Founded in 1993 with a focus on quality, sustainability, and innovation
A South American Pinot Noir specialist... No. 1 in Pinot Noir production in South America
"Aiming to make Korea the No. 1 export market in Asia by 2030"
"Cono Sur is the leader of Pinot Noir, boasting the highest production of Pinot Noir in South America."
Thomas Domeyko, CEO of Cono Sur, who recently visited Korea, repeatedly emphasized the formula, "Pinot Noir of South America means Cono Sur." He stated, "Cono Sur was the first winery in Chile to produce and export high-quality Pinot Noir, aiming to create a New World Pinot Noir comparable to that of Bourgogne in France," and expressed pride in being "a representative producer of Pinot Noir in Chile, both in terms of quantity and quality."
Cono Sur, which means "Southern Cone" in Spanish, is a winery established in 1993 in the Colchagua Valley by Vina Concha y Toro, Chile's leading wine company, under the three banners of high quality, sustainability, and innovation. Cono Sur has rapidly grown into a representative Chilean winery through the introduction of state-of-the-art winemaking facilities, creative winemaking, and continuous research into detailed regions and new grape varieties.
Among its varieties, Pinot Noir best represents Cono Sur's spirit of challenge and innovation. Pinot Noir is considered one of the most preferred varieties among wine enthusiasts due to its delicate and elegant character, but it is also a difficult variety to cultivate and vinify, making it a challenging undertaking. However, Cono Sur, established with the aim of showcasing Chile's diverse terroirs, saw the potential for Pinot Noir when it discovered that vines planted around 1968 in Chimbalonggo, Colchagua Valley, were still thriving during the winery's founding preparations, and thus launched the "Pinot Noir Project" in 1999. Since then, Cono Sur has expanded its vineyards to Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley, continuing its cultivation of Pinot Noir.
In fact, the Chilean wine industry, rooted in French Bordeaux wines, mainly produces wines centered on relatively robust Bordeaux red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, and Merlot. However, Cono Sur focuses about 70% of its production on Pinot Noir and puts more emphasis on Bourgogne varieties, including Chardonnay.
CEO Domeyko emphasized that the cold ocean currents that regulate the temperature along the Chilean coast are the reason why ideal conditions for Pinot Noir cultivation could be maintained. He explained, "Pinot Noir thrives in regions with cool climates, moderate temperatures, low humidity, and ample sunlight. Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys have proven to be ideal terroirs for this variety," adding, "These two regions not only meet all the conditions necessary for grape ripening but also benefit from the Pacific Ocean, especially the Humboldt Current."
Casablanca Valley is adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and is strongly influenced by the cold Humboldt Current and fog. In particular, the coastal mountain range along the Pacific is widely broken, allowing large amounts of cold sea breezes to flow in, creating an environment ideal for cultivating Pinot Noir and white grape varieties. San Antonio Valley, located just south of Casablanca Valley, is also a coastal region adjacent to the Pacific. Although it was once considered unsuitable for grape cultivation, the success of Casablanca Valley led to the development of coastal areas in this region as well. Situated on gentle coastal hills, San Antonio Valley receives direct cold sea breezes from the Humboldt Current, resulting in low temperatures and frequent fog from summer through autumn.
The flagship Pinot Noir of Cono Sur is the "20 Barrels Pinot Noir." This wine is a bright ruby-colored, elegant, and rich wine, characterized by fresh aromas of cherry, strawberry, raspberry, and plum, harmoniously blended with leather notes, offering both delicacy and complexity. CEO Domeyko described it as "a New World Pinot Noir made in the traditional Bourgogne style," and said, "With its excellent extraction, it is a sophisticated and complex wine with a long and smooth finish."
"Ocio" is the essence of Cono Sur's Pinot Noir and is an icon wine, with about 12,000 bottles produced annually. Ocio, which means "leisure" in Spanish, is a deep ruby-colored wine with delicate notes of cherry, raspberry, spice, and tobacco. On the palate, it stands out for its elegant and concentrated flavors and acidity, and overall, it is a complex, smooth wine with long and persistent flavors.
CEO Domeyko also expressed high expectations for the Korean market. He said, "Currently, we export to more than 80 countries worldwide, and Korea is one of the most important markets with the highest growth potential. In terms of export volume, Korea currently ranks 4th or 5th, but our goal is to surpass Japan and become number one in Asia between 2028 and 2030." He added, "Cono Sur focuses on elegant and well-balanced wines rather than strong and heavy ones. If you're curious about the best Pinot Noir winery in South America, Cono Sur can be the answer."
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