the Chilean terroir. The Apalta DO status was finally achieved in 2018, partly due to decades of advocacy by Montes and the broader Apalta producer community.

• Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon (released from 1987 harvest): first premium Cabernet Sauvignon exported from Chile, establishing international template for Chilean premium reds
• Aurelio Montes Sr. introduced Syrah to Chile in 1993 with the planting at Apalta that would eventually produce Montes Folly (first vintage 2000)
• Pioneered hillside viticulture in Apalta when flat-valley planting was the Chilean norm; planted steep slopes up to 45-degree inclines on granite hillsides of the amphitheater
• Brought French virus-free clones to Chile from late 1980s, reduced yields to premium levels, planted at higher densities than Chilean standard; Apalta DO status achieved 2018 partly due to decades of advocacy

Montes owns three estate vineyards: Apalta (Colchagua Valley), Marchigüe (western Colchagua), and Zapallar (Aconcagua Coast), with long-term supply agreements in Casablanca, Leyda, Itata, and experimental plantings in Chiloé. The Apalta vineyard, located in the DO Apalta sub-zone of Colchagua Valley at approximately 240 metres above sea level and 64 kilometres from the Pacific, covers around 140 hectares; half of the vineyard is planted on steep hillside parcels with slopes exceeding 45 degrees on thin granite soils, producing the concentrated fruit that anchors the icon wines. The Marchigüe vineyard, located between the Coastal Range and the sea in western Colchagua approximately 25 kilometres from the coast, contributes Carménère and Petit Verdot to Purple Angel alongside Apalta fruit, with a longer drier coastal-influenced ripening curve. The Zapallar vineyard on the Aconcagua Coast, 11 kilometres from the Pacific, covers 47 hectares planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay for the cool-climate white and Pinot Noir tier. Experimental plantings on the island of Mechuque in Chiloé (approximately 1,200 kilometres south of Santiago, begun 2018) include Albariño, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, exploring the southernmost commercial viticulture frontier in Chile.

• Apalta vineyard (Colchagua, ~240 m elevation, 64 km from Pacific, ~140 ha): half on steep hillside parcels exceeding 45° on thin granite soils; produces concentrated fruit anchoring icon wines
• Marchigüe vineyard (western Colchagua, ~25 km from coast): Carménère and Petit Verdot contributions to Purple Angel alongside Apalta fruit; longer drier coastal-influenced ripening curve
• Zapallar vineyard (Aconcagua Coast, 47 ha, 11 km from Pacific): Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay for cool-climate white and Pinot Noir tier
• Experimental Mechuque plantings (Chiloé, ~1,200 km south of Santiago, begun 2018) explore southernmost commercial viticulture frontier in Chile with Albariño, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Montes' icon wines are all grown in Colchagua Valley across Apalta and Marchigüe. Montes Alpha M (inaugural 1996 vintage) is a Bordeaux-style blend of 80 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 percent Cabernet Franc, 5 percent Merlot, and 5 percent Petit Verdot from the Apalta amphitheater; aged 18 months in French oak and released only in top vintages with winemaker approval, the wine is recognised as one of Chile's first icon wines and a benchmark Bordeaux-style premium Apalta expression. Montes Folly (inaugural 2000 vintage) is a 100 percent Syrah from the steepest hillside parcels of Finca de Apalta with slopes up to 45-degree inclines and yields approximately 3 tonnes per hectare; aged 18 months in French oak (80 percent new), the wine is recognised as one of Chile's leading premium Syrah benchmarks with Northern Rhône-comparable pepper, violet, and red fruit. Purple Angel (May 2005 launch) was Chile's first premium Carménère; a blend of 92 percent Carménère and 8 percent Petit Verdot from Apalta and Marchigüe aged 16 to 18 months in 80 percent new French oak, the wine demonstrated that Carménère could anchor a premium tier rather than function only as a supporting variety in Bordeaux-style blends. Taita (2007 launch) is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based super-icon from Marchigüe sourced from the oldest hand-selected parcels. Muse rounds the icon roster as the fifth. The Outer Limits line explores experimental regions and varieties, while the Alpha and Classic Series form the broad premium and entry ranges.

• Montes Alpha M (inaugural 1996): Bordeaux-style 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot from Apalta; 18 months French oak; only produced in top vintages with winemaker approval
• Montes Folly (inaugural 2000): 100% Syrah from steepest Apalta hillside parcels (up to 45° incline); ~3 t/ha yield; 18 months in 80% new French oak; Northern Rhône-comparable pepper, violet, red fruit
• Purple Angel (launched May 2005): Chile's first premium Carménère; 92% Carménère + 8% Petit Verdot from Apalta and Marchigüe; 16-18 months in 80% new French oak; demonstrated Carménère could anchor premium tier
• Taita (launched 2007) Cabernet Sauvignon-based super-icon from Marchigüe sourced from oldest hand-selected parcels; Muse rounds icon roster as fifth; Outer Limits experimental line and Alpha/Classic broad premium and entry ranges

The Apalta winery, inaugurated in 2004, was designed using gravity-flow principles to avoid pumping and incorporates feng shui design principles throughout the architecture, including Gregorian chant played continuously in the barrel cellar to encourage harmonious wine development through resonant acoustic vibration. The gravity-flow approach minimises mechanical stress on the fruit and wine throughout fermentation, maceration, and élevage. Montes developed water-saving viticulture techniques over the 2010s and 2020s that reduced water use by 65 percent compared to conventional Chilean viticulture, equivalent to the annual consumption of 20,000 households. In 2024, Montes achieved B Corp certification, recognising its commitment to sustainability, ethical practices, and positive social and environmental impact across the operation. The Apalta winery has become an architectural and viticultural pilgrimage destination, with World's Best Vineyards ranking Viña Montes 4th worldwide and best in South America in 2022. Aurelio Montes Jr. now leads winemaking, continuing innovation under his father's guidance through the contemporary era of the family wine business.

• Apalta winery inaugurated 2004: gravity-flow design avoids pumping; feng shui principles throughout architecture; Gregorian chant played continuously in barrel cellar for harmonious wine development
• Water-saving viticulture reduced water use by 65 percent compared to conventional Chilean viticulture (equivalent to annual consumption of 20,000 households) over 2010s-2020s
• B Corp certification achieved 2024 recognising commitment to sustainability, ethical practices, and positive social and environmental impact across operation
• Aurelio Montes Jr. now leads winemaking, continuing innovation under his father's guidance; World's Best Vineyards ranked Viña Montes 4th worldwide and best in South America in 2022

Montes' influence extends well beyond Chile's borders, with wines sold in more than 100 countries and consistent recognition as a benchmark Chilean producer. Aurelio Montes Sr. has been inducted into the Decanter Hall of Fame, a distinction shared by only a small number of producers globally, in recognition of his contributions to Chilean fine wine through the founding of the premium export tier and the introduction of Syrah to the country. He received the International Wine Challenge Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, further consolidating his standing as one of Chile's most influential viticulturists. Purple Angel has received scores of 97 points from James Suckling across multiple recent vintages, demonstrating sustained quality at the premium Carménère tier; Montes Folly 2012 earned 97 points from Suckling; Montes Alpha M consistently scores 92 to 95 points across critics. The winery produces approximately 7 million bottles annually with approximately 95 percent exported; distribution across more than 100 countries makes Montes one of the most globally available Chilean fine-wine brands. The Apalta winery's design, hillside viticulture, and water-saving practices have become reference points for Chilean industry sustainability conversations through the 2010s and 2020s.

• Aurelio Montes Sr. inducted into Decanter Hall of Fame; received International Wine Challenge Lifetime Achievement Award 2020 in recognition of contributions to Chilean fine wine
• Purple Angel 97 points James Suckling across multiple recent vintages; Montes Folly 2012 earned 97 points James Suckling; Montes Alpha M consistently 92-95 points across critics
• ~7 million bottles annually with ~95 percent exported; distribution across 100+ countries makes Montes one of most globally available Chilean fine-wine brands
• Apalta winery design, hillside viticulture, and water-saving practices have become reference points for Chilean industry sustainability conversations through 2010s-2020s