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| Santiago Wine Fair | |
|---|---|
| Name | Santiago Wine Fair |
| Native name | Feria del Vino de Santiago |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Wine festival |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location | Santiago |
| Country | Chile |
| First | 1998 |
| Organizer | Asociación de Vino de Chile |
| Attendance | 40,000 (typical) |
Santiago Wine Fair The Santiago Wine Fair is an annual oenological exposition held in Santiago, Chile that showcases Chilean and international vineyard production, enotourism, and sommelier practice. The fair brings together producers, distributors, critics, and consumers to the Maipo Valley, Colchagua Valley, and metropolitan wine circuits through structured tastings, seminars, and trade pavilions. It functions as a commercial marketplace and cultural event linking Valparaíso Region, O'Higgins Region, and export markets such as United States, China, United Kingdom, and Brazil.
The fair was founded in 1998 by a consortium including the Asociación de Vino de Chile, municipal authorities of Santiago Metropolitan Region, and private vintners from Maipo Valley and Curicó Valley. Early editions featured pioneers from estates like Concha y Toro, Montes, Santa Rita, and Errazuriz alongside international delegations from Argentina, Spain, France, and Italy. Throughout the 2000s the event expanded during the same era as Chilean appellation regulation reforms influenced by the Denominación de Origen movement and trade agreements such as the Chile–United States Free Trade Agreement. In the 2010s the fair integrated wine tourism initiatives connected to the Ruta del Vino and hosted masterclasses led by critics from Robert Parker, Decanter, and journalists from The Wine Spectator. The 2020 edition adapted to public-health measures alongside municipalities including Providencia and Las Condes, and subsequent editions resumed in hybrid formats with participation from exporters tied to the ProChile promotional agency.
Traditionally held in late spring to early summer months of the Southern Hemisphere, the fair occurs in November or December, aligning with the post-harvest promotional calendar and pre-holiday retail season. Primary venues have included the Estación Mapocho cultural center, convention spaces within Centro Parque, and outdoor pavilions in Parque Bicentenario (Santiago). Satellite events and regional showcases run concurrently across winery estates in Maipo Valley, Casablanca Valley, Colchagua Valley, Cachapoal Valley, and Aconcagua Valley. The schedule commonly features multi-day trade sessions, public tasting days, and evening galas timed with diplomatic delegations from embassies such as the Embassy of the United States, Santiago and the Embassy of Spain in Santiago.
Exhibitor rosters span multinational conglomerates and boutique family wineries. Regular participants originate from historic houses like Concha y Toro, Santa Carolina, Undurraga, and Miguel Torres Chile as well as smaller labels from Leyda Valley, Millahue and Itata Valley. International pavilions have represented countries including Argentina, Australia, France, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, United States, and New Zealand. Distributors and retail chains such as Distribución LaFayette, La Vega, and wholesale buyers from Metro (supermarket) and Cencosud attend for procurement. Wine technology providers—firms nearby in Santiago Metropolitan Region—showcase equipment from cooperatives in Talagante and packaging partners from Valparaíso.
The fair programs vertical tastings, horizontal comparisons, and blind panels covering varietals like Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, and indigenous varieties revived from Itata Valley. Thematic seminars address single-vineyard expression, organic and biodynamic certification practices, and aging in oak sourced from producers in Chile and France. Noted masterclasses have been conducted by sommeliers affiliated with institutions such as the Court of Master Sommeliers and critics associated with Wine Advocate and Decanter. Special events include comparative tastings of old-vine País, barrel-to-bottle workshops, sparkling wine flights featuring Méthode Traditionnelle and Charmat styles, and food-pairing dinners with chefs from restaurants like Boragó and Ambrosía (restaurant).
Competitive components award medals and trophies judged by panels composed of oenologists, educators, and importers from organizations like the International Wine & Spirit Competition alumni and local universities such as Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and University of Chile. Categories include Best Red Blend, Best Single-Varietal, Best Organic Wine, and Best Packaging Design. Winning labels have historically leveraged accolades to expand into export markets including China and United Kingdom via partnerships with importers and hospitality groups like Grupo Atrium.
Attendance typically ranges from 30,000 to 50,000 visitors across trade and public days, drawing domestic consumers from Santiago and international buyers from Buenos Aires, Lima, São Paulo, and Miami. Economic impact studies commissioned by municipal authorities and chambers such as the Chamber of Commerce of Santiago have quantified benefits across accommodation, gastronomy, and logistics sectors, including hotels in Providencia and Las Condes, restaurants in Bellavista (Santiago), and transportation services linking Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport.
The fair is organized by a steering committee led by the Asociación de Vino de Chile in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chile) for international delegations and local governments of the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Governance structures include advisory boards of winemakers, export councils, and consumer associations; technical partners often involve the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias and academic departments within the University of Chile for sensory protocols. Funding sources combine exhibitor fees, sponsorships from banking institutions like Banco de Chile and insurance partners, and cultural grants administered by municipal cultural offices.
Category:Wine festivals in Chile