Viña El Principal

Owners: Said Handal Family
Chief Winemaker: Marco Puyo
Website: elprincipal.cl
Commercial Contact: rpenafiel@elprincipal.cl



History
Viña El Principal is a boutique vineyard founded in 1993 by the French winemaker Jean Paul Valette, who was the owner of the prestigious Château Pavie, classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé in Saint-Émilion. With a passion for excellence, his goal was to produce wines of the highest quality that reflected the distinctive character of the Chilean terroir, along with the tradition and expertise of the Valette family in crafting high-end wines.

The chosen location to establish the vineyard was at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, in the Maipo Valley (Maipo Andes D.O). This location stands out for its privileged combination of climate, soils, and altitude, allowing the production of wines with a unique personality, a sense of origin, and extraordinary quality.

The first harvest of "El Principal," the iconic blend of the vineyard, in 1999, received international recognition. Since then, they have continued to reap awards and accolades, confirming their potential to produce luxury wines.

Vineyard
The vineyard is located in the Maipo Valley, in the commune of Pirque, at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, Maipo Andes D.O. It covers 90 hectares of hills and slopes with diverse sun exposures, providing different characteristics to the grapes, ranging from fresh and fruity notes to ripe ones. The soils are of alluvial and colluvial type, and the climate is Mediterranean with significant influence from the Andes Mountains. Grape varieties planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Malbec, Verdejo.

Wines from El Principal