Viña Santa Rita

Owners: Claro Group
Chief Winemaker: Sebastián Labbé
Website: santarita.cl
Commercial Contact:
America: agauci@santarita.cl
EMEA: tpennington@santarita.cl
Asia: mesteso@santarita.cl



History
Viña Santa Rita, founded in 1880 in Alto Jahuel, in the Maipo Valley, is one of the wineries in Chile with the longest tradition. Over its 140-year history, it has reached more than 70 countries across five continents.

Its vineyards are located in Chile's most renowned wine valleys, such as Maipo, Apalta, Colchagua, Leyda, Limarí, Casablanca, and Maule. The winery produces its wines in Alto Jahuel, one of the country's oldest wineries, with an annual production exceeding 100 million liters.

In the same location stands the founder's mansion, Domingo Fernández Concha, which has now been transformed into the Boutique Hotel Casa Real. There is also an old chapel that preserves the history of the place, along with an extensive centenary park of 40 hectares and the Casona Doña Paula Jaraquemada, a prominent figure in Chile's independence. This entire ensemble was declared a National Monument in 1972. Additionally, inside the vineyard, there is the Andean Museum of the Claro Vial Foundation, which exhibits one of the country's most important ethnographic collections.

Thanks to this valuable historical and cultural heritage, the winery receives a large number of national and international tourists, exceeding 130,000 visitors annually. Recently, it was recognized as the "Best Wine Tourism Experience in Chile" at the 2022 Chilean Wine Tourism Awards. Furthermore, this year, it received international recognition from the English magazine The Drinks Business as the “Best Contribution to Wine and Spirits Tourism”.

In addition, Viña Santa Rita stands out for having a robust sustainability program that encompasses environmental, social, and economic aspects, implementing initiatives throughout the production chain to be a benchmark in the sustainable development of Chilean winegrowing.

Vineyards
Limarí Valley
134 hectares of vineyards located 28 km from the Pacific Ocean and 400 km north of Santiago. The vineyards are situated in the second terrace of the Limarí Valley and feature alluvial soils with a first layer of clay texture and a second layer of sandy clay and stones, with deposits of calcium carbonate between both layers. The climate is heavily influenced by the proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the low hills of the Coastal Mountain Range. Coastal fogs dissipate around midday, allowing for a moderate temperature increase thanks to the cool sea breezes. In January, the warmest month of the year, afternoon temperatures can reach up to 20°C. The average annual temperature is 15.3°C, with average annual precipitation of 150 mm. Grape varieties planted: Chardonnay and Syrah.

Casablanca Valley
Vineyards located 80 km from Santiago and close to the Pacific Ocean (26 km), at an average altitude of 500 m above sea level. The soils are colluvial-alluvial in origin with a sandy loam and sandy loam texture, low in nutrients, high permeability, and low moisture retention. These characteristics result in low yields and highly concentrated varietal characteristics. The climate is Mediterranean, with a temperature oscillation of 16°C between day and night. The most significant influence in Casablanca is the proximity to the sea and its effect on cooling the valley. Average annual temperature: 13.4°C. Average annual precipitation: 450 mm. Grape varieties planted: Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

Leyda Valley
85 hectares of vineyards located just 14 km from the Pacific Ocean, in the Coastal Mountain Range, southwest of Santiago. The soils are thin and clayey, with a granitic origin. The thermal conditions are Mediterranean-type, with low temperatures due to the proximity to the sea. Average annual temperature: 14.2°C. Average annual precipitation: 471 mm. Grape varieties planted: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

Maipo Valley
Located 40 km south of Santiago, at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, with alluvial and colluvial soils. The climate is Mediterranean semi-arid, characterized by cold winters with moderate rainfall and hot, dry summers. The temperature oscillation can reach 20°C. Average annual temperature: 13.9°C. Average annual precipitation: 400 mm. Grape varieties planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Franc.

Colchagua Valley
Located 181 km south of Santiago and 45 km from the Pacific Ocean. The soils have a volcanic origin, with clay and sandy loam textures. The climate is dry and warm, with dry summers and rainy winters, and is heavily influenced by the Coastal Mountain Range. Average annual temperature: 14.9°C. Average annual precipitation: 595 mm. Grape varieties planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Carménère.

Apalta Valley
Located 190 km south of Santiago. The higher and middle sectors have soils with granitic sediments deposited at the base of the hills, with sandy loam and sandy clay textures. The lower sector consists of alluvial deposits, with loam and clay loam soils. The climate has a significant temperature variation and cool breezes from the coast through the Tinguiririca River. Average annual temperature: 14.7°C. Average annual precipitation: 684 mm. Grape varieties planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Carménère.

Wines from Santa Rita