Winemaker Marcio Ramírez

With over 20 years of experience working with Carmenere, Marcio Ramírez has gained recognition in both the national and international wine industry as a key figure in enhancing the global image of this variety. His efforts have showcased Carmenere’s remarkable potential for producing high-quality and distinguished wines.

Considered the leading specialist in Carmenere in Chile, Marcio Ramírez was born in Santiago and studied Agronomy with a specialization in Enology at the University of Chile. He joined Viña Concha y Toro in 1997, and from 1998 to 2000, he served as an assistant winemaker for Don Melchor alongside Enrique Tirado before moving to Cachapoal winery.

Since 2001, he has worked directly with Carmenere in the Peumo terroir, where he has built the rest of his career. Between 2002 and 2003, he participated in international harvests at Château Mouton Rothschild (France) and Castello Banfi (Italy), refining his enological vision.

As winemakers, we are accountable for the wine and the place from which it originates. Today, this holds more relevance than ever… It is essential to look beyond, feel the terroir, and engage with it so that our efforts somehow return what the land provides us.

Marcio is the chief winemaker at the Cachapoal winery, where he leads the company’s production of all Carmenere wines. Under his direction are wines such as Terrunyo, the first ultra-premium Carmenere from Chile, launched in 2000; Carmín de Peumo, an iconic wine since 2003; and the innovative Concha y Toro The Wine line.

Additionally, he oversees the Carmenere for Casillero del Diablo, a brand with which he aims to express a Carmenere that embodies character and freshness.

“We want the element in the grape to transform into wine as naturally as possible. I firmly believe in this path, in those subtleties, because I trust in the different expressions we can achieve with the Carmenere from our beloved Peumo terroir.”

His philosophy is straightforward: let the fruit and the land speak for themselves. Marcio has elevated Chilean Carmenere, establishing it as a noble, elegant variety that represents Chile’s viticultural heritage.