The ultimate guide to the best wineries in Chile, including all the top wineries to visit in Aconcagua, Maipo, Casablanca, Colchagua, Itata and beyond.
All about the Wineries and producers in the wine regions of Chile.
Don Melchor is the iconic wine and super premium winery of Concha y Toro, in the heart of Maipo Andes and the lionized region of Puente Alto. One of Chile’s most acclaimed wines, Don Melchor is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend and recognised as one of Chile’s top ‘cru’ wines and a favourite of wine collectors worldwide.
About Don Melchor winery & history
Don Melchor was a pioneer in Chile’s wine industry in the 19th century. Born in 1834, he had an esteemed career in politics before – at the age of 50 – he planted the first pre-phylloxera vines on the family estate in 1883.
Although he died at an early age, barely a decade later in 1892, he already set in motion the wine production and legacy of the family. The winery would go on to become one of Chile’s largest producers, Concha y Toro.
The first vintage of Don Melchor was in 1987, focused on the Cabernet Sauvignon vines from the family’s best vineyard in Maipo Andes. Under the hand of French winemaker Jacques Boissenot, it became one of the early icons of premium Chilean wine.
Since 2013, his son Eric Boissenot has been involved in the winemaking, side by side with Head Winemaker Enrique Tirado.
About the Don Melchor vineyard
Located at the foot of the Andes mountain range, the Don Melchor Vineyard is on the northern bank of the Maipo River at 650 meters above sea level, in the heart of Puente Alto.
One of the most prized DOs within Maipo Andes, Puente Alto comprises three vineyards – one of which is the Don Melchor vineyard. In total, Don Melchor has 127 hectares: 90% correspond to Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% to Cabernet Franc, 2% to Merlot, and 1% to Petit Verdot. The vineyard is split into 151 mini parcels by winemaker Enrique Tirado, which are all vinified separately.
Currently, the vineyard reaches an average of more than 35 years of age, which includes old vines (around 80%) planted between 1979 and 1992, at a density of 2,000 to 4,000 plants/ha. The newer vines, planted 2004 – 2017, are planted at a density of 8,000 plants/ha.
The soil is loam in the first 30 centimeters, then, at depth, a large quantity of stones and gravels appear. These soils ensure good drainage and low fertility, which in combination with the complexity of the soils, aids in high-quality red wines.
Agroecology disciplines are practiced in the vineyard, seeking to promote life and biodiversity in the soils and safeguard the centennial vineyard’s future. These practices include the addition of biological corridors, greater plant cover and organic nutrition, and the establishment of an irrigation reservoir, all of which attract more birds and insects to the vineyard.
In addition, the team planted a ‘solar vineyard’ in 2018, working with radial vineyard orientation in order to further explore the relationship between row orientation, planting density and the microclimate of the vines.
About the winemaker: Enrique Tirado
Enrique Tirado is one of the most experienced winemakers in Puente Alto, having worked on developing Don Melchor since the 1997 vintage. In 2002, he did one of the first terroir studies in Chile, and has always applied this meticulous rigour to his viticultural management and winemaking.
As well as making Don Melchor, Enrique is part of the winemaking team for Almaviva and works closely with the Boissenot and Rothschild families. He studied winemaking in Chile, however also completed a degree in Bordeaux between 2011 and 2012. He has been General Manager of Viña Don Melchor since 2019.
“For me, Don Melchor is the constant search for the best expression of each of the vines in the vineyard, to achieve the beauty of the balance of the Puente Alto terroir in each harvest. That is my true obsession. I use knowledge and technology as tools to achieve a greater understanding, but above all, it is observing and feeling each plant which allows us to achieve the perfect balance in each harvest.”
About Don Melchor wine
Don Melchor is one exclusive wine, which comes from the best plots and selection of the Puente Alto vineyard each vintage. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, there is often a small addition of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot in the blend, with quantities depending on the vintage.
Over time, Don Melchor has become increasingly elegant in its expression, reflecting the team’s experience and mastery of the unique terroir conditions of Puente Alto in Maipo. Typically, the wine spends about a year and a half aging in French oak barrels, blending both new and used wood, before being bottled.
Visiting Don Melchor winery
You can visit the Casona of Don Melchor, which is part of Concha y Toro winery, in Pirque, Maipo. Tastings of Don Melchor are exclusive and private, ranging from the ‘Collector’s Experience’ in which you can taste mature library vintages, to a ‘Winemaking Experience’ in which you can make your own blend of Don Melchor. For serious wine geeks, there is also the chance to try the very best vintages of Don Melchor in the ‘Top 100 Vertical Tasting’, which includes the highly-rated 1988, 1993, 2003, 2014, 2018 and 2021 vintages.
The Casona is also open for wine paired lunches. You can read more information about the tourism experiences and make a reservation online.
Learn more about the experience of visiting Don Melchor
