Our History
In 1984 Bruno Prats and Paul Pontallier (RIP), well known Agronomists Winemakers from the Bordeaux region, France, began to search in Chile for a high-quality Terroir to create an original winery.
To achieve this, they partner with a common friend, Felipe de Solminihac, a Chilean Winemaker Agronomist of French origin. In 1990 they acquired 18 hectares in Peñalolen within the city of Santiago: This place at the footsteps of the Andes Mountains, is located in the “Quebrada de Macul”, in the historic heart of the Maipo Valley.
The first plantations are made with Cabernet Sauvignon of Bordeaux origin, present in Chile since the end of the 19th century. The wine cellar was completed in 1993.
In January 2002 Ghislain de Montgolfier, Agronomist of the Champagne Region and an old friend of the founders, becomes the fourth partner, or as he says, recalling the novel by Alexandre Dumas, the fourth Musketeer.
Today the second generation of the founders is taking control of the winery, in the commercial area helping sales all over the world.
The founders
Bruno Prats
President
- French
- Agronomist Winemaker Engineer
- Graduated from the Institut National Agronomique in Paris
- Graduated in Viticulture from La Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de France
- Owner and Winemaker of Château Cos d’Estournel, 1968-1998, France
- President of The Classified Growths of The Médoc, 1978-1998
- Partner and Winemaker at Chryseia Douro D.O.C., Portugal
- Partner and Winemaker at Anwilka, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Partner and Winemaker at Klein Constantia, Capetown, South Africa
- Partner and Winemaker at Alfynal, Alicante, Spain
- Partner of Viña Aquitania S.A. in Chile since 1990
Paul Pontallier (RIP)
- French
- Agricultural Engineer Winemaker
- Graduated from the Institut National Agronomique in Paris, France
- PhD in Oenology from the Institut d’Oenologie de Bordeaux, France
- Professor of Oenology in Santiago de Chile, 1982
- Winemaker and currently General Manager of Chateau Margaux since 1983, France
- Partner of Viña Aquitania S.A. in Chile since 1990
- Deceased on March 27, 2016
Felipe de Solminihac
General Mannager
- Chilean
- Agricultural Engineer Winemaker, from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
- Graduated in oenology and vine science at the Intitut d’Oenologie de Bordeaux, France
- Winemaker-Advisor to several Chilean wineries
- Partner and General Manager of Viña Aquitania since 1990
- Professor of Viticulture at the Faculty of Agronomy and Forest Engineering of the PUC
Ghislain de Montgolfier
Director
- French
- Agricultural engineer
- Graduated from the Institut National Agronomique in Paris, France
- Diploma in viticulture from l’ENSA de Montpellier
- President of Champagne Bollinger from 1993 to 2008
- Member of the International Council of the Development Bank, 1985-1995
- President of the Union de Maisons de Champagne 2007-2013
- President of the Union des Maisons et des Marques de Vin de France 2010-2014
- Partner of Viña Aquitania S.A. in Chile since 2002
Our Team
Viña Aquitania is a small human group that works every day to obtain the best possible wines.
Eduardo de Solminihac
Commercial Director
- Chilean
- Diploma in Chilean Wine Universidad Católica
- INACAP Industrial and Automotive Mechanic
- Viña Aquitania Commercial Director since 2009
José Manuel Peralta
Chief Winemaker
- Chilean.
- Agricultural Engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
- Winemaker at Viña Aquitania since 2019.
José Carmona
- Chilean
- Accountant of Viña Aquitania since 2005.
Winery and Vineyards Team in Peñalolen (from Left to Right)
Tomás Jara – Operator
Liz Ramirez – Labeling Warehouse
Ignacio Reyes – Head of Labeling Warehouse
Adolfo Ríos – Vineyard Manager for more than 10 years in Aquitania.
Elbin Cayuhuan – Wine Cellar Manager for more than 20 years in Aquitania.
Vineyards Team in Traiguén (from Left to Right)
José Schurch – Vineyard Manager for more than 10 years in Aquitania.
Orian Soto – Agricultural Engineer for more than 10 years in Aquitania.
Carlos Rivera – Vineyard Manager for more than 10 years in Aquitania.