Tittle:  Colchagua Wineries Receive Record Number of Tourists: 150,000 visitors and 40% increase in sales in three years

Download entire article from La Tercera web site

Visitors have been key to helping the region, Chile’s first wine route, recover after the February 27, 2010 earthquake. The valley expects to increase its visitors and sales by 10% this year.
More than 150,000 visitors explored the attractions of the Colchagua Valley in 2012, putting this emblematic valley back on the upward path it enjoyed prior to the 2010 earthquake. In addition to losing 20 million liters of wine (20% of production), century-old buildings, and the homes of many employees, the valley also experienced a sharp drop in tourist flow.

Fear led many foreigners, the primary consumers of wine tourism in Chile, to cancel or postpone their plans to visit the Colchagua Wine Route, the first created in the country.

For José Miguel Viu, president of the trade association, the development of wine tourism in Colchagua depends on the wineries’ ability to generate greater tourism-related infrastructure, incorporate wineries that are not currently open to visitors, and offer complementary options in addition to wine.
“Colchagua is already considered a destination, and wine tourism is a significant economic activity for us, but even more importantly, it is a key platform for the dissemination of our products,” said the leader.

Gold Medal: Secreto de Viu Manent Malbec 2011

Silver Medal: Estate Collection Chardonnay 2012

Silver Medal: Secreto de Viu Manent Syrah 2011

Silver Medal: Viu Manent Gran Reserva Malbec 2011

Silver Medal: Single Vineyard Malbec, San Carlos Estate  2011

About the Contest:

Created on impulse by Louis Havaux, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles was held for the very first time in April 1994 in… Bruges!

If ‘only’ 861 samples were then recorded (an exploit in itself considering that they were gathered in 2 months), the international dimension, with 29 participating countries, was set to continue.
The Concours Mondial quickly reached cruising speed and consequently, success grew with each edition. In 1999 it was joined by the Brussels Spirits Award, a ‘little brother’ reserved for spirits, brandies and other fruit wines.

Gold Medal: Secret de Viu Manent Malbec 2011

Silver Medal: Estate Collection Chardonnay 2012

Silver Medal: Secret de Viu Manent Syrah 2011

Silver Medal: Viu Manent Gran Reserva Malbec 2011

Silver Medal: Single Vineyard Malbec, San Carlos Estate  2011

About the Contest:

Created on impulse by Louis Havaux, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles was held for the very first time in April 1994 in… Bruges!

If ‘only’ 861 samples were then recorded (an exploit in itself considering that they were gathered in 2 months), the international dimension, with 29 participating countries, was set to continue.
The Concours Mondial quickly reached cruising speed and consequently, success grew with each edition. In 1999 it was joined by the Brussels Spirits Award, a ‘little brother’ reserved for spirits, brandies and other fruit wines.

Tittle: Viu Manent expects growth over 10%

Download article from Estrategia Site

José Miguel Viu, General manager of the winery is optimistic this year, estimating sales of U.S. $ 13 million.

The winery’s general manager is optimistic this year and estimates US$13 million in sales.

—Your predictions for the industry this year?

—I’m optimistic because sales during the early months of the year have been on track, although the sector loses competitiveness with the exchange rate. This is a structural problem that has to do with various factors, but especially with the unwillingness of the economic policymakers who are more concerned with large macroeconomic indicators.

—How much do you expect to raise prices this year, and how will you do that?

—The recommendation to raise prices seems like an obviously good idea to those who look at this from a distance, but it is definitely not a concrete possibility.

—How much do you expect to sell this year and what percentage of growth or decline will that be?

—We aim to recover our former annual growth rates of between 10% and 15% and sell US$11.5 million in addition to our sales in tourism for a total of about US$13 million.

—What are the most attractive foreign markets and where are your exports aimed?

—There are many. The policy of wineries like ours is to be as diversified as possible. There is no doubt that Asia and the US are important and recovering, as well as Latin America, especially Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.

1. Estrategia Newspaper:  May/2013

Tittle: Viu Manent expects growth over 10%

Download article in Estrategia web site

The winery’s general manager is optimistic this year and estimates US$13 million in sales.

—Your predictions for the industry this year?

—I’m optimistic because sales during the early months of the year have been on track, although the sector loses competitiveness with the exchange rate. This is a structural problem that has to do with various factors, but especially with the unwillingness of the economic policymakers who are more concerned with large macroeconomic indicators.

—How much do you expect to raise prices this year, and how will you do that?

—The recommendation to raise prices seems like an obviously good idea to those who look at this from a distance, but it is definitely not a concrete possibility.

—How much do you expect to sell this year and what percentage of growth or decline will that be?

—We aim to recover our former annual growth rates of between 10% and 15% and sell US$11.5 million in addition to our sales in tourism for a total of about US$13 million.

—What are the most attractive foreign markets and where are your exports aimed?

—There are many. The policy of wineries like ours is to be as diversified as possible. There is no doubt that Asia and the US are important and recovering, as well as Latin America, especially Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.

2. La Tercera Newspaper:  May/2013

Tittle:  Colchagua Wineries Receive Record Number of Tourists: 150,000 visitors and 40% increase in sales in three years

Download entire article from La Tercera web site

Visitors have been key to helping the region, Chile’s first wine route, recover after the February 27, 2010 earthquake. The valley expects to increase its visitors and sales by 10% this year.
More than 150,000 visitors explored the attractions of the Colchagua Valley in 2012, putting this emblematic valley back on the upward path it enjoyed prior to the 2010 earthquake. In addition to losing 20 million liters of wine (20% of production), century-old buildings, and the homes of many employees, the valley also experienced a sharp drop in tourist flow.

Fear led many foreigners, the primary consumers of wine tourism in Chile, to cancel or postpone their plans to visit the Colchagua Wine Route, the first created in the country.

For José Miguel Viu, president of the trade association, the development of wine tourism in Colchagua depends on the wineries’ ability to generate greater tourism-related infrastructure, incorporate wineries that are not currently open to visitors, and offer complementary options in addition to wine.
“Colchagua is already considered a destination, and wine tourism is a significant economic activity for us, but even more importantly, it is a key platform for the dissemination of our products,” said the leader.

Enjoy the Photo Gallery.

Season:  March, April and early May was exhibited in the Visitor Center La Llavería:

Marta Morrison: “Pectorales Escultóricos”
Sample 9 Marta Morrison creations, which through its various techniques creates with his hands, his soul and help of its craftsmen, unique pieces that combine vegetable fibers, weaving and stoneware.

Pablo Nuñez  “Memoria del Campo”
Installation is a spatial context refers to the vineyard and its own history by staging a series of sculptures depicting animals native Chilean countryside. Chickens and birds honeycomb cardboard biodegradable resin, wooden horses and screenprinted dishes.

Giovanna Ruz    “Salvajes”
The work becomes a thick dark and monochrome volume density, worked with a limited palette and neutral.

María Paz Briseño    “Íconos Ancestrales”
Stoneware ceramic sculpture inspired by his interest in Andean culture and history.

Centro de Visitas Viña Viu Manent
Carretera del Vino Km 37 – Santa Cruz. Colchagua – Chile
Schedule: Lunes de Domingo – 10.00 a 18.00 hrs.
Organize: Emporio Viu Manent
Contact: Lorena Viu, E-mail: lorena@viumanent.cl, Phone: +56 2 23790020

• 1. A Corporate Retreat for Team – Building , With a Taste of  Wine!
  Article about our tourism program “Winemaker for a day”, where groups of friends or colegues works blending wines and also on the labels. Published byChristine Negroni and Stacey Slinkard in the New York Times, May 1st
  Download entire article

The Viu Manent winery near Santa Cruz, Chile, hosts business groups at its “Winemaker for a Day” team-building programs.
It seems counterintuitive for companies to take their employees somewhere where the alcohol begins to flow even before lunch is served. But wineries around the world are increasingly accommodating businesses asking for meeting space, catering and even wine-making lessons for their workers.
These are not drunken office parties; most of the alcohol consumption is associated with supervised wine-making activities, and top executives are usually present, says Mauricio Romo, tourism manager at the Viu Manent vineyard in Chile, who said he had not seen “bad behavior” in the five years his winery had offered business meetings. At the same time, once guests learn how complex winemaking is, company goals seem more achievable, Mr. Romo said.

Chile
With smocks over their casual business clothes, guests at Viu Manent, near Santa Cruz in the Colchagua Valley about 90 miles south of Santiago, go out in the vineyard and pick grapes. Or, if they prefer, they can do what employees of Bayer did recently: blend wine, design labels and market their finished product in an exercise called “Winemaker for a Day.” Participants aren’t creating anything Wine Spectator is going to review, but the vineyard’s tourism manager says they may pay more attention at a meeting like this one.

“The objective for large companies is to take their executives prisoner in order to concentrate their attention,” Mr. Romo said, describing an excursion that might begin at 7 a.m. in Santiago, the capital, with a two-hour bus ride to the valley. “After a coffee, they have their telephones amputated from their soul so they can concentrate on the message.”

How much time will be spent as amateur viticulturists depends on the agenda and what the boss wants to accomplish. But a day always ends with a dinner and generous servings of the Malbec that Viu Manent is known for. The vineyard has indoor and outdoor meeting facilities appropriate for groups of all sizes and a plan for overnight accommodations is in the works.

• 2. Among Chile`s  Vines, Villas and Views.
  Our restaurant Rayuela Wine & Grill was selected between the best places in the Colchagua Valley. Published by Ondine Cohane in the New York Times, March 31th.
  Go to Colchagua article

Some of my favorite experiences were at smaller estates like Viu Manent, a property that was founded in 1935 and includes wines like its Gran Reserva Malbec, which received numerous international prizes for its 2010 vintage.

We ate a long lunch, choosing from the simple menu. The grilled steak and organic salad with a glass of the malbec proved to be one of the best meals of the trip. Under the shade of a fig tree, overlooking the estate’s horses at pasture, the beauty of the place had never been more apparent.

EATING THERE
Among the area’s standout vineyard restaurants is Viu Manent’s Rayuela Wine and Grill (56-2-2840-3180; viumanent.cl) featuring simply grilled local meat and fish, like a wild salmon with Chilean cream corn. Don’t miss the oysters served with a glass of sauvignon blanc.