The project will be carried out with the Faculty of Agronomy and its consists of a five-year investigation where different research and studies will be conducted with varieties that must adapt to the climate, at the Oromo experimental station, located in the south of Chile, Purranque, Osorno.

Faced to the extreme drought scenario affecting a large part of our country due to the global environment crisis, the wineries are adopting measures to mitigate the damage that this may cause to production. For this reason, they are researching new technologies in order to start operations where there is a greater availability of natural resources, such as southern Chile.

Such is the case of Viña Santa Rita, which together with the Faculty of Agronomy of the Universidad de Chile, signed an alliance that seeks to develop wine production in southern Chile, with representatives of both institutions. In the case of Viña Santa Rita it was present; Chairman Baltazar Sánchez, CEO Andrés Lavados, Winegrowing Director Jaime de la Barra and Viticulture Manager, Gerardo Leal. In the case of the university; Dean of the Faculty, Gabino Reginato, Director of Research, Álvaro Peña, and the Director of the Station, Claudia Mella.

“As Santa Rita, we have a great interest in investing in research projects that provide us with relevant information to produce the best wine that can be produced in southern Chile. We know that climate change today has imposed challenges in relation to the availability of water in the central zone, but we are also constantly looking for new winegrowing areas that can provide our consumers with exceptional wines in their organoleptic characteristics and experience by zones,” said Baltazar Sánchez, Viña Santa Rita´s Chairman.

He added, “This research must be the basis for exploring new winegrowing areas with the main objective of developing them with projects of value for both the vineyard and the industry”.

This project consists of planting one hectare of an experimental vineyard with short-cycle varieties adapted to cold climates and including disease-resistant non-viniferous hybrid varieties.

“The partnership with Universidad de Chile is due to the fact that the institution has the necessary infrastructure for this type of research, such as laboratories that have the faculty to analyze grapes and wines, doctors and experts in soils, climate, pests and diseases. Together with our experience in viticulture, allows it to be a much more solid project, also promoting the Lake District as a wine region”, says Gerardo Leal, Viticulture Manager of the winery.

Over a period of five years, the project -supported by Corfo-, also seeks to be a research platform for the University itself and for the development of wine producers in the region.

“Although our current production in the Maipo Valley has not been affected by the drought, it is an issue that will soon affect us, so we have to anticipate the situation”, Leal adds.

For some years now, Viña Santa Rita has been acquiring territories in the south of the country, such as Cauquenes in the Maule Region, and grapes from some special producers in the southern zone.