Viña Santa Rita earns major wine tourism clout with new green certification

The Chilean producer has been declared a “leader in oenotourism” following its sixth sustainable certification, making it one of the greenest wineries to visit in Chile.

In December 2021, Viña Santa Rita obtained its sixth accreditation on the Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile Code, including an “outstanding” result in the area of oenotourism, a new inclusion in the certification process.

The impressive rating was the culmination of an external audit of Santa Rita Estate’s entire operations and premises, including its touristic area, which includes the historic Hotel Casa Real, Doña Paula Restaurant, Wine Shop and Tourism House.

One of the first wineries in Chile to achieve this recognition, it means that tourists visiting Santa Rita can be assured that the environment, staff and the wider community are all considered with the highest respect and treated accordingly throughout its daily operations.

“With this we demonstrate that our integral offer, with the wine always at the centre and incorporating all the cultural and historic patrimony we have, allows us to offer a unique experience to our visitors and the community,” says Diego Valenzuela, tourism manager of Viña Santa Rita. “Santa Rita is a leader in oenotourism in Chile, and this accreditation shows the commitment with sustainability as the guiding principle of our operations.”

Additionally, the cellars, vineyards, and offices belonging to Santa Rita Estates were all subject to a sustainability audit by external team Ecocert in order to maintain the status of Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile.

Different practices of vineyard management, installations, energy efficiency projects, waste management, and the company’s relations with suppliers and communications, among other topics, were all reviewed during the inspection, gaining a score of 95%.

“These results show the collaborative work of every area of the company, of the day-to-day management, keeping records, working in an organised way and introducing the sustainability factor in every action we take,” says Elena Carretero, director of corporate affairs and sustainability at Santa Rita.

“At Santa Rita Estates, our business strategy is built on the foundations of sustainable development, which is enhanced by this new milestone.”

It’s not the first time that Santa Rita has become a pioneer in the world of sustainability. Its sixth sustainability report, published in June 2021, highlighted the company’s focus on educational, cultural and health initiatives, including staff and their families, as well as the surrounding communities.

Between 2018 and 2019, education grants grew by 44% for workers and 98% for their children, while the company’s Territorial Valorization Programme benefited 8,000 local students and teachers.