Viña Don Melchor named Official Venue Partner for The 50 Best Vineyards 2026 awards ceremony in Chile

Santiago, Chile will host The 50 Best Vineyards 2026, the annual celebration of the best winery and vineyard experiences across the globe. The selection of Viña Don Melchor as Official Venue Partner for its annual awards ceremony recognises the remarkable development of wine tourism in the country over recent decades and will showcase Chile to a global audience as one of the world's leading wine tourism destinations.

Chile, October 2026. The 50, formerly known as 50 Best, has selected Viña Don Melchor as the Official Venue Partner for The 50 Best Vineyards 2026 awards ceremony, which will take place on 18 November at the winery's facilities located within the Viña Concha y Toro Wine Centre in Pirque. The awards ceremony will form part of the official event programme for The 50 Best Vineyards 2026, which makes its Chilean debut through the commitment of the Official Host Partner, Government of Santiago, its Regional Corporation, together with the Official Partner, Grupo Liderazgo. The arrival of this internationally renowned event further cements Chile's standing as one of the world's premier wine tourism destinations.

The selection of Santiago Chile as host region, reflects the consolidation of a long-term strategy driven by the national wine industry, regional governments, tourism and international promotion authorities, as well as a wide range of public and private stakeholders committed to positioning Chile among the world's leading wine destinations.

In recent years, Chile has strengthened its wine tourism offering through investments in infrastructure, hospitality, gastronomy, culture and wine-related experiences, raising industry standards and expanding its international recognition.

Against this backdrop, Santiago hosting The 50 Best Vineyards 2026 represents a validation of the progress achieved by Chilean wine tourism and an exceptional opportunity to showcase to the world the diversity of its wine regions, the richness of its cultural heritage, and the sophistication of the experiences that now distinguish the country.

The ceremony will be held at Viña Don Melchor, located within the Viña Concha y Toro Wine Centre in Pirque. Opened in 2025 as part of one of the most significant recent investments in Chilean wine tourism, the centre was conceived to project Chilean wine culture internationally through a proposition that brings together heritage, wine, gastronomy, art, landscape and world-class hospitality.

Rikki Tidball, Managing Director of Events for The 50 Best Vineyards, highlighted Chile's selection as host of the 2026 ceremony: "We are thrilled to bring The 50 Best Vineyards awards to Chile for the first time. It is fitting that we celebrate in a destination that has earned global recognition for the quality and diversity of its wine offering. Chile continues to set the standard through innovation, authenticity and a deep connection to its winemaking heritage, making Santiago the perfect host destination for this year’s awards."

Claudio Orrego, Governor of Santiago, commented: "We are filled with deep pride that an organisation of The 50's standing has chosen Santiago for its grand debut in Chile. Our region is making steady progress towards becoming the wine and tourism capital of South America, and hosting this international event strengthens our global leadership. Santiago is the main gateway to wine tourism in our country; a unique setting where urban energy and winemaking tradition come together to create a grand symphony in the Maipo Valley."

Max Raide, President of Grupo Liderazgo, commented: “For us as Chileans, it is of great pride to be hosting for the first time in Santiago the most important event in the wine world, The 50 Best Vineyards, thus making our dream come true. This is an invitation to all to visit and know not only our recognised valleys, which house the best strains such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère, but also our products that come from the land and coasts of Chile, and that can be enjoyed with the best Chilean wines in the seafood restaurants and vineyards located in Santiago.”

"Santiago de Chile’s role as host of The 50 Best Vineyards 2026 sends a highly positive signal regarding the international projection of our wine and tourism industries. In recent years, the country has made a determined commitment to strengthening its wine tourism offering, raising standards in visitor experience, hospitality and infrastructure. Bringing this international community together in Santiago represents a unique opportunity to showcase the quality of our wines, the richness of our territories and the level of development achieved by Chilean wine tourism," said Isabel Guilisasti, Vice President of Fine Wines and Corporate Image at Viña Concha y Toro.

For his part, Enrique Tirado, CEO and Technical Director of Viña Don Melchor, highlighted the significance of this selection for both the winery and the country: "The selection of Viña Don Melchor as the venue for this ceremony is recognition of the excellence Chile has achieved as a producer of world-class wines and as a leading international wine tourism destination. It is an honour to welcome the industry's most influential global figures to the birthplace of Don Melchor and share the excellence of our origin. Beyond our own story, this will be a privileged opportunity to showcase to the world the quality, diversity and sophistication that distinguish the Chilean wine industry, and specifically Maipo Valley today."

Located in the Maipo Valley, one of the world's most acclaimed appellations for Cabernet Sauvignon, Viña Don Melchor has established itself as one of South America's leading luxury wine tourism destinations. Its offering invites visitors to discover the history, legacy and environment that gave rise to Don Melchor through experiences deeply connected to the territory, heritage and culture of Chilean wine.

The selection of Santiago as Official Host for The 50 Best Vineyards 2026 and of Viña Don Melchor as the Official Venue Partner of its annual ceremony reflects the growing international recognition achieved by Chile as a world-class wine tourism destination. Over the course of a week, the event will bring together in Santiago leading figures from the worlds of wine, gastronomy, hospitality and travel, providing a unique opportunity to showcase internationally the quality of Chilean wines, the diversity of its wine regions, and the collaborative efforts of the industry, public authorities and stakeholders who have contributed to the country's rising profile in global wine tourism.

About Viña Don Melchor

Viña Don Melchor is the birthplace of one of the world’s most acclaimed iconic wines and a global benchmark for excellence in Cabernet Sauvignon. Its vineyards, located in the renowned Puente Alto appellation in the Maipo Valley, give rise to Don Melchor, a wine that has helped position Chile among the world’s leading wine-producing countries through the exceptional expression of its terroir and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Through Casa Don Melchor, its exclusive luxury wine tourism experience, the winery invites visitors from around the world to discover the place where this story begins. The experience combines wine, heritage, architecture, gastronomy and hospitality, offering a unique immersion into the origin, craftsmanship and vision that have shaped one of the world’s most prestigious and admired Cabernet Sauvignons.

Strolling through its century-old gardens, historic residence and surrounding vineyards, visitors connect with the legacy, culture and exceptional sense of place that define Don Melchor. Today, Viña Don Melchor has established itself as one of South America’s leading luxury wine tourism destinations, offering experiences that reflect craftsmanship, excellence, authenticity and sophistication.

About The 50 Best Vineyards

The 50 Best Vineyards showcases the finest winery and vineyard experiences from around the world, providing an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of more than 700 travel and wine tourism experts. Formerly known as The World’s 50 Best Vineyards, The 50 Best Vineyards continues to evolve as a premier live events programme, culminating in a highly anticipated awards ceremony attended by the industry’s most influential opinion leaders, vineyard owners and media from around the world. The rankings and awards are organised and published by William Reed.

About Santiago, Chile

Santiago, a diverse, cultural and vibrant city, is a leading destination in Latin America for business tourism development and an ideal location for world-class events. The capital offers not only the infrastructure and services required to host international events, but also a rich and distinctive geography. Visitors can enjoy impressive mountain landscapes, beautiful parks, and museums that preserve the country’s heritage and history, as well as modern shopping centers, fine dining restaurants and internationally acclaimed wine tourism routes. Santiago is the Latin American capital with the widest variety of vineyards open to tourism.

About Grupo Liderazgo

Grupo Liderazgo is a media and entertainment company founded by the Raide brothers (Max, Juan Pablo and Domingo Raide) with the mission of elevating gastronomy, culture and wine in Santiago, Chile. With more than 20 years of experience in the sector, Grupo Liderazgo has grown beyond the capital and expanded across all regions of Chile, establishing itself as a leader in the field through innovative concepts built entirely around the customer experience.