Viña San Esteban: 48 years of history in the Aconcagua Valley

26 de April de 2022

In April, we celebrate our anniversary as a company. Specifically on April 18th, 2022, when we celebrated 48 years. As part of this celebration, we would like to share with you some of the most important milestones of our history.

 

  • – On April 18, 1974, Mr. José Vicente Kusanovic bought the Fundo La Florida in San Esteban, a property bordering the Aconcagua River. On its banks there were already some wine grape plantations (4 hectares).

 

  • – In March 1992, the renewal of the vineyard began with better selected plants, first on the slopes of the Paidahuén hill, with Cabernet Sauvignon, and then Chardonnay on the 15th block of La Florida.

 

  • – In 1994, Viña San Esteban has a capacity of 800,000 liters for winemaking and begins bottling by hand with a team of 40 women.

 

  • – In 1996 the first export of wines to the USA is made, under the label “Stony Hollow”. La Viña inaugurates its first bottling line. That same year, the Merlot variety is planted on the Paidahuén hill, which after ampelographic studies is discovered to be the Carmenere variety.

 

  • – In 1998 the “San Esteban” label was born, with the Cabernet Sauvignon “President’s Select” at the head.

 

  • – In 2000, “In Situ Wines” was born.

 

  • – In 2001, Horacio Vicente Mena took over as winemaker at VSE, after studying at the University of Bordeaux and working in France – Château Mouton Rothschild and Mouton Cadet – and the United States -Chalone Vineyards.

 

  • – In 2007, the Carmenere In Situ Winemaker’s Selection 2005 was awarded in London as the best Carmenere in the world at the International Wine Challenge.

 

  • – In 2008 the winery was organically certified with the German BCS OKO GARANTIE seal and launched its first organic wines, made with Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. In the same year, its Barrel Room was inaugurated to increase its aging capacity to 3,000 barrels (approximately 675,000 liters).

 

  • – In 2010, VSE exported 98% of its production to more than 25 countries, including the USA, Brazil, England, Ireland, Belgium, China and Japan.

 

  • – In 2015 Viña San Esteban is certified for the first time with the Sustainability Code of the Chilean Wine Industry, granted by Wines of Chile.

 

  • – In November 2018 our modern Production Building is inaugurated, in order to improve and make the wine production process more efficient.

 

  • – Thanks to the commitment of all our collaborators, in 2020 and 2021 it was possible to maintain the company’s operation despite the pandemic, and to carry out two challenging vintages. It also marked the winery’s entry into e-commerce, inaugurating its online store.

 

  • – Our wines continue to be recognized worldwide, highlighting in recent years the 2017 In Situ QV blend among the 100 best Chilean wines, according to U.S. wine critic James Suckling -2021 report-. Likewise, in 2022, we received excellent scores by the English Tim Atkin MW: 94 points for In Situ QV 2018 and 93 points for In Situ Laguna del Inca 2019.
We thank all those who are part of our history, especially our employees whose daily work and continuous improvement have made possible these winemaking achievements and worldwide recognition.

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