Santiago, Chile, will host The 50 Best Vineyards 2026 awards ceremony on 18 November at Viña Don Melchor, located within the Viña Concha y Toro Wine Centre in Pirque. The selection of Viña Don Melchor as the Official Venue Partner recognizes Chile's remarkable development in wine tourism and will showcase the country to a global audience as a leading wine tourism destination.
The event, making its Chilean debut, is supported by the Government of Santiago as Official Host Partner, its Regional Corporation, and Grupo Liderazgo as Official Partner. This collaboration reflects a long-term strategy by the national wine industry, regional governments, tourism authorities, and public and private stakeholders to position Chile among the world's top 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 international recognition. Santiago hosting The 50 Best Vineyards 2026 validates this progress and offers an exceptional opportunity to showcase the diversity of Chile's wine regions, cultural heritage, and sophisticated experiences.
The ceremony will be held at Viña Don Melchor, which 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, said, "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."
Max Raide, President of Grupo Liderazgo, added, "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."
Isabel Guilisasti, Vice President of Fine Wines and Corporate Image at Viña Concha y Toro, stated, "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."
Enrique Tirado, CEO and Technical Director of Viña Don Melchor, highlighted, "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."
Located in the Maipo Valley, Viña Don Melchor is one of South America's leading luxury wine tourism destinations, offering experiences connected to the territory, heritage, and culture of Chilean wine. The event will bring together leading figures from wine, gastronomy, hospitality, and travel, providing a unique opportunity to showcase Chilean wines and collaborative efforts that have raised the country's profile in global wine tourism.
