Unlocking the JEWELS concept for the first time in Singapore was a grand affair and a quest for excellence for the leading Latin American wine producers, Viña Concha Y Toro.
In the realm of wine, the vineyards of France and Italy are revered as the epitome of excellence. These esteemed regions, known as the origins of Old World wine, is what ususally comes to mind when wine is mentioned. However, to the seasoned wine connoisseur, the allure of New World wines is equally captivating. They originate from lands rich with flavour and history, like the ones found in Latin America where Viña Concha Y Toro (VCT) is from, the country’s leading wine producer.
Travelling halfway across the world on 22 May 2023, VCT shared their labour of love for wine in Singapore at the prestigious Le Freeport storage facility, known for its high-security measures. Their entrance was nothing short of extraordinary, signalling a new chapter in VCT’s captivating story in their Fine Wine strategy in Asia and the Middle East named Jewels of the New World by Viña Concha Y Toro (“JEWELS”).
Amidst this grand affair, JEWELS unveiled a meticulously curated collection of Fine Wine brands crafted under the careful guidance of each winemaker. Hailing from the exquisite terroirs of Chile, Argentina, and California, each brand was handpicked to tantalise the palates of discerning wine enthusiasts. The nine distinguished wine brands that took center stage are: Alea Fina and Bonterra Biodynamics from California, Amelia, Carmin de Peumo, Concha Y Toro Master Edition, Gravas, Marques de Casa Concha Heritage, and Terrunyo from Chile, and Trivento Eolo from Argentina. From vine to bottle, each one told a story of its origin, a tale interwoven with the passion and expertise of its winemakers as each wine expression was thoughtfully paired with a precious gem native to the Americas. The significance of each gem went beyond its aesthetic beauty, resonating with the essence of the brand it accompanied. This exclusive assemblage was an authentic celebration of scarcity, history, and craftsmanship, a testament to the artistry and dedication of VCT that is in line with their long-term-360 degree marketing programme.
Only the final successful rendition of wine is savoured by us, and we will never know of the futile attempts that went in vain. To drink the labour of the arduous yet artful process of the final node of wine is a privilege, and key trade partners and media got to do so for the first time in Singapore, with the 2021 vintage of Don Melchor — the 35th iteration of this iconic wine, aside from the nine wines presented in the JEWELS collection.
Point systems don’t just apply to schools; wine are graded the same way, as evidenced by the 99 points out of a possible 100 that the internationally acclaimed wine critic, James Suckling gave the Don Melchor — a testament to the wine’s excellence. When the aroma of the wine greets the nose, the complexity of the red fruit and small berries is accompanied by notes of violet flowers. It goes down like water with a velvety-smooth texture, and ends off with a saline aftertaste, unlike most wines.
VCT demonstrated their unwavering commitment to wine, that goes beyond winemaking. Just as we get immersed into the beauty of art with our sense of sight, savouring wine requires the network of our senses where we swirl, sip and savour the magic in our tastebuds. Though seemingly superfluous and reinforces the extravagance that is tied to wine, what’s not to celebrate? The dedication and passion that is the culmination of countless hours and meticulous care which goes into each bottle should demand our complete attention and appreciation.
Some might get it, some might not. But for wine enthusiasts who are enraptured by the deep red elixir, it runs through their blood. In an interview with Men’s Folio, we got Rodrigo Jackson Higgs, who heads the Commercial and Marketing Luxury Brands Division at VCT who knows most about this, after dedicating half of his life to wine.
Hello, Rodrigo! It’s a pleasure to have this interview with you and learn more about wine from you. Could you tell us in 10 words or less what you do for our non-drinking readers?
I am leading the newly created Luxury Brands Division at Viña Concha y Toro.
Wine has been a big part of your life. What was the defining moment in your life that inspired you to pursue a career in this field?
I remember that it was not a conscious choice – I only knew that I did not want to be in a regular office job. Wine had a cultural and social appeal that I found interesting, but I saw myself linked to the winemaking side of it: linked to the vineyard. Although my career started that way, it rapidly moved to the commercial and marketing side of the business, which has been better than I what I’d initially expected.
I have been able to travel the world and meet the most interesting people through working in the wine industry – many fantastic, interesting conversations have taken place over a glass of wine. I have learned that life becomes easier with a glass of wine.
How did you curate and select these 9 wines from the different winemakers for the Jewels of the New World concept?
The selection is of our best selection of wines coming from our unique terroirs. Each wine has its own story, appeal, and personality – the result of the combination of terroir variety and winemaking. We paired that combination with the gemstone that best represents it.
What are some values and philosophies of these winemakers that resonate with the Jewels of the New World concept?
Over time, each of these gemstones have come to represent something unique and special. Lapis Lazuli for example, a gemstone found in Chile, represents creativity, self-expression and balance – a perfect representation of our Amelia wines which is characterised by Balance and Expressiveness.
Another example is Rhodochrosite – representing Intuition and Passion, it is a perfect representation of our Carmín de Peumo Carmenere, a wine made with a long-lost variety, represented by the red colour of the leaves of the vines at the time of harvest.
Amongst the 9 wines, the newly released 2021 vintage Don Melchor earned 99 points. Apart from its score, what is it about this wine that stands out from Viña Concha y Toro’s other offerings?
Don Melchor is our quintessential fine wine, made from the most classical of grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, coming from what is regarded as the best terroir in Chile for these wines – Puente Alto – in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Maipo Valley.
Don Melchor was first launched with the vintage 1987 and over the years it has received the most prestigious accolades, such as when the vintage 2018 was awarded 100 points by James Suckling.
Singapore was selected to launch the Viña Concha Y Toro. What is it about Singapore that gave you the confidence to launch it here as compared to other key markets?
It was the perfect setting – Singapore is in the heart of Asia and it has all the right elements to launch this new campaign of our Luxury Collection. After three years, during a period where travelling and getting together with our clients and partners has been difficult, Singapore was the perfect place to invite them to witness unveil the Jewels campaign in Asia. The mix of cultures and the quality of Singapore’s venues and cuisine added to the fact that Vinexpo Singapore was happening in the city at the time, which made choosing Singapore as the venue an easy decision.
What are the plans for the Jewels of the New World concept? Will this be on-going and are there any plans to introduce new winemakers in the future?
This will be an ongoing campaign across Asia and it will define the future of our Fine Wine strategy in the region. The unveiling at the launch event in Singapore is just the start of this journey. JEWELS builds on the CYT family of wineries’ leadership in new world wine by recruiting consumers to the Fine Wine segment – driving category growth and creating new value for partners.
Sustainability is a normative concept these days. What does the future of wine look like now as compared to the past?
As a B-Corporation, Viña Concha y Toro has made an explicit ESG commitment, which provides a solid foundation for its sustainability strategy. Viña – y Toro has implemented a sustainability strategy which aims to promote regenerative agriculture practices in order to create a positive impact. That is, to return to the land and communities more than they have given us, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Climate change is a significant factor in the quality of wine produce, how do winemakers navigate this issue?Climate Change is a concern for everyone and as part of our sustainability program, we have a unique research and innovation center. There, we have developed several research projects that have made encouraging progress on multiple fronts, for example, water savings of 18% with efficient irrigation techniques in a pilot program (1.100 hectares).
We are also developing a project called Planting Grapevines 2.0, which is viticulture with vines that are better prepared to face climate change as they are free from and are more resistant to complex viruses.
For someone totally new to New World wines, where is a good starting place for them to be guided into the world of wine (in terms of regions, varietals)?
I believe it is important to be familiar with the most representative terroirs for the key varieties. The most renowned Malbec’s from Argentina, are from the area of Lujan de Cuyo where our Eolo Malbec comes from. In the case of Chile, the best Cabernet Sauvignons are from Maipo Andes and the home of Carmenere is Peumo. The key is the origin: each of these fine wines have reached their recognition based on the origin they come from, which is the main reason for their unique quality.
Lastly, which wine styles do you enjoy drinking the most?
I always like to try new wines and styles but there are always those that never fail. After a long day, I like to enjoy an Amelia Pinot Noir – it is a multilayered wine, with notes of red cherry, nice acidity, and a long mineral finish. it is versatile and pairs well with almost anything.
If it is a more formal setting, I always go for a classic Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon – its elegance and complexity never fails to impress.
Once you’re done with this article on the Viña Concha Y Toro and their new JEWELS concept, click here to catch up with our June/July 2023 issue!
RELATED ARTICLES
