Santiago, Chile, has been selected to host The 50 Best Vineyards 2026 awards ceremony, with Viña Don Melchor named as the Official Venue Partner. The event, scheduled for 18 November at the winery's facilities within the Viña Concha y Toro Wine Centre in Pirque, marks the first time this internationally renowned celebration of winery and vineyard experiences will take place in Chile. The selection carries significant implications for the country's wine industry and its growing role in global wine tourism.
The 50 Best Vineyards, organised by William Reed, is a premier annual ranking that draws on the opinions of more than 700 travel and wine tourism experts. Hosting its awards ceremony is a powerful endorsement of Chile's wine tourism offering, which has strengthened in recent years through investments in infrastructure, hospitality, gastronomy, culture and wine-related experiences. The event will bring together leading figures from wine, gastronomy, hospitality and travel, providing an unparalleled opportunity to showcase Chilean wines and wine regions to an influential global audience.
The implications extend beyond prestige. According to Rikki Tidball, Managing Director of Events for The 50 Best Vineyards, Chile has earned global recognition for the quality and diversity of its wine offering, making Santiago the perfect host. Claudio Orrego, Governor of Santiago, noted that the region is making steady progress towards becoming the wine and tourism capital of South America, and that hosting this event strengthens its global leadership. The arrival of the awards thus serves as both a validation of past efforts and a catalyst for future growth, as international exposure can drive visitor numbers and investment in wine tourism infrastructure.
Viña Don Melchor, located in the Maipo Valley, is one of South America's leading luxury wine tourism destinations. Its selection as venue partner highlights the winery's role in elevating Chile's profile as a producer of world-class wines. Enrique Tirado, CEO and Technical Director of Viña Don Melchor, described the selection as recognition of the excellence Chile has achieved and an opportunity to showcase the quality, diversity and sophistication of the Chilean wine industry. The venue, opened in 2025 as part of a significant investment in Chilean wine tourism, was conceived to project Chilean wine culture internationally, combining heritage, wine, gastronomy, art, landscape and world-class hospitality.
The event also reflects a collaborative effort involving the Government of Santiago, its Regional Corporation, and Grupo Liderazgo as Official Partner. Max Raide, President of Grupo Liderazgo, expressed pride in hosting the most important event in the wine world, inviting visitors to discover Chile's recognised valleys and products. Isabel Guilisasti, Vice President of Fine Wines and Corporate Image at Viña Concha y Toro, said that Santiago's role as host sends a highly positive signal regarding the international projection of Chile's wine and tourism industries, and represents a unique opportunity to showcase the quality of Chilean wines and the level of development achieved by Chilean wine tourism.
For Chile, the implications are clear: hosting The 50 Best Vineyards 2026 positions the country as a leading wine tourism destination, with the potential to attract more international visitors, boost local economies, and further integrate wine into the national tourism strategy. As the event makes its Chilean debut, it underscores the country's commitment to raising industry standards and expanding its global footprint, ensuring that the world takes notice of Chile's wine tourism potential.
