Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery

Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery is the second exporter^{[clarification needed]} of bottled wine in Chile.

It was created in 1993 as subsidiary of Concha y Toro Winery. Its name makes reference to its geographical origins: South America’s Southern Cone.

History

1993 > During its first year, Cono Sur exports more than 30 thousand cases of wine.

1996 > Purchase of Santa Elisa Estate in Chimbarongo, 300 hectares with 25-year-old vineyards in average.

1997 > Planting of a Viognier vineyard, one of the pioneering projects involving this variety in Chile.

1998 > Implementation of Integrated Vineyard Management, as part of the sustainable agriculture philosophy.

1999 > Launching of the “Pinot Noir Project”, aimed to produce world-class wines.

2000 > The organic farming program begins on 40 hectares of the Chimbarongo estate.

2001 > Cono Sur leads the sale charts of Chilean wines in the demanding British market.

2002 > Cono Sur is the first Latin American winery to receive the double certification ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, for its quality and environmental policies, respectively.

2003 > Launching of Ocio Pinot Noir, Cono Sur’s first ultra premium wine and Chile’s first ultra premium Pinot Noir. First certified harvest of organically grown grapes.

2004 > Cono Sur ranked fourth in position of exporting Chilean wineries in terms of value and third, if measured by volume.

2005 > Purchase of Las Lomas de Peralillo, 187 hectares in Colchagua Valley, for the production of premium red wines. Purchase of Campo Lindo, 130 hectares in San Antonio Valley, near Leyda, for the production of premium white and red wines.

2006 > Full restoration of the 19th century manor house of Santa Elisa Estate in Chimbarongo.

Plantation of Las Lomas de Peralillo in Colchagua, and plantation of Campo Lindo in San Antonio.

2007 > Cono Sur becomes the first winery in the world to obtain CarbonNeutral delivery status for balancing the CO₂ emissions of the shipping of its products. Cono Sur finishes 2007 as the second largest Chilean bottled wine exporter in terms of value.

2008 > Winery’s capacity is extended to 3.900.000 litres.

Construction of a new winery, specially designed for premium Pinot Noir wines, which total litres capacity is 396.000, and aging capacity: 130.000 litres. New offices and laboratory.

2009 > Creation of the Sustainable Development Area.

Cono Sur starts using lightweight bottles on Cono Sur and Isla Negra Wines entry level products.

Cono Sur makes a detailed calculation of the company’s Carbon Footprint, in order to obtain the amount of greenhouse gas emissions delivered by the company throughout the complete productive process.

Cono Sur is in process of obtaining ISO 14064 certification.

Cono Sur wines

Cono Sur Icon Wine: Ocio Pinot Noir

Ultra Premium Wines:

- Cono Sur 20 Barrels Limited Edition (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon)

Premium Wines:

- Cono Sur Visión (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Gewürztraminer, Carménère Rosé, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Carménère, Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon).

- Cono Sur Reserva (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Gewürztraminer, Carménère Rosé, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Carménère, Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon)

- Cono Sur Orgánico (organic wine)(Cabernet Sauvignon / Carménère, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir)

Varietal Wines: Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Gewürztraminer, Merlot Rosé, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Carménère, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon

Cono Sur Sparkling Wine (Brut)

Pinot Noir project

Cono Sur was born around the oldest Pinot Noir vineyards in Chile. It was the first in Chile to produce Premium Pinot Noir, and also the first ones to export it.

In 1999 Cono Sur started the “Pinot Noir project”, with the aim of producing the best Pinot Noir in Chile. In order to achieve that goal, they decided to vinify according to the traditions of Burgundy, a region of France where this variety comes from. From this same place comes Martin Prieur, an experienced Pinot Noir winemaker who has helped Cono Sur select Chilean terroirs and advised us on optimum vineyard management.

Environmental consciousness

Since its conception, Cono Sur has been characterized for developing its environmental policies, because of the conviction that high quality wine production can work hand-in-hand with eco friendly practices.^{[citation needed]}

Over the years Cono Sur has implemented a clean action plan, which includes the natural vineyard management, organic production, ISO certifications and balancing the CO₂ emissions through the CarbonNeutral delivery status.

Sustainable agriculture

In 1998 Cono Sur began implementing the decision to switch from a traditional to a sustainable agriculture, a system which favours the use of natural alternatives to fertilize, prevent and control pests, diseases and weeds. This is a comprehensive agricultural system that works hand-in-hand with clean and healthy environment policies. The idea was to avoid as much as possible the use of non-natural elements, through the use of geese, sheep, insects and plants. Thus, the environment becomes a self regulating system, and the fruit is cultivated in a cleaner and healthier way.

Organic agriculture

An organic wine is basically a wine made from organically grown grapes, meaning they were farmed and harvested entirely without the use of man-made chemicals, whether in the form of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides or fungicides. For some years now Cono Sur has promoted the organic wine production in Chile.

In 1999 Cono Sur began our organic viticulture project with 40 hectares of Chimbarongo vineyards, in the Colchagua Valley. In 2003, after the necessary 3 year transition period, it produced its first wine – a Cabernet Sauvignon / Carménère – made from organically grown grapes, certified by BCS Oeko Garantie GMBH Germany. In 2009, the three varieties that were part of the Sustainable Agriculture range (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) became part of Cono Sur organic wines range, after obtaining the organic certification.

Vineyards

Cono Sur has vineyards in several valleys along the country:

Limarí Valley (Chardonnay, Viognier, Carmenere, Syrah).

Aconcagua Valley (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.)

Casablanca Valley (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminner, Pinot Noir, Merlot.)

San Antonio Valley (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah.)

Maipo Valley (Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon.)

Cachapoal Valley (Riesling, Merlot, Malbec, Carmenere, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon).

Colchagua Valley (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Malbec, Carmenere, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon).

Curicó Valley (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Malbec.)

Maule Valley (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Carmenere, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon.)

Bío-Bío Valley (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir.)

Winery

Cono Sur’s main winery is located in Chimbarongo, in Colchagua Valley.

In 1999 Cono Sur inaugurated an annex winery especially designed for the vinification of Pinot Noir, where the ancient Burgundian winemaking traditions blend with New World forefront technology. In 2009 another cellar was built, which will be exclusively for premium Pinot Noir wines, and it will have a capacity of 530,000 litres.

Other brands

Cono Sur also produces the brand Isla Negra Wines, which is mainly exported to Europe.

External links

• Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery Official Website