40 years ago, it was difficult to imagine how famous Chile and its wines would become a couple of decades later. Agriculture, at that time, was very traditional, and those who worked in the fields followed their ancestors’ customs.
It was in 1982 that the Casablanca valley began to have its first grape plantations.
Nowadays, all of this has borne fruit. The proximity to the Pacific Ocean turned the area into a cold climate valley with exceptional characteristics for whites, thanks to renowned winemakers who have produced world-class wines that have received international awards.
One of those winemakers is Alberto Guolo, from Viña Casas del Bosque. Originally from Monselice, Italy, he obtained a degree in viticulture and oenology from the University of Padua, and a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in Marketing and Administration from the Ca’Foscari University of Venice. He has worked in different wineries in Italy, New Zealand and California.
He arrived in Chile in 2016 and one year later joined the winemakers team at Viña Casas del Bosque. Today he is the owner of the Vini Monticello-Azienda Guolo winery, in Italy’s Veneto region. This vineyard founded by his grandfather.
He was recognized as Young Winemaker of the Year 2024. At 39 years old, he seeks to further refine the technical details, having Sauvignon Blanc as one of his great loves. He has worked to obtain wines with character that speak of the Casablanca valley’s best qualities.
Julio Bastías winemaker has also had an outstanding career, having studied oenology and viticulture at the University of Talca. He is a master of cold-climate Syrah, one of the Matetic Winery’s most emblematic varieties. Equally exciting are the coastal whites, such as Pinot Noir, the red blends and his sparkling Brut Costero.
Bastías is one of Chile’s leading biodynamic winemakers and has trained with some of the world’s leading biodynamic consultants. He has been at Matetic for more than 20 years and has played an integral part in the development of its portfolio and assets.
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