Don Melchor sole Chilean finalist for WE New World Winery of the Year 2026
Viña Don Melchor is the only Chilean name among five Wine Enthusiast New World Winery of the Year finalists, beside Te Mata (NZ), Leeuwin (AU), Salentein (AR) and Karas (AM). CEO/Technical Director Enrique Tirado ties the nod to Puente Alto; Don Melchor 2023 scored 97 points — a brand high at WE. Winners land 12 Nov 2026; gala January 2027.
Five New World names. One Chilean bottle on the shortlist.
Viña Don Melchor — the Concha y Toro Cabernet house built around Puente Alto in Alto Maipo — is the only Chilean finalist for Wine Enthusiast’s New World Winery of the Year at the 2026 Wine Star Awards. The other four: Te Mata Estate (New Zealand), Leeuwin Estate (Australia), Bodegas Salentein (Argentina) and Karas Wines (Armenia).
Wine Enthusiast frames the nod around consistency of scores, long vision and the estate’s push to set a benchmark for Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. The same week’s brand news: Don Melchor 2023 took 97 points from the magazine — the highest WE score the label has ever posted.
Enrique Tirado, CEO and Technical Director, called the nomination an honour for everyone who built the house over decades and a distinction for Puente Alto itself — great wine as a constant study of place. Winners will be named on 12 November 2026 and celebrated at the annual gala in January 2027.
Mini-concept: a New World shortlist is a map of reputations — one Chilean Cabernet address standing alone among five means the rest of the country is watching how Puente Alto is scored.
Keep: when you next order a Maipo Cabernet, ask whether the bottle comes from a house that made the only Chilean cut on WE’s 2026 New World list.
Remember: Don Melchor only Chilean WE New World finalist (Te Mata, Leeuwin, Salentein, Karas); Tirado; 2023 = 97 pts WE high; winners 12 Nov 2026 / gala Jan 2027.
Source: Viña Don Melchor