Emiliana Organico (formerly Viñedos Organicos Emiliana or VOE) is the world’s biggest Biodynamic estate vineyard and winery. It is based in Colchagua Valley in the Central Valley of Chile. Viñedos Emiliana S.A, was founded in 1986 under the name of Bodegas y Viñedos Santa Emiliana.
Staff: CEO: Cristian Rodriguez. Sustainability Manager: Sebastian Tramon.
Memberships: Renaissance des Appellations.
Certification: 2007 Aimed to have 450ha of organic vines in by end 2007 (Richards: 2007). | 2010 All vineyards have organic certification. First vintage with Demeter Biodynamic certification for some of the vineyards and the winery. | 2018 All 1,413 hectares of vineyards are certified organic but are farmed to Demeter Biodynamic standards. Of this 843ha (2,083 acres) of estate vineyards is Demeter-certified Biodynamic producing 30,000 cases out of 1 million in total. Another 570ha (1,408 acres) from growers is certified organic (but farmed to Demeter Biodynamic standards as mentioned above).
Biodynamics: 2018 Christian Rodriguez, CEO of Emiliana told me at the International Biodynamic Wine Conference, San Francisco 7th May 2018 that the company buries 3,600 horns for Horn manure 500 annually (IBWC 2018). | 2020 “Emiliana is the world’s largest organic winery with over 800 hectares of certified vineyards,” (Drinks Business 04 August 2020). | 2022 In March 2022 UK importer Paul Boutinot emailed this: the total hectares of certified Biodynamic vines at Emiliana – 600 hectares, –the total hectares farmed as Biodynamic but certified organic – 1,000 hectares.
Production: 2018 1 million (9-litre) cases of wine (bottled and BIB). 7.8 million kg of estate grown Demeter Biodynamic grapes. | 2015: In June 2015 Andres Gillmore said “Currently Emiliana has 850 hectares owned in the valleys of Maipo, Casablanca, San Antonio and Rapel, and all of these are 100% certified organic and Biodynamic. Apart from our own production mentioned above we have long term contracts for 550 hectares sourced from different organic producers, all them also certified (organic and fairtrade).” | 2011.“Emiliana claims to be one of the biggest organic wineries in the world, with 900 hectares of certified organic and 583 hectares of certified biodynamic vineyards producing 4 million litres of wine across Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua and Bio Bio,” writes Laura Clark in ‘Emiliana pushes premium message’ (www.harpers.co.uk 21 June 2011). | 2022 A 300ha piece of uncultivated land in the Maule was being planted for the Adobe brand (Source BK Wine).
Memberships: Renaissance des Appellations.
Wine range: Adobe is the entry-level tier. Novas is the next stage up. Coyam is the premium red. Gê is the super-premium red.
White wines
La Vanilla: 2016 Casablanca Valley. 72% Chardonnay, 12% Viognier, 10% Marsanne, 6% Roussanne.
Viognier, Novas: “From Casablanca valley. Superb Viognier which manages to express all the white peach and honeysuckle character of this variety, in a concentrated, opulent ‘new World’ kind of style.”
Red wines
Syrah, Adobe: 2004 £5.95 per bottle from Vintage Roots and Chile$4.300 in early 2006. |2005 Vegan suitable. £6.50 per bottle from Vintage Roots (2006/7 list, p.11).
Coyam: ‘One of Chile’s most fascinating wines,’ (Oz Clarke: 2015, p.113). | 2014 Colchagua Valley. 45% Syrah, 35% Carmenere, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Mourvedre, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot. 14,500 cases. Good mix of fruit and oak tasted at the International Biodynamic Wine Conference, San Francisco 7th May 2018.
GÊ: ‘A Super Coyam,’ (Oz Clarke 2015, p.113). | 2014 Colchagua Valley. 45% Syrah, 40% Carmenere, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. 948 cases. Nice tight structre, delicious savoury fruit tasted at the International Biodynamic Wine Conference, San Francisco 7th May 2018.
Signos: 2013 90% Cabernet. Savoury fruit, hint of green to the tannins at the International Biodynamic Wine Conference, San Francisco 7th May 2018.
Contact
Vinedos Emiliana SA
Bodega Los Robles e Bodega Las Palmeras
Avda Nueva Tajamar No. 481 of. 701, Las Condes, Santiago
Tel+56 2353 9130 | Website: www.emiliana.cl
Bibliography
IBWC 2018, International Biodynamic Wine Conference, San Francisco 6-7th May 2018
Peter Richards, ‘Hot Property,’ Decanter, March 2007, p.38-44).