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| Viu Manent | |
|---|---|
| Name | Viu Manent |
| Location | Colchagua Valley, Chile |
| Appellation | Colchagua Valley |
| Year founded | 1935 |
| Key people | Juan Manuel Viu, Eduardo Chadwick |
| Signature wine | Viu Manent Secreto, Viu Manent Colchagua Reserva |
| Parent company | Viu Family |
Viu Manent Viu Manent is a Chilean winery founded in 1935 and based in the Colchagua Valley, known for producing Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Malbec wines. The estate has connections with prominent Chilean families and international markets, exporting to regions such as Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania. It participates in regional initiatives alongside institutions like the Chilean Wine Association and collaborates with viticultural research centers and universities.
The company traces origins to the Viu family, who emigrated from Catalonia and established a vineyard near Santa Cruz, Chile in the 1930s, contemporaneous with expansions in the Aconcagua Valley and developments in the Maule Valley. During the mid‑20th century Viu Manent adapted techniques influenced by pioneers such as Agustín Edwards, and later engaged consultants from Bordeaux and California including oenologists linked to Château Margaux and Robert Mondavi. In the 1990s the estate modernized cellars in parallel with industry reforms promoted by the Chilean Wine Association and export agreements like the Chile–United States Free Trade Agreement. Recent decades saw investments from regional wine families and partnerships with global distributors in United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and United States.
Viu Manent's vineyards lie within the Colchagua Valley appellation, bordering areas cultivated by estates such as Montes (winery), Santa Rita, and Concha y Toro. Soils include alluvial deposits and granitic sediments similar to those found near Cachapoal River and influenced by the Andes Mountains' rain shadow, creating diurnal temperature ranges comparable to sites in the Maule River corridor. Vineyard blocks are planted to varieties like Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carménère, and Chardonnay using rootstocks common to plantings in the Maipo Valley. Viticultural practices reference research from institutions such as the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and the University of Chile's agricultural programs.
The winery produces a range of labels from entry‑level to premium single‑vineyard bottlings, paralleling classifications used by houses like Château Latour and Penfolds in marketing strategy. Winemaking combines traditional oak aging influenced by cooperages associated with Bordeaux barrels and modern techniques championed in Napa Valley and Ribera del Duero, employing stainless steel fermentation, temperature control systems, and extended maceration. Key varietals include Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Malbec, with special cuvées elaborated from selected clones akin to programs at Viña Almaviva and Seña (wine). The estate has experimented with amphorae and concrete eggs similar to practices at Bodegas Vega Sicilia and boutique producers in Catalonia.
Facilities include a visitor center and tasting rooms that host tastings, comparisons, and hospitality services comparable to offerings at Concha y Toro and Santa Rita. The property provides tours of cellar operations, barrel rooms, and vineyard plots, integrating agro‑tourism trends present in regions like Mendoza and Douro Valley. The winery participates in regional events and festivals alongside institutions such as the Chilean Wine Association and cultural venues in Santa Cruz, Chile and collaborates with tour operators from Santiago and international travel partners in London and Tokyo.
Bottlings from the estate have received medals and ratings from international competitions and publications including Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine & Spirit Competition, Wine Spectator, and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Vintages have been reviewed alongside wines from Bodegas Torres and Montes (winery) in comparative tastings and listed by importers in United Kingdom and United States portfolios. Recognition has also come from specialized regional competitions in Chile and awards granted at trade fairs in Paris and New York.
The estate remains associated with the founding family and operates within a corporate structure involving family shareholders and regional investors, similar in model to holdings like Viña Concha y Toro and Viña Santa Carolina. Management combines viticultural directors, export managers, and commercial teams interfacing with distributors in Europe, Asia, and North America. Strategic partnerships and trade agreements such as those between Chile and trading partners have influenced export strategy, while collaborations with academic institutions like the University of Chile support research and development initiatives.