Viña Santa Rita’s flagship wine continues to deepen its presence in Japan through activities with leading figures in the global wine industry, exploring the evolution of its vintages while sharing the identity of its Alto Jahuel origin in the Maipo Valley.

On May 19, Casa Real hosted an exclusive masterclass alongside renowned Japanese wine critic and sommelier Taku Iguro, offering a select group of Japanese wine professionals the opportunity to gain deeper insight into the identity, heritage and evolution of this iconic wine.

The event took place at Académie du Vin Japan, one of Asia’s most respected wine education institutions, and featured a vertical tasting of the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 vintages. Through this experience, participants discovered the quality, character and extraordinary ageing potential of the historic Maipo Valley vineyards that give rise to this celebrated wine.

Since its inaugural vintage in 1989, Casa Real has been recognized as one of South America’s pioneering icon wines. It originates from a historic 20-hectare vineyard in Alto Jahuel, planted with ungrafted massal-selection vines. Through precision viticulture and meticulous micro-vinification by parcel, the wine seeks to express with the utmost fidelity one of the world’s great terroirs for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Sebastián Labbé, Winemaker of Casa Real and recently named one of the Master Winemakers 100 by The Drinks Business, commented: “Casa Real is born from a terroir that has achieved a truly exceptional level of expression and depth, one that is difficult to replicate. Each vintage presents a new opportunity to explore and interpret this unique origin with ever greater precision. It is a continuous journey of refinement, guided by profound respect for the land and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”

This masterclass forms part of Casa Real’s ongoing efforts in Japan through educational and collaborative initiatives designed to promote greater understanding of its history, origin and philosophy alongside renowned sommeliers and leading figures within the wine industry, further strengthening its relationship with the country’s wine community.