Chilean Earthquake Hits Wine Industry Hard

e-mail

James Molesworth
About Me
My Main Blog Page
Archive

Most Recent Posts:
May 30, 2013 A Stop at Hirsch Vineyards
Apr 8, 2013 The 2012 Bordeaux Barrels Diary: Christian Moueix's Wines of Distinction
Apr 4, 2013 The 2012 Bordeaux Barrels Diary: The Right Bank Has the Right Stuff
Apr 3, 2013 The 2012 Bordeaux Barrels Diary: The Cabernet Test Continues at Latour and Mouton

See Also:
Featured Blogs
Complete Blog Index

Wineries up and down the country are reporting damage, though communication is difficult

Posted: Feb 28, 2010 8:42am ET

I'm still in Costa Rica, but obviously the news from Chile is dominating right now. I've got many colleagues there that I am waiting to hear from. There is an obvious human element to the story—I understand that. Here in my blog, however, I'm just focusing on the wine industry proper.

I have heard from Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle, who's stuck in Miami as the Santiago airport is closed. I've also heard from Patrick Valette, Sven Bruchfeld and Jorge Goles from within Chile. Initial reports are not good, with many wineries reporting broken tanks and millions of liters of wine lost. I've also heard that the J. Bouchon winery was hit hard, as were many of those located in the southern valleys of Curicó and Maule. Wineries north in Colchagua and Maipo were not spared though.

Power is down as well, which means wineries that were about to begin harvesting their white varieties are now stuck with grapes on the vines. Cellular networks are disrupted as is internet and e-mail, so communication is still difficult.

If you've heard from anyone in the wine industry in Chile and have news to report, I encourage you to post here. I am returning to New York tonight and will be in the office tomorrow working on the story as best I can.

[You can now follow James Molesworth on Twitter, at http://twitter.com/jmolesworth1]

Member comments 48 comment(s)

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — February 28, 2010 10:49am ET

From Francesco Marone Cinzano of Viña La Reserva de Caliboro:

News from Caliboro is that everybody is accounted for.
Caliboro is very near the epicenter of the earthquake.
A lot of material damage particularly homes. Most old buildings made of adobe have collapsed or are seriously damaged. The cellar is still standing but we have lost some barriques...Communications are still difficult and the earth is still moving...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — February 28, 2010 10:54am ET

From Jean-Pascal Lacaze of Viña Quebrada de Macul: He's stuck in Atlanta as his flight to Santiago was diverted when earthquake hit. He says all accounted for at winery and facility ok...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — February 28, 2010 11:09am ET

From Eduardo Chadwick of Viña Errázuriz: all accounted for and no problems at Aconcagua winery...Curicó and Colchagua cellars affected though, waiting for details...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — February 28, 2010 11:14am ET

From Jorge Matetic of Matetic in San Antonio: Just a few broken bottles, but no major damage. But the situation in central and south "looks very bad"...

Report from Odfjell winery in Maipo: no structural damage at winery...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — February 28, 2010 1:09pm ET

From Sven Bruchfeld of Polkura: The scene in Colchagua, one can smell wine along the roads in front of the wineries. Tanks laying, collapsed buildings, barrels and glass everywhere.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — February 28, 2010 6:15pm ET

From Eduardo Matte of Haras de Pirque: Trying to get back from lake country vacation but roads and bridges collapsed so no driving options...All friend s & family accounted for. Some damage in barrel room...

John C Winkelmann — Cincinnai — February 28, 2010 6:30pm ET

James:
Thanks for this post and the followup comments. Our hearts go out to the citizens of Chile in the aftermath of this tragedy. Lovers of Chilean wines look upon those who produce wine there as "family". We wish our friends who were affected by the earthquake a rapid and complete recovery. I hope Chile emerges stronger than ever. Please keep the posts coming.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — February 28, 2010 6:59pm ET

From François Lurton, outside of Chile: Our vineyard and buildings in Lolol (Colchagua) are safe with no damage. Only one barrel felt out. We have been lucky.

Our second winery were we have the bottling line has been more affected, with bottles broken and some vats [broken]. All our Team is safe but suffering of lack of water and electricity. I am putting all those who have lost their home in my house at Lolol were we have natural spring water and electricity from generator.

Chile has closed the telephone lines from abroad to avoid the networks being over crowded. But Chileans can sometime call abroad. It seems that also they receive SMS. Some can be contacted by Facebook and Skype.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — February 28, 2010 7:29pm ET

From Grant Phelps who recently moved from Viu Manent to Casas del Bosque: Several thousand liters of Carmenère lost as one tank with bottom weld cracked. Had just racked from barrel though so the damaged barrels were mostly empty...

Unconfirmed reports of heavy damage at Los Vascos, Casa Silva and Viu Manent. Veramonte and Fournier as well...

Unconfirmed reports that Gillmore and Bouchon wineries leveled...

Karl Mark — Geneva, IL. — February 28, 2010 9:01pm ET

My sympathies go out to everyone in Chile. I've had friends who have been to Haiti to help in the relief efforts and even here in northern Illinois we had an unusual 4.3 earthquake just miles from my house. I can't imagine what they must be dealing with over there...

James, any word from Argentina on the earthquake they had in Salta?

Jose Manuel Ortega — Argentina — February 28, 2010 9:28pm ET

Dear James: first of all thank you for your kind words and concern. This is what makes the wine world special. I left Chile hours before the earthquake and I was supposed to fly back last night but I could not. I mananged to get a flight from Madrid to Buenos Aires. Tomorrow I am flying to Mendoza and then drive to Maule. All our staff is ok which is the most important news. Our winery has been hurt: empty vats to the ground, lab equipment lost, fallen and broken barrels and bottles. Our guest houses have been severely affected. But in Maule there is still no water, electricity, gasoline and communications. I was also in contact with Daniela Gilmore. They are ok but a lot of the builidings around their winery are rubble. My thoughts to Daniela and Andres. I hope to see them tomorrow.

I am optimistic because in spite of the disaster, I am sure everyone involved will give his/her best and by helping each other out, we will be able to continue and move forward. Chileans through centuries have shown tremendous fortitude and courage against hardship. I am sure this time around it will be the same.

Thank you again

Rick Kirgan — Mexico — March 1, 2010 12:00am ET

Thank you James for keeping us posted. Many of us are huge fans of Chilean wines and the people who make them. Let us hope that damage to the industry and the livelihood of so many people is minimal.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 12:15am ET

From Agustin Huneeus Jr. of Veramonte: We have had damage at Veramonte, but so far it looks relatively small. Some tanks buckled but did not burst. We lost some pallets of bottled wine but it Lloks like it's in the hundreds of cases, not thousands. Most importantly the buildings survived and it looks like we have had very little structural damage.

Martin Palmer — Hong Kong — March 1, 2010 6:22am ET

Dear Brave People of Chile,

The fine Wine lovers of the world who love your wine are with you All THE WAY!

I started drinking your beautiful wines in 1999 and the more I drink them the more I like them. You are my people.

Good Luck,

Martin

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 7:26am ET

From Adolfo Hurtado of Cono Sur: We got some damage at the winery and we already started to fix it. Communication starting to come back on line too...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 8:13am ET

Karl: They felt the earthquake in Mendoza and Salta, but no damage of significance...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 9:05am ET

Marcelo Papa/Concha y Toro: lots of barrels down at Puente Alto winery. Power back on. No word yet on Almaviva...Maycas facility in Limarí has no problems...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 9:27am ET

From Bruno Prats at Viña Aquitania: just a few broken bottles, no injuries...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 10:22am ET

From Alejandro Hartwig of Viña Santa Laura in Colchagua: Material damage in Talca, Curicó and Santa Cruz is huge. Still no power or water there. Most tanks ripped apart.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 11:36am ET

From Viña Santa Rita: Casa Real house had minor damage. Museum and restaurant more so. Unspecified amount of wine lost in tank and barrel.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 1:43pm ET

From Alex Guarachi, T.G.I.C Imports (importer of Viña Montes and Viña Santa Ema):

At Santa Ema, the older winery facility is in bad shape, still assessing wine losses. New winery facility ok.

At Viña Montes, still assessing damage at Colchagua winery. Estimated losses of %20 of icon wines and %40 of Alpha range. Winery in Curicó in good shape. Still no power though.

Logistical issues now coming to light: many wineries with offices in Santiago are unable to conduct business as buildings either damaged or closed pending damage assessment.

Ports: San Antonio is closed. Valparaiso is technically open, but operations have not resumed as no phone lines available yet. Wineries considering moving inventory for exports through Buenos Aires instead, but road conditions problematic.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 2:13pm ET

From Claudia Gómez of Viña Garces Silva (Amayna) in Leyda - no damage at all at winery, all wine safe and sound...

From Courtney Kingston of Kingston Family in Casablanca: We were extremely fortunate. Our family was together on the farm in Casablanca when the quake hit, and our 100+ yr old adobe home managed to survive with everyone safe. All the vineyard/winery employees are thankfully ok although everyone is quite shaken up as you may imagine. We are still evaluating property damage, but it sounds like given the possibilities
that we again were very lucky vs. wineries in valleys father south. Our barrels were only stacked 3 high, which I think made a difference as I understand neighboring wineries with higher stacks had trouble....

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 3:45pm ET

I am now starting to hear lots of second hand info re: losses at individual wineries; this is likely to be a sensitive issue for wineries who have to deal with investors/importers. So far only one winery has confirmed a quantifiable loss to me on the record - Grant Phelps at Casas del Bosque states they have lost 4,000 liters.

Among the more staggering numbers being passed along (again, all UNCONFIRMED) are 40 million liters at Concha y Toro, 9 million at Santa Rita, 3 million at Los Vascos, 2 million at Santa Emiliana, 2 million at Undurraga and about 1 million each at Montes and Lapostolle. (1 million liters is equivalent to just over 100,000 cases).

Please remember that these are both preliminary and second hand accounts. Communications in Chile are still severely disrupted and many wineries are still assessing the damage.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 1, 2010 8:55pm ET

Word from Marco Puyo at Viña San Pedro: Working to repair damage at winery; plan to be ready for harvest next week; no report on wine loss.

From additional sources: unconfirmed reports that Viña Tarapaca's facility in Isla de Maipo may be a total loss...

Several people in Chilean wine industry estimating total loss of 150-200 million liters of wine...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 7:13am ET

From Santiago Margozzini/MontGras in Colchagua: Significant damage to winery; lost %5-6 of wine in tanks, %10 of wine in barrels...

From Alvaro Espinoza of Antiyal and Viñedos Emiliana: lost barrels and bottles at Antiyal. No word yet on Emiliana...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 8:49am ET

From Andrés Caballero of Viña Santa Carolina: Five winery facilities all received some damage but are operational. Estimates loss of 200,000 liters in tanks and 200 barrels. The winery is currently running on generator power and plans to harvest as scheduled.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 9:55am ET

From Michel Friou of Viña Almaviva: All personnel and family accounted for. No damage or loss at winery in Puente Alto. Power, water and communications back on line in their sector...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 10:34am ET

From Viña Quintay in Casablanca: just damage to barrels & bottles, all else seems ok. Planning to start harvest as scheduled...

Via another source: one large Chilean winery with 9,000 barrels to sort through was able to get through 50 barrels yesterday...huge task ahead.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 11:04am ET

Here is the latest from Concha y Toro, Chile's largest winery, accounting for 24 percent of wine exports (not including their separately-owned operations at Emiliana, Maycas, Palo Alto and Cono Sur)...

All employee and employee families accounted for.

Of 11 total winery facilities, the three in Peumo, Lontué and Lourdes are significantly damaged. Assessments still ongoing as power and water not online, but initial estimates of 40 million liters lost are inaccurate. Loss will be significant however.

Main facility in Puente Alto is ok. Remaining seven facilities have received none to some damage and are all operational.

All winemaking teams are at work and preparing for harvest first in Casablanbca.

Company states they are fully insured. In addition, there are significant inventories in U.S. already and all containers awaiting shipment at San Antonio port are undamaged. Offices in Santiago now up and running.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 11:23am ET

Update from Viña Santa Rita and its group, via commercial director Salvador Domenech:

"Fortunately, I'm glad to inform that all our people are fine with no casualties to report. Of course there are a lot who are facing problems with their relatives and/or their houses, but our people are fine."

Losses: At Viña Santa Rita, 8 million liters, including 1 million liters of premium wines.

At Sur Andino (which produces the Terra Andina brand) - 1 million liters.

At Viña Carmen: 25,000 liters.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 12:17pm ET

From Derek Mossman Knapp, who makes his own wine at the William Fevre facility: William Fevre losses are 23,000 liters from tank and 23 barrels.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 1:03pm ET

From Andrés Sanhueza, winemaker at Viña Santa Ema: Harvest winery doesn´t have any damage. If electricity is back tomorrow we may start with the harvest. The production winery has suffered some wine and material losses that we are evaluating...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 2:42pm ET

From William Cole in Casablanca: Relatively unscathed. Lost only 3 barrels, now checking others for filtration problems or damage...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 3:47pm ET

From Miguel Torres in Curicó: 300 barrels lost, plus one vat w/ 100,000 liters destroyed. Thousands of bottles too. Winery/buildings ok...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 5:41pm ET

From Ricardo Rivadeneira at Los Maquis: All accounted for but many workers' homes destroyed. Colchagua hit very hard. Old Maquis family home and other colonial buildings destroyed. Still no power, but hope to harvest this week as winery facility came through ok...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 7:38pm ET

From German Lyon at Vitivinícola Pérez Cruz: Only minor damage, a few lost barrels...all personnel accounted for and soon to be operational.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 8:25pm ET

From José Miguel Viu at Viu Manent: Vineyards fine, cellar has minor damage. Loss of wine not to exceed %15.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 2, 2010 9:43pm ET

From Andrea Castro at Laroche Chile: Only 4,000 liters lost and a few tanks with some damage.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 3, 2010 8:32am ET

From Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle of Casa Lapostolle: Finally on flight to Chile as commercial flights have partially resumed. Will issue official statement after assessing damage.

From Eduardo Reinero at Viña Meli: Only minor wine losses. All else ok.

From Alvaro Espinoza at Viñedos Emiliana: losses at winery in Colchagua, but no official damage assessment yet.

From Rodrigo Abarzua at Viña La Pancora (Apaltagua): Losses at winery but will take up to 10 days to fully assess.

From Max Darraidou at Viña Tabali and Viña Leyda:"winery has suffered certain wine losses" but no exact numbers provided.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 3, 2010 10:05am ET

From Aurelio Montes of Viña Montes: 'Some important material damages in the wineries, but nothing that cannot be solved.'

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 3, 2010 2:48pm ET

From José Ortega of Bodegas y Viñedos O. Fournier in Maule: Winery miraculously survived with almost no damage. About 600 bottles lost but even though some barrels fell, the wine was inside.

But the damage to the infrastructure and houses [in area] is extremely severe. Gilmore has had more damage. Daniela and Andres Sanchez, the owners, did not have a minute to lick their wounds. They started working trying to mend some of the damage...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 3, 2010 5:50pm ET

Fro Alejandro Hartwig Jr. at Viña Santa Laura:

Fortunately damage at my winery was concentrated on bottled goods, my estimated guess is about 10.000 bottles mostly 2007 Cabernet and some 2008 Carmenère, very little bulk wine from the 2009 vintage about 5.000 liters.

The building held up perfectly, no damage came to the machinery, two tanks fell over having collapsed legs but can be fixed before vintage. I suffered a much bigger loss at the Bisquert winery where I had stored 270.000 liters of 2009 Cabernet (varietal bulk)...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 4, 2010 9:43am ET

From Viña Montes: Main winery in Apalta suffered more than Curicó and Chimbarongo, but its foundation is structurally sound.

Equipment/bottling lines 100% operative. Will resume operations as soon as possible as as power restored in Colchagua.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 5, 2010 11:21am ET

Wines industry relief efforts now starting to get rolling...

Major kudos to T.G.I.C. Imports (U.S.) importer of Viña Montes, Viña Santa Ema) for donating next 90 days of profits to quake relief...

For additional quake relief information, you can check the Chilean Embassy website at www.chile-usa.org, as well as the Wines of Chile website at www.winesofchile.org.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 5, 2010 1:03pm ET

Latest from Asociación de Viñas de Colchagua S.A.: Colchagua winery loss totals 25 million liters of bulk and bottle inventory.

Electricity returning to area. Transportation systems now functioning, though not yet expeditious...

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 5, 2010 8:04pm ET

From winemaker Ed Flaherty at Viña Tarapacá:

The Tarapacá winery was hit hard by quake. The structural damage to building prevented safe entry so we were delayed in clean up and only since yesterday have electricity. We lost a substantial amount of wine and bottle stock and will not know the final amount until we sort through the barrels and bottle inventory which will take weeks. We started harvest of Sauvignon Blanc yesterday and are sending the fruit to the Viña Mar winery. We hope to receive some fruit at Isla de Maipo facility in 10 more days. It is very sad to see wine go down the drain but my heart really goes out to those who lost love ones and or homes.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 5, 2010 9:46pm ET

From official statement from Viña San Pedro group, Chile's second largest winery producer formed by the wineries San Pedro, Tarapacá, Santa Helena, Misiones de Rengo, Altaïr, Viña Mar and Casa Rivas:

Given the great intensity of this earthquake, there were some losses in wine, which are still being assessed. According to its closest estimation up to the present, there were lost approximately 9.4 million liters of bulk wine, what is equivalent to less than 10% of its annual production. Bottled wine losses are still being quantified.

James Molesworth — Senior Editor, Wine Spectator — March 5, 2010 9:53pm ET

And more from Viña San Pedro statement:

Thanks to the reestablishment of basic services and connectivity, bottling and labeling were partially resumed today in three of its main wineries.

Added to this, the first three containers after-quake were successfully delivered to Chile’s main ports 0n Wednesday 3rd of March), departing to Hong Kong, Canada and Mexico.

The group of wineries has also officially started its 2010 harvest, beginning with the pick-up of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grapes at the vineyards in Rengo, Molina, San Fernando and Casablanca.

Would you like to comment?

Want to join or start a discussion? Become a WineSpectator.com member and you can!

To protect the quality of our conversations, only members may submit comments. To learn more about member benefits, take our site tour.

stirring the lees with james molesworth