Undurraga

Viña Undurraga was officially founded in 1885 by Francisco Undurraga Vicuña, a Basque-descended entrepreneur, on the Fundo Santa Ana estate in Talagante, named in honor of his wife Ana Fernández de Íñiguez. Francisco had begun importing European vine cuttings as early as 1879, bringing Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir from France and Riesling and Gewürztraminer from Germany, transporting them across the equator in lead capsules to prevent wilting. The estate's gardens were designed around 1890 by French landscaper George Henri Dubois, whose plantings of Lebanese cedar, redwoods, and other species still stand today. The first harvest was recorded in 1891, and the winery won its first international award by 1910.

• First vines planted 1879 from European cuttings: Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir from Bordeaux, France; Riesling and Gewürztraminer from Germany, transported in lead capsules to survive the equatorial crossing
• Fundo Santa Ana estate named after the founder's wife, Ana Fernández de Íñiguez; the original oak casks were made from Bosnian oak purchased from the Chilean Army after the War of the Pacific
• Gardens designed c.1890 by French landscaper George Henri Dubois; first harvest 1891; first international award 1910, initiating a tradition of competition recognition that continues today

In 1903, Viña Undurraga became the first Chilean winery to export to the United States, delivering one case of Pinot Noir to each of the 45 states then in existence. By the 1960s the winery was producing nearly half a million bottles annually and exporting to 60 countries. Sparkling wine production began in 1975. In 1997, the construction of Nave 20, equipped with state-of-the-art tanks, transformed Undurraga into one of the most technologically advanced wineries in the region. In 2006, the Undurraga family sold the winery to the Picciotto and Yuraszeck families, who invested heavily in new vineyard acquisitions across Leyda, Almahue, and Cauquenes, adding more than 900 hectares to production. The winery is today part of the Grupo de Vinos del Pacífico (GVP).

• 1903: First Chilean winery to export to the USA, sending one case of Pinot Noir to each of the 45 US states; exports to Latin America followed from 1930
• 1975: Sparkling wine production launched; 1997: Nave 20 built with cutting-edge tank technology, establishing the winery as a regional leader in vinification infrastructure
• 2006: Sold to the Picciotto and Yuraszeck families, adding 900-plus hectares in Leyda, Almahue, and Cauquenes and introducing the Terroir Hunter concept under winemaker Rafael Urrejola; winery now part of GVP (Grupo de Vinos del Pacífico)

Undurraga farms approximately 1,700 hectares across seven estates in five Chilean valleys, with the main winery located at Talagante, 34 kilometers from Santiago, and a second winemaking facility at Quinta de Tilcoco in the Cachapoal/Rapel region. The historic Santa Ana estate (55 ha) in Talagante features alluvial soils with sandy-clay textures and stones. The Codigua estate (204 ha) in the municipality of Melipilla in Maipo is planted with a wide range of red and white varieties. The Colchagua estate (169 ha) spans a warm inland zone ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère. The Lomas de Leyda estate in San Antonio sits 90 kilometers west of Santiago and just 14 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean, where maritime breezes and coastal fog create cool conditions for Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah. The Maule estate (146 ha) lies 350 kilometers south of Santiago.

• Santa Ana estate (55 ha, Talagante, Maipo): Historic home of the winery; alluvial soils, Mediterranean climate; planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay
• Lomas de Leyda (San Antonio): Located 90 km west of Santiago and 14 km from the Pacific Ocean on the western slopes of the Coastal Range; cool maritime climate develops intense, fresh flavors in Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Syrah
• Colchagua (169 ha) and Codigua/Maipo (204 ha): Mid-valley inland estates supplying structured reds including Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère; Maule (146 ha) adds old-vine Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon from 350 km south of Santiago

Undurraga's portfolio spans from approachable entry-level expressions to ultra-premium terroir-specific bottlings. Altazor is the flagship wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend from old-vine parcels in Pirque, Alto Maipo, complemented by Carignan from old dry-farmed vines in Maule and small amounts of Carmenère from Colchagua; it debuted with the 1999 vintage and is aged for 16 months in French oak. Trama is an elegant Pinot Noir from the San Antonio Valley. Vigno is a field blend of 88% Carignan and 12% Cinsault from old vines in southern Chile. The T.H. Terroir Hunter series explores micro-terroirs across the length of Chile, from Limarí in the north to Malleco in the south. The Founder's Collection presents premium Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo and Carmenère from Colchagua. Sibaris is the Gran Reserva tier, Aliwen is the Reserva tier, and Titillum is the traditional-method sparkling wine.

• Altazor (flagship): Approximately 90% Cabernet Sauvignon from Pirque, Alto Maipo, with Carignan and Carménère; aged 16 months in French oak (30% new); first vintage 1999; production typically limited to a few thousand bottles
• T.H. Terroir Hunter: Described by Undurraga as Chile's most awarded wine project; explores small plots across Chile including Alto Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon, Leyda Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, Limarí Syrah, and Malleco Pinot Noir
• Trama (San Antonio Pinot Noir), Vigno (88% Carignan/12% Cinsault, old vines, southern Chile), Founder's Collection (Maipo Cabernet Sauvignon and Colchagua Carménère), Sibaris Gran Reserva, Aliwen Reserva, and Titillum traditional-method sparkling complete the lineup

Winemaking at Undurraga is led by Rafael Urrejola, one of Chile's most recognized young winemakers, assisted by Carlos Concha and Patricio Lucero, with consultant Alvaro Espinoza and sparkling wine advisor Philippe Coulon. The winery operates two facilities with a combined capacity exceeding 20 million liters, balancing 19th-century underground cellars ideal for Reserva aging with modern temperature-controlled fermentation. Sustainability is deeply embedded in operations. Undurraga has held the Wines of Chile Sustainability Code certification since 2016 and became a Silver Member of International Wineries for Climate Action in 2022. Solar panels operate at three of the four wineries, drip irrigation minimizes water use, and a rigorous waste program recycled 420 tonnes of waste in 2021 alone. Since 2022, the company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 26.2%.

• Rafael Urrejola leads winemaking, recognized internationally for quality and innovation; sparkling wine production benefits from the expertise of French advisor Philippe Coulon since the Titillum program's development
• Two winemaking facilities (Talagante, Maipo and Quinta de Tilcoco, Cachapoal) with combined capacity exceeding 20 million liters; underground cellars dating to the 19th century provide ideal conditions for aging Reserva wines
• Wines of Chile Sustainability Code certified since 2016; IWCA Silver Member since 2022; solar panels at three wineries; drip irrigation across all estates; 26.2% GHG emissions reduction achieved since 2022

Undurraga exports to more than 70 countries across five continents and is part of the Grupo de Vinos del Pacífico (GVP), a group that also includes Talagante International Brands and Bodega Volcanes de Chile. The winery has been recognized among the world's 50 most admired wine brands by UK trade journal Drinks International and was named one of the Top 100 Wineries of the World by Wine and Spirits magazine in both 2021 and 2022. The historic Santa Ana estate in Talagante, 40 kilometers from Santiago, is a leading wine tourism destination offering guided cellar tours, vineyard walks, and tastings in the 19th-century park designed by George Henri Dubois. The estate can accommodate events for up to 500 people in its historic marquee.

• Exports to 70-plus countries across five continents; member of GVP (Grupo de Vinos del Pacífico); named one of Top 100 Wineries of the World by Wine and Spirits magazine in 2021 and 2022
• Wine tourism at Santa Ana estate, Talagante, 40 km from Santiago: guided tours of 19th-century park, underground cellars, and vineyards, concluding with reserve wine tastings; events venue accommodating up to 500 guests
• Historic estate park designed c.1890 by French landscaper George Henri Dubois, with centenarian trees including Lebanese cedar, redwoods, and date palms forming one of Chile's most visited winery gardens