Established in 1993, Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery has been steadfast in its pursuit of crafting premium, unique, and innovative wines that encapsulate the essence of the new world. The company is characterized by three fundamental aspects: inventive application of technology, commitment to quality, and dedication to environmental sustainability. The name Cono Sur signifies the winery’s geographic position, highlighting its proud identity as a South American winery located in the southern cone, where Chile and its bountiful wine valleys lie along the western border.
These three foundational attributes – creative technology use, quality focus, and environmental respect – form the core identity of the company.
Cono Sur has stretched the limits of viticulture and winemaking in Chile, by introducing a variety of grapes that were largely unknown to the country. The innovation extends not only to the wine itself but also to its packaging. In 1995, Cono Sur pioneered the use of synthetic corks in South America. In 2002, it was the first Chilean winery to utilize screwcaps for aromatic white wines, recognized as the best closure to maintain the wine’s youth, freshness, and avoid oxidation. From 2002 onward, considering the product performance, technical progression, and market feedback, the company transitioned most of its Whites, Rosés, Pinot Noirs, as well as Reds meant for brief cellaring, to advanced screwcap closures.
The origins of Cono Sur are deeply tied to Chile’s oldest Pinot Noir vineyards. The winery was the first in Chile to produce Premium Pinot Noir and to export this variety. The production of Pinot Noir has been Cono Sur’s most exhilarating endeavor, and it remains the only variety found across all their ranges. The company embarked on its “Pinot Noir project” in 1999, with the mission to create the finest Pinot Noir in Chile: distinctive, expressive, and embodying its New World origins while being vinified in accordance with the Burgundian tradition. In this endeavor, the company received guidance from Martin Prieur, a seasoned Pinot Noir winemaker from the same French DO, who has provided invaluable assistance in choosing Chilean terroirs and advising on optimal vineyard management.
