La furia de la Madre Naturaleza se desat\u00f3 sobre las vi\u00f1as chilenas en la madrugada del 27 de febrero cuando el poderoso terremoto rasg\u00f3 los tanques de acero llenos de uvas ferment\u00e1ndose, rompi\u00f3 barriles y destroz\u00f3 botellas en las principales regiones vitivin\u00edcolas del pa\u00eds.<\/P>
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\u201cNuestros estanques de almacenamiento colapsaron y el vino estaba por todas partes, era un caos\u201d, recuerda Jos\u00e9 Miguel Viu, managing director de la familiar Vi\u00f1a Viu Manent en el Valle de Colchagua, a unos 150 Km. al sur de Santiago.<\/P>
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Como otras vi\u00f1as en Colchagua, Viu Manent perdi\u00f3 cerca del 10% de sus inventarios, o 450.000 litros, en las primeras horas del 27 de febrero, pero podr\u00eda haber sido peor, mucho peor.<\/P>
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\u201cGracias a Dios el terremoto no ocurri\u00f3 una semana despu\u00e9s cuando nuestros estanques habr\u00edan estado llenos de vino de la cosecha\u201d, se\u00f1ala Viu, quien a\u00f1ade que la mayor parte de lo que se derram\u00f3 correspond\u00eda a vino a granel de la cosecha 2009.<\/P>
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La vendimia anual de Chile comienza a principios de marzo y las uvas que a\u00fan estaban en las parras no cayeron al piso como ocurri\u00f3 con las manzanas y peras en los huertos frutales del pa\u00eds.<\/P>
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No obstante, tras una abundante cosecha 2009 con cerca de 1.000 millones de litros hab\u00eda mucho vino sin vender en los estanques, barriles y botellas. Wines of Chile, la asociaci\u00f3n de la industria, cuantific\u00f3 la p\u00e9rdida total de vino en aproximadamente 125 millones de litros, o US$ 250 millones, lo que representa una p\u00e9rdida del 12,5% comparado con la cosecha del 2009.<\/P>
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![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/ESP_Rene_Merino_SP2010.jpg\")
Sume a eso US$ 55 millones en da\u00f1os a los equipos de elaboraci\u00f3n de vinos y el costo total, si se excluyen las edificaciones y las viviendas de los trabajadores, fue cercano a los US$ 305 millones, la mayor parte de los cuales fue cubierto por seguros, afirma Ren\u00e9 Merino, presidente de Wines of Chile.<\/P>
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\u201cLas exportaciones no se han visto afectadas en lo absoluto, con nuestros inventarios remanentes del 2009 y la cosecha de este a\u00f1o tenemos todo el vino que necesitamos para cumplir con nuestras obligaciones comerciales\u201d, afirma Merino.<\/P>
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El servicio el\u00e9ctrico en las vi\u00f1as no fue repuesto sino hasta 10 d\u00edas despu\u00e9s y el terremoto dej\u00f3 a algunos trabajadores sin hogar, pero una semana despu\u00e9s del desastre las uvas eran cosechadas a mano y pisadas como de costumbre.<\/P>
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\u201cRealmente tenemos que agradecer a nuestros trabajadores quienes se presentaron a pesar de los da\u00f1os que, en muchos casos, sufrieron sus propios hogares\u201d, subraya Merino.<\/P>
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Viu Manent don\u00f3 viviendas de emergencia, o mediaguas, a varias familias, mientras que otras vi\u00f1as como Grupo Vi\u00f1a San Pedro Tarapac\u00e1 igual\u00f3 las contribuciones de sus trabajadores, recaud\u00f3 donaciones y organiz\u00f3 a voluntarios para ayudarlos a reconstruir sus hogares.<\/P>
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La cosecha de este a\u00f1o es casi un 20% m\u00e1s peque\u00f1a que la del 2009, que fue mayor que el promedio, pero esto se debe a patrones meteorol\u00f3gicos normales de la primavera y el verano m\u00e1s que al terremoto, indica Merino.<\/P>
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A\u00fan tras el terremoto y la menor cosecha, Chile cuenta con un stock en torno a los 1.600 millones de litros de vino, de los cuales 900 millones de litros se exportar\u00e1n o consumir\u00e1n a nivel local. \u201cNo hay escasez de vino en el mercado\u201d, asegura Merino.<\/P>
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Y eso es algo bueno, porque la demanda de vino chileno est\u00e1 creciendo. Tras registrar bajas ventas en el 2009 debido al efecto de la crisis econ\u00f3mica global, las ventas han repuntado desde diciembre.<\/P>
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\u201cMayo ha sido nuestro mejor mes en la historia en t\u00e9rminos de ventas y el mercado local se ha reactivado\u201d, sostiene Viu, quien destaca que si las ventas contin\u00faan creciendo al ritmo actual, el 2010 ser\u00e1 un a\u00f1o r\u00e9cord para su vi\u00f1a.<\/P>
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Exportaciones de Vino<\/STRONG><\/P> Si bien el terremoto cerr\u00f3 puertos y cort\u00f3 el suministro de energ\u00eda, las exportaciones en los 12 meses al cierre de marzo subieron un 27% en t\u00e9rminos de volumen y un 5% en t\u00e9rminos de valor respecto del mismo per\u00edodo de un a\u00f1o antes.<\/P> \u201cEl impacto del terremoto no ha demostrado ser un importante problema para los exportadores de vino de Chile en la mayor\u00eda de los principales mercados\u201d, sostiene Michael Cox, director en Reino Unido de Wines of Chile.<\/P> Sin embargo, la menor cosecha y el hecho de que se perdi\u00f3 algo de vino con el terremoto ejercer\u00e1n presi\u00f3n sobre la oferta y har\u00e1 que los precios suban este a\u00f1o, prev\u00e9 Cox. Ello junto con cuestiones relacionadas con la tasa de cambio, en especial con la mayor debilidad del euro a ra\u00edz de la crisis de deuda europea, implica que el vivo chileno ser\u00e1 relativamente m\u00e1s costoso para los consumidores extranjeros.<\/P> \u201cLos mayores precios son buenos para los productores y los m\u00e1rgenes mejorar\u00e1n, pero todo depende de c\u00f3mo estos incrementos sean aceptados en los principales mercados\u201d, afirma Cox.<\/P> Durante los \u00faltimos cinco a\u00f1os, Chile ha estado aumentando de manera constante su participaci\u00f3n en mercados clave. En el Reino Unido, por ejemplo, la participaci\u00f3n de mercado de Chile casi se ha duplicado de un 5% a un 9,5% en seis a\u00f1os.<\/P> En la London International Wine Fair celebrada en mayo en el centro de convenciones y exhibiciones ExCeL, el stand de Wines of Chile -con representantes de 24 vi\u00f1as chilenas- atrajo a m\u00e1s de 13.000 visitantes, muchos de los cuales hicieron donativos a una campa\u00f1a para recaudar fondos por el terremoto, los que se canalizan a la organizaci\u00f3n de ayuda Levantando Chile.<\/P> Chile ha estado en los titulares de todo el mundo desde el terremoto, lo que ha aumentado la conciencia de los consumidores y generado una ola de respaldo y sentimientos positivos, destaca Cox. \u201cNuestros clientes quieren ayudarnos para que nos pongamos nuevamente de pie y esperamos que eso se traduzca en mayores ventas\u201d, comenta Viu.<\/P> Sin embargo, los precios minoristas posiblemente subir\u00e1n en Reino Unidos a fines de este a\u00f1o debido al mayor costo del vino chileno y tambi\u00e9n producto de los previstos incrementos tributarios en el Reino Unido que afectaran a todo el vino, no s\u00f3lo al proveniente de Chile.<\/P> \u201cLa imagen de Chile de una buena relaci\u00f3n entre costo y calidad ser\u00e1 importante para permitirle soportar estos incrementos, pero las vi\u00f1as chilenas deben ser pragm\u00e1ticas y moderar sus aumentos tanto como sea posible\u201d, se\u00f1ala Cox.<\/P> El mercado podr\u00eda resistir un aumento del 10% en los precios, pero si el incremento es m\u00e1s cercano al 20% o m\u00e1s \u201cpodr\u00eda haber una reacci\u00f3n\u201d, advierte.<\/P> Los precios del vino a granel tambi\u00e9n subir\u00e1n en el mercado local debido al terremoto, pero las vi\u00f1as como Viu Manent evitar\u00e1n traspasar este aumento en el costo a los consumidores incrementando en cambio los vol\u00famenes de ventas.<\/P> \u201cNo podemos transferir el aumento a nuestros consumidores o arriesgarnos a perder competitividad\u201d, comenta Viu.<\/P> La buena noticia para Chile es que sus principales competidores -Australia, Sud\u00e1frica, Argentina y Nueva Zelanda\u2013 tambi\u00e9n est\u00e1n enfrentando aumentos en los precios, ya sea debido a la tasa de cambio o a mayores costos por cosechas m\u00e1s peque\u00f1as.<\/P> Pese a las desafiantes condiciones econ\u00f3micas, Cox espera que las exportaciones de Chile al Reino Unido sigan creciendo al menos en un 10% en t\u00e9rminos de volumen y en un 15% en t\u00e9rminos de valor durante los pr\u00f3ximos 12 meses.<\/P> Las exportaciones al resto de la Uni\u00f3n Europea deber\u00edan aumentar a medida que mercados como Dinamarca, Alemania y Escandinavia se desarrollan m\u00e1s y se vuelven menos dependientes del vino a granel de bajo precio, a\u00f1ade Cox.<\/P> Las ventas en el Reino Unido y otros mercados incluido Asia deber\u00edan verse beneficiadas por el reciente acuerdo de la vi\u00f1a chilena Concha y Toro para convertirse en un auspiciador oficial del club de f\u00fatbol Manchester United, uno de los equipos que m\u00e1s se siguen en el mundo.<\/P> Golpe\u00e1ndose de Lado a Lado<\/STRONG><\/P> Si bien las vi\u00f1as han reabastecido sus inventarios desde el terremoto, les llevar\u00e1 m\u00e1s tiempo reconstruir la infraestructura tur\u00edstica da\u00f1ada<\/P> El negocio del turismo del vino en Chile, si bien dista mucho del nivel de desarrollo del Valle de Napa en California, ha estado creciendo de manera constante durante los \u00faltimos cinco a\u00f1os. Antes del terremoto, cerca de 300.000 turistas visitaban las vi\u00f1as chilenas anualmente y generaban ingresos por US$ 3 millones.<\/P> Ahora que la cosecha termin\u00f3, las vi\u00f1as en el Valle de Colchagua est\u00e1n volcando su atenci\u00f3n a los hoteles, restaurantes y tiendas que sol\u00edan recibir a los turistas durante los meses de primavera y verano, pero que ahora yacen en ruinas.<\/P> \u201cLas casas coloniales y bodegas de vino que colapsaron son importantes para el negocio del vino, pero tambi\u00e9n son parte de nuestro patrimonio cultural\u201d, afirma Moll.<\/P> El restaurante La Llaver\u00eda de Viu Manent fue destruido por el terremoto, pero est\u00e1 siendo reparado y la vi\u00f1a planea abrir un segundo restaurante con vista a los vi\u00f1edos en la primavera.<\/P> \u201cEs cierto que tendremos que invertir mucho en las reparaciones y que estaremos cerrados durante la temporada baja, pero es una oportunidad para reconstruir las cosas mejor que lo que estaban antes\u201d, dice Viu.<\/P> M\u00e1s al norte en el Valle de Casablanca, a unos 50km al oeste de Santiago, la Vi\u00f1a Veramonte tambi\u00e9n perdi\u00f3 cerca de un 10% de su stock \u2013principalmente vino blanco que estaba en los estanques de acero- pero sus edificaciones se mantuvieron de pie.<\/P> \u201cEs incre\u00edble que haya habido tan poco da\u00f1o, afortunadamente el terremoto pill\u00f3 a Chile con un buen inventario y buena capacidad justo antes de la cosecha\u201d, sostiene el due\u00f1o de Veramonte, el veterano en\u00f3logo chileno Agust\u00edn Huneeus, quien est\u00e1 radicado en Estados Unidos.<\/P> Pese a los estanques rotos, la cosecha sigui\u00f3 adelante como estaba programado. \u201cTenemos suficiente vino para cumplir con nuestras obligaciones comerciales y no hay un impacto de largo plazo en el mercado de exportaci\u00f3n\u201d, afirma Huneeus.<\/P> \u201cQuisiera pensar que el bueno vino s\u00f3lo puede producirse en lugares donde hay terremotos\u201d, dijo a bUSiness CHILE desde su hogar en Napa.<\/P> Pese al da\u00f1o causado por el terremoto, Huneeus est\u00e1 confiado en que la industria del turismo vitivin\u00edcola en Chile repuntar\u00e1, de la misma forma en que los amantes del vino regresaron a California. \u201cPensamos que los turistas se mantendr\u00edan alejados de Napa despu\u00e9s del terremoto de 1994, pero volvieron inmediatamente\u201d, comenta.<\/P> Y esa es una buena noticia para Chile dada la importancia del turismo para el crecimiento de la industria del vino. \u201cEl turismo del vino es una enorme e importante \u00e1rea de crecimiento para Chile y desempe\u00f1ar\u00e1 un rol clave en ayudar a la imagen premium y promover el inter\u00e9s en el mercado local\u201d, afirma Cox de Wines of Chile.<\/P> Pl\u00e1stico Fant\u00e1stico<\/STRONG><\/P> Dada la magnitud del terremoto, las vi\u00f1as de Chile resistieron notablemente bien en t\u00e9rminos estructurales, pero hay algunos cambios que podr\u00edan hacer para protegerse mejor en caso de futuros terremotos.<\/P> Los estanques de almacenamiento de acero a medio llenar anclados al suelo o las paredes no lograron resistir la fuerza del terremoto mientras el vino se derramaba de lado a lado, pero los estanques de almacenamiento dise\u00f1ados s\u00edsmicamente son demasiado caros como para que la mayor\u00eda de las vi\u00f1as puedan costearlos.<\/P> Una soluci\u00f3n m\u00e1s barata, se\u00f1ala Jos\u00e9 Miguel Viu, es usar dep\u00f3sitos pl\u00e1sticos de almacenamiento, que son m\u00e1s fuertes y m\u00e1s flexibles que los estanques de acero o las barricas de madera.<\/P> \u201cLos dep\u00f3sitos pl\u00e1sticos resistieron mejor el terremoto de modo que compraremos m\u00e1s de esos adem\u00e1s de reparar nuestros estanques de acero\u201d, indica.<\/P> Los estanques de acero adem\u00e1s se pueden armar de manera tal de hacerlos m\u00e1s flexibles en caso de un terremoto. \u201cAhora sabemos lo que deber\u00edamos haber hecho, esta es una oportunidad para que aprendamos y para estar m\u00e1s preparados para la pr\u00f3xima vez\u201d, sostiene Huneeus.<\/P> Y dado que la producci\u00f3n de vino y los terremotos parecen ir de la mano, tanto en Chile como en California, estar preparado para lo peor es siempre una buena pol\u00edtica.<\/P> No obstante, es necesario que las vi\u00f1as tambi\u00e9n est\u00e9n preparadas para mejores tiempos, que es la raz\u00f3n por la que Viu Manent est\u00e1 usando esta oportunidad para renovar sus construcciones y prepararse para las hordas de turistas que de seguro volver\u00e1n el pr\u00f3ximo verano.<\/P> Y con mercados de exportaci\u00f3n como los de Reino Unido y Asia cada vez m\u00e1s sedientos por el vino chileno, incluidos los vinos premium, hay mucho espacio para crecer. Si hay una cosa que los productores chilenos de vino han aprendido del terremoto, es que lo que no te mata, te vuelve m\u00e1s fuerte.<\/P> Julian Dowling<\/STRONG> es el Editor de bUSiness CHILE<\/STRONG><\/P> Nota:<\/STRONG> Vea en la pr\u00f3xima edici\u00f3n de julio 2010 de bUSiness CHILE<\/STRONG> un completo informe sobre el acuerdo de auspicio suscrito entre Concha y Toro y Manchester United.<\/P> Fuente: Wines of Chile<\/STRONG><\/P> Fuente: Wines of Chile<\/STRONG><\/P><\/p>\n Mother Nature\u2019s fury was unleashed on Chilean wineries in the early morning of February 27 as the powerful earthquake ripped open stainless steel tanks full of fermenting grapes, ruptured barrels and smashed bottles in the country\u2019s main wine producing regions.<\/p>\n \u201cOur storage tanks collapsed and wine went everywhere, it was chaos,\u201d recalls Jos\u00e9 Miguel Viu, Managing Director of the family-run Viu Manent vineyard in the Colchagua Valley, some 150km south of Santiago.<\/p>\n Like other vineyards in Colchagua, Viu Manent lost about 10% of its stock, or 450,000 liters, in the early hours of February 27, but it could have been worse \u2013 much worse.<\/p>\n \u201cThank God the quake didn\u2019t happen a week later when our tanks would have been filled with wine from the harvest,\u201d said Viu, adding most of the spillage was bulk wine from the 2009 vintage.<\/p>\n Chile\u2019s annual grape harvest, or Vendimia<\/em> in Spanish, begins in early March and grapes still on the vines were not shaken to the ground like apples and pears in the country\u2019s fruit orchards.<\/p>\n But after a bumper 2009 harvest of around 1 billion liters there was plenty of unsold wine in tanks, barrels and bottles. Wines of Chile, the industry association, quantified the total loss of wine at approximately 125 million liters, or US$ 250 million, which represents a loss of 12.5% compared with the 2009 vintage.<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been no impact whatsoever on exports, with our leftover 2009 stock and this year\u2019s harvest we have all the wine we need to meet our commercial obligations,\u201d said Merino.<\/p>\n Power was not restored to wineries for up to ten days and some workers were made homeless by the quake, but a week after the disaster grapes were being hand picked and pressed as normal.<\/p>\n \u201cWe really have to thank our workers who showed up to work despite damage, in many cases, to their own houses,\u201d said Merino.<\/p>\n Viu Manent donated basic shelters, or mediaguas<\/em>, to several families, while other wineries like Grupo Vi\u00f1a San Pedro Tarapac\u00e1 matched workers\u2019 contributions, collected donations and organized volunteers to help them rebuild their homes.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s harvest is about 20% smaller than the 2009 vintage, which was bigger than average, but this is due to normal weather patterns in the spring and summer rather than the earthquake, said Merino.<\/p>\n Even after the earthquake and the smaller harvest, Chile has a stock of around 1.6 billion liters of wine, of which 900 million liters will be exported or consumed domestically. \u201cThere is no shortage of wine in the market,\u201d assures Merino.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s a good thing because demand for Chilean wine is rising. After sluggish sales in 2009 due to the affect of the global economic crisis, sales have picked up since December.<\/p>\n \u201cMay has been our best month ever in terms of sales and the domestic market has reactivated,\u201d said Viu, noting that if sales continue to grow at the current pace, 2010 will be a record year for his winery.<\/p>\n Wine Exports<\/strong><\/p>\n Although the earthquake closed ports and cut power supplies, exports in the 12 months to the end of March were up 27 percent in volume and 5 percent in value over the same period a year earlier. Worldwide, the United States was Chile\u2019s number one customer, buying 142 million liters of wine and champagne in 2009\/10 worth US$242 million, which was nearly 44% more than the previous year. The United Kingdom came in second, putting away 115 million liters in the same period.<\/p>\n \u201cThe impact of the earthquake is not proving to be a major problem for Chile\u2019s wine exporters in most major markets,\u201d said Michael Cox, the UK Director at Wines of Chile.<\/p>\n However, the smaller harvest and the fact that some wine was lost in the earthquake will put pressure on supply and cause prices to rise this year, predicts Cox. Combined with exchange rate issues, especially the weakened Euro due to the European debt crisis, this means Chilean wine will be relatively more expensive for foreign consumers.<\/p>\n \u201cRising prices are good for producers and margins will improve, but it all depends on how these increases are accepted by major markets,\u201d said Cox.<\/p>\n Chile has been steadily growing its share in key markets for the last five years. In the UK, for example, Chile\u2019s market share has nearly doubled from 5% to 9.5% in six years.<\/p>\n At the London International Wine Fair held in May at the ExCeL exhibition and convention centre, the Wines of Chile stand, with representatives from 24 Chilean wineries, attracted over 13,000 visitors many of whom donated to an earthquake appeal that channels funds to the relief organization, Levantando Chile.<\/em><\/p>\n Chile has been in world headlines since the earthquake which has raised consumer awareness and led to an outpouring of support and positive feelings, noted Cox. \u201cOur customers want to help us get back on our feet and we expect that to translate into increased sales,\u201d said Viu.<\/p>\n But retail prices will likely rise in the UK later this year because of the higher cost of Chilean wine and also because of planned tax increases in the UK that will affect all wine, not only from Chile.<\/p>\n \u201cChile\u2019s image of value for money will be important to enable it to withstand these increases, but Chilean wineries must be pragmatic and temper their increases as much as possible,\u201d said Cox.<\/p>\n The market could bear a 10 percent increase in prices but if the increase is closer to 20 percent or more \u201cthere could be a reaction,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n Prices of bulk wine will also rise in the domestic market due to the earthquake but wineries like Viu Manent will avoid passing this cost increase on to customers by increasing sales volumes instead.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t transfer the increase to our customers or risk losing competitiveness,\u201d said Viu.<\/p>\n The good news for Chile is that its main competitors – Australia, South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand \u2013 are also facing price increases, either because of exchange rate issues or higher costs from smaller vintages.<\/p>\n Despite the challenging economic conditions, Cox expects Chile\u2019s UK exports to continue to rise by at least 10 percent in volume and 15 percent in value in the next 12 months.<\/p>\n Exports to the rest of the EU should also rise as markets such as Denmark, Germany, and Scandinavia become more developed and less reliant on low-priced bulk wine, added Cox.<\/p>\n Sales in the UK and other markets including Asia should also benefit from Chilean winery Concha y Toro\u2019s recent agreement to become an official sponsor of the football club Manchester United, one of the most watched teams in the world.<\/p>\n Knocked Sideways<\/strong><\/p>\n Although most wineries have replenished their stock since the earthquake, it will take them longer to rebuild damaged tourism infrastructure.<\/p>\n Chile\u2019s wine tourism business, while nowhere near the level of development of California\u2019s Napa Valley, has been growing steadily in the last five years. Before the quake, around 300,000 tourists visited Chilean wineries annually generating income of US$3 million.<\/p>\n Now that the harvest is over, wineries in the Colchagua Valley are turning their attention to the hotels, restaurants and shops that used to receive tourists during the spring and summer months, but now lie in ruins.<\/p>\n \u201cThe colonial houses and wine cellars which collapsed are important for the wine business but they are also part of our cultural heritage,\u201d said Moll.<\/p>\n Viu Manent\u2019s restaurant La Llaveria<\/em> was destroyed by the quake, but it is being fixed up and the winery plans to open a second restaurant overlooking the vineyard in the spring.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s true we will have to invest a lot in repairs and we will remain closed during the off-season, but it\u2019s an opportunity to rebuild things better than before,\u201d said Viu.<\/p>\n Further north in the Casablanca Valley, about 50km west of Santiago, the Veramonte winery also lost about 10% of its stock – mainly white wine in steel tanks – but its buildings remained standing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing there was such little damage, fortunately the earthquake caught Chile with a good inventory and good capacity just before the harvest,\u201d said Veramonte\u2019s owner, the U.S.-based veteran Chilean winemaker Agust\u00edn Huneeus.<\/p>\n Despite the broken tanks, the harvest went ahead on schedule. \u201cWe have enough wine to meet our commercial obligations and there is no long-term impact on the export market,\u201d said Huneeus.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to think good wine can only be produced in places where there are earthquakes,\u201d he told bUSiness CHILE<\/strong> from his home in Napa.<\/p>\n Despite the damage caused by the quake, Huneeus is confident Chile\u2019s wine tourism industry will rebound, the same way wine lovers returned to California. \u201cWe through tourists would stay away from Napa after the 1994 quake, but they returned immediately,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s good news for Chile given the importance of tourism for the growth of the wine industry. \u201cWine tourism is a huge and important growth area for Chile and will play a key role in assisting the premium image and promoting interest in the domestic market,\u201d said Wines of Chile\u2019s Cox.<\/p>\n Plastic Fantastic<\/strong><\/p>\n Given the magnitude of the earthquake, Chile\u2019s wineries held up remarkably well structurally, but there are some changes they could make to protect themselves better in future quakes.<\/p>\n Half-filled steel storage tanks fixed to the floor or walls failed to withstand the strength of the quake as wine sloshed from side to side, but seismically designed storage tanks are too expensive for most wineries to afford.<\/p>\n A cheaper solution, says Jos\u00e9 Miguel Viu, is to use plastic storage bins which are tougher and more flexible than steel tanks or wood barrels.<\/p>\n \u201cPlastic bins resisted the quake the best so we will be buying more of those as well as repairing our steel tanks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Steel tanks can also be mounted in such a way as to make them more flexible in an earthquake. \u201cNow we know what we should have done, this is a chance for us to learn and be more prepared next time,\u201d said Huneeus.<\/p>\n And since winemaking and earthquakes seem to go together, in Chile as in California, being prepared for the worst is always a good policy.<\/p>\n But wineries also need to be prepared for better times, which is why wineries like Viu Manent are using the opportunity to renovate their buildings and prepare for the swarms of tourists that are sure to return next summer.<\/p>\n And with export markets like the UK and Asia growing thirstier for Chilean wine, including premium wines, there is plenty of room to grow. If there\u2019s one thing Chilean winemakers have learned from the earthquake, it\u2019s that the things that don\u2019t kill you make you stronger.<\/p>\n Julian Dowling<\/strong> is the Editor of bUSiness CHILE<\/strong><\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> See bUSiness CHILE\u2019s<\/strong> upcoming July 2010 issue for a complete report on Concha y Toro\u2019s sponsorship deal with Manchester United.<\/p>\n BOTTLED WINE – TOP 10\u00a0 <\/span>EXPORT DESTINATIONS<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Accumulated 12 months<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n APRIL 2008 – MARCH 2009<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n APRIL 2009 – MARCH 2010<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Variation % 2009\/2010<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n CASES (9 LT)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n US$<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n AVERAGE PRICE<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n CASES (9 LT)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n US$<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n AVERAGE PRICE<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n CASES (9 LT)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n US$<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n AVERAGE PRICE<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n COUNTRIES<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n (000s)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n (000s)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n US$\/CASE<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n (000s)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n (000s)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n US$\/CASE<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n UNITED STATES<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6.969<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 197.414<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 28,33<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 7.428<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 203.627<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 27,41<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6,6%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3,1%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -3,2%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n UNITED KINGDOM<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 9.119<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 198.427<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 21,76<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 9.915<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 201.790<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 20,35<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 8,7%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1,7%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -6,5%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n HOLLAND<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.132<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 61.937<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 29,05<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.507<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 70.479<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 28,11<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 17,6%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 13,8%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -3,2%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n CANADA<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.812<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 66.340<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 36,61<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.909<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 68.882<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 36,08<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 5,4%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3,8%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -1,4%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n BRAZIL<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.902<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 49.619<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 26,08<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.528<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 64.556<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 25,54<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 32,9%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 30,1%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -2,1%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n JAPAN<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.600<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 45.927<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 28,70<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2.001<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 52.398<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 26,18<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 25,1%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 14,1%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -8,8%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n DENMARK<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.343<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 48.241<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 35,93<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.310<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 44.780<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 34,17<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -2,4%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -7,2%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -4,9%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n IRELAND<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.364<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 46.654<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 34,19<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.314<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 41.246<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 31,39<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -3,7%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -11,6%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -8,2%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n GERMANY<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.381<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 40.525<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 29,34<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.426<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 39.613<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 27,78<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3,3%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -2,3%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -5,3%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n BELGIUM<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 889<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 31.419<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 35,33<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 825<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 26.966<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 32,68<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -7,2%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -14,2%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -7,5%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \u00a0 <\/span>Subtotal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 28.513<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 786.503<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 27,58<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 31.164<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 814.337<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 26,13<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 9,3%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3,5%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -5,3%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n REST<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 11.820<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 356.532<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 30,16<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 12.038<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 346.840<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 28,81<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1,8%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -2,7%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n -4,5%<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n TOTAL<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 40.332<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.143.035<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 28,34<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 43.202<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1.161.177<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 26,88<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n 7,1%<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
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\n![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/ESPMichael_Cox_SPJUN2010.jpg\")
A nivel mundial, Estados Unidos fue el principal cliente de Chile, al comprar de 142 millones de litros de vino y champagne en la temporada 2009\/ 2010 por un valor de US$ 242 millones, lo que corresponde a un alza de casi un 44% respecto al a\u00f1o previo. El Reino Unido ocup\u00f3 el segundo lugar, con 115 millones de litros en el mismo per\u00edodo.<\/P>
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\n![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/ESP_JOSE-MIGUEL-VIU_SPJUN2010.jpg\")
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\n![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/ESPPablo_moll_SPJUN2010.jpg\")
Pero esa cifra posiblemente disminuir\u00e1 este a\u00f1o debido a que las vi\u00f1as cerraron sus puertas a los turistas anticipadamente a ra\u00edz del terremoto, se\u00f1ala Pablo Moll, gerente general de Turismo Chile, organizaci\u00f3n chilena sin fines de lucro orientada a la promoci\u00f3n del turismo.<\/P>
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\n![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/ESPAgustinHuneeusSPJUN2010.jpg\")
Para Huneeus, quien ahora vive en el Valle de Napa donde su familia posee la vi\u00f1a Quintessa, los terremotos no son algo desconocido. Comenz\u00f3 su carrera en la industria del vino a los 23 a\u00f1os de edad al comprar una participaci\u00f3n mayoritaria en Concha y Toro en el a\u00f1o 1960, el mismo a\u00f1o en que el sur de Chile fue azotado por un terremoto de 9,5 grados de magnitud. Luego, tras vender su participaci\u00f3n y trasladarse a California en la d\u00e9cada de los 70, Hunneus fue remecido por el terremoto de Northridge en 1994.<\/P>
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\n![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/1Graf_ESP_SPJUN2010.jpg\")
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\n![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/ING_Rene_Merino_SP2010.jpg\")
Add to that US$ 55 million in damage to winemaking equipment and the total cost, excluding buildings and workers\u2019 homes, was around US$305 million most of which was covered by insurance, said Rene Merino, president of Wines of Chile.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/INGMichael_Cox_SPJUN2010.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/ING_JOSE-MIGUEL-VIU_SPJUN2010.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/INGPablo_moll_SPJUN2010.jpg\")
But that number will likely fall this year as wineries closed their doors to tourists early because of the quake, says Pablo Moll, CEO of Chilean nonprofit tourism promotion organization Turismo Chile.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/sites\/default\/files\/INGAgustinHuneeusSPJUN2010.jpg\")
Huneeus, who now lives in Napa Valley where his family owns the Quintessa winery, is no stranger to earthquakes. He began his career in the wine business at the age of 23 by purchasing a majority stake in Concha y Toro in 1960, the same year southern Chile was rocked by a 9.5 quake. Then after selling his stake and moving to California in the 1970s, he was shaken by the 1994 Northridge quake.<\/p>\n\n\n
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