Everything is ready to start the 4th version of the Quillón 2026 Wine Competition on January 16, 17 and 18, an event that consolidates the commune as one of the most important wine and wine tourism centres in the south of Chile.
The initiative, organised by the Municipality of Quillón together with Codesser, is financed by the Ñuble Regional Productive Development Committee, through Corfo's Viraliza Eventos programme, and the Ñuble Regional Government, an entity that has permanently supported the economic promotion of the wines of the Itata Valley.
The 2026 version will bring together wines from the Itata, Biobío, Malleco, Cautín, Osorno and Chile Chico valleys, considered the southernmost vineyard in the country, in a technical competition that will be evaluated by a jury made up of 17 national and international specialists.
The Quillón Wine Competition will not only include closed tastings that will define the winning wines, but will also offer a complete programme open to the public, with specialised talks, discussions, networking spaces, workshops with international guests and a Wine Fair with 25 stands.
In addition to this, live music, local gastronomy and relaxation areas create a family and tourist scene around the world of wine.
The mayor of Quillón, Felipe Catalán, mentioned that the intention is that Quillón, with this competition, “consolidates itself as the tourist capital of wine in the region and as one of the most important communes in the south of Chile in terms of wine”.
“This new Wine Contest will have a great stage, a high level staging and a marked professionalism, with both national and international judges. We want this activity to be projected as the most important wine competition in the south of Chile”, mentioned the communal chief.
The Governor of Ñuble, Óscar Crisóstomo, highlighted the progress made by the regional wine industry and the role of this competition in its national positioning. He indicated that the joint work reflects the “joint effort with organisations in the sector”.
“The ancestral and heritage wine of Ñuble is already a recognised brand, and the Itata Valley is a regional emblem. This is the result of the work of our producers, who have raised their quality and achieved a positioning that was unthinkable a couple of decades ago. We want to continue to highlight our local products and strengthen Quillón's tourism offer,” he said.
The main activities will take place in the surroundings of the Nautical Cendyr and the Municipal Spa of the Avendaño Lagoon, a space that for three days will be transformed into the epicentre of winemaking, entrepreneurship and local culture.
First-class juries
There are 17 renowned jurors who will participate in this fourth version of the competition. All of them were chosen for their long trajectory and presence in their respective territories, integrating a panel of national and international specialists with extensive experience in sensory evaluation, wine production, research, oenology and wine dissemination. This will guarantee a rigorous and transparent process, aligned with the highest standards in the sector.
One of the jurors will be Claudio Avilés, founder and owner of the Punta Norte restaurant in Tumbes, who said he felt “proud to be able to give my knowledge to the creations of small and medium-sized wine artisans”.
“The dry land, together with centuries-old vines, undoubtedly generates a great diversity of flavours, textures and aromas that distinguish each grape variety. Being able to enjoy light and highly pairable wines, made in a 100% with local products, becomes a unique sensory experience, especially appreciated by foreign visitors. Grape varieties such as Cinsault, País, Cariñena, Moscatel and Merlot express identity, tradition and character, faithfully reflecting the flavour and essence of the region,” said Avilés.
Talks and masterclasses
A variety of talks will be given by wine experts during the three days of the competition. One of them will be Sebastián Fuentes, Geologist-Enologist, with his masterclass “In search of the essence and personality of Quillón wines”.
According to him, the talk will consist of “showing different elements, both physical and cultural, that allow us to understand the flavour and identity of Quillón wines”.
“On the physical side, aspects such as geography, the origin and composition of the soils where the vineyards grow, as well as the climate and how these factors influence the personality and qualities of the grapes, which are then expressed in the wine, will be addressed,” he says.
Regarding Quillón and its wine and tourism potential, Fuentes said that “it is important to consider that the commune is located halfway between Concepción and Chillán, two regional capitals, which gives it a strategic position and consolidates it as a tourist destination with diverse services”.
“The advantages of Quillón are associated with its location, its agricultural tradition and the sustained improvement of its wines over time, a product of the technological work developed in the territory,” he concluded.
The organisers extended an invitation to the general public, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, tourists and wine lovers from all over Chile and abroad to take part in this event, highlighting that Quillón has a strategic location in the central-southern part of the country and an offer that combines winemaking tradition, natural landscape and wine tourism experiences.
More information about the event @concursodelvinoquillon.
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