Viñedos Emiliana

Rafael and José Guilisasti were visionaries in the late 1990s when they saw that the market was beginning to change and that consumers worldwide were becoming more aware of the products they were consuming, not only for health reasons, but also with respect to their social and environmental impacts.

They therefore asked winemaking consultant Alvaro Espinoza to join them in the process of converting a conventional Chilean winery into one that was 100% organic and biodynamic with the firm objective of creating wines of the highest quality with great respect for nature.

Now, after more than a decade, what began as a dream has become a complete portfolio of wines backed by major national and international awards and recognition and that meet the new need of today’s consumers.

From the beginning we have been dedicated to searching for Chile’s finest wine valleys in order to determine the best places to grow each varietal. Today we have a total of 1,117 hectares (2,760 acres) in Chile’s best wine regions.

Bio-Bío Valley Total hectares: 33 | Total acres: 82

This valley belongs to Chile’s 8th Region (Bio-Bío) and is 550 km (342 mi) south of Santiago. The valley’s warm days and cold nights allow for a long ripening period. It has high annual precipitation, strong winds, and more extreme conditions than those found in the north of the country.

The grapes grown in this valley are primarily those that need lower temperatures to develop properly. We grow unique and authentic Sauvignon Blanc as well as other varietal with great potential such as Pinot Noir and Riesling at our “Mulchén” estate.

Colchagua Valley Total hectares: 551 | Total acres: 1.362

Colchagua is in Chile’s 6th Region, Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins and is part of the larger Rapel Valley. The four seasons of the year are clearly differentiated, and the grapes ripen easily and uniformly. A unique combination of marine breezes and Andean winds makes this the perfect place to grow red varietals such as Merlot, Syrah, and especially Carmenere. It has an average temperature of 22ºC (72ºF) and low annual precipitation. The soils are alluvial in origin, fairly deep, and are uniformly silty-loam in texture.

Cachapoal Valley Total hectares: 159 | Total acres: 393

Cachapoal is in Chile’s 6th Region, Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, and is part of the larger Rapel Valley, whose temperate, sub-humid Mediterranean climate make it a paradise for red varietals. It has a pronounced seasonality with rainfall concentrated primarily in the winter. The soil texture is loam to silty-sandy-loam with moderate depth and good drainage.

Our “Totihue” estate produces excellent Syrah for a nicely concentrated, silky wine with a high degree of fruitiness due to the unique conditions, such as the absence of spring frosts and its proximity to the Andes Mountains.

Maipo Valley Total hectares: 102 | Total acres: 252

The Maipo Valley is within the Metropolitan Region of Santiago. Its soils are alluvial in origin, rich in minerals, have a clay-silt-loam texture and good permeability. The climate is stable, with warm, dry summers and short, mild winters. Its geographic location allows it to produce wines with different degrees of fruitiness, aroma, and color.

It is a region that stands out for producing Cabernet Sauvignon with great character. This area was a pioneer in the country’s vitivinicultural development and therefore has expanded significantly to include a broad variety of grapes.

Casablanca Valley Total hectares: 272 | Total acres: 672

Casablanca is the most important valley for white grapes. The composition of the highly permeable and primarily sandy-loam soils with scant organic matter, plus the influence of the marine breezes from the Pacific coast generate an environment in which the grapes ripen slowly and create aromatic and delicately flavored wines.

In Casablanca we primarily grow Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Marsanne, Pinot Noir, and Syrah at our 3 different properties: Casablanca, Cordillera, and Rincón de Peña.

All of the work done at Emiliana focuses on a single concept: Excellence. This is based on the harmony between the maximum quality of its wines and the respect for the environment and its people.

“Life is full of opportunities, and Emiliana is one of them… United by a common passion, we have been able to produce high quality wines with their own identity, and thereby achieve the authentic expression of their terroir through organic and biodynamic agriculture and respecting the true value of the company, which is in caring for its people and the environment.”