Chilean wines introduced by El Don Wines

The very name of El Don Wines comes from a culture deep in the history of family.

“One meaning of El Don is that of a caretaker, which is the core value of the family. He is considered the leader of the community,” said El Don Wines owner Rodrigo Vasquez. “The original El Don in my family was my father who was a well known leader. When he passed, people looked to me to become the El Don.”

Vasquez has taken on a bit of that role in the wine industry as he introduces his Chilean wines to Virginia and the rest of the United States. He enjoys being involved in the wine community, sharing ideas and promoting his labels.

“I hope to have something special that will remain in time,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in my label.”

Vasquez has spent the last year and a half researching vineyards in the Maipo Valley where he chose two of his favorite vineyards from which to import wine, a dream that began with his father. His goal is to bring new wine to the United States that is already naturally fermented. Perfect weather and climate conditions in Chile's Andes Mountains help produce healthy and high quality wines. Complex wines are created from the vast difference in day and nighttime temperatures. The Chilean climate is described as somewhere between that of California and France.

El Don Wines is owned by Vasquez and his wife Carol. Together, they offer a selection that includes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah. The Merlot has finesse and a long-lasting finish, with aromas that are characteristic of the Chilean Merlot. The Cabernet Sauvignon is soft in the mouth, very pleasant with light tannin structure. The Sauvignon Blanc is said to deliver lots of wonderful fruit flavors. And the Syrah has good volume on the palate with a pleasant finish.

Vasquez was born in Santiago, Chile and graduated from Catholic University of Chile in Commercial Engineering. He worked for the government of Chile in the offices of Chilean International Trade and served as advisor for the United States, opening the market in the U.S. for Chilean made products, especially wine. He also developed a distribution network for Chilean handicraft and opened stores in Georgetown and Springfield Mall. For more information visit www.eldonwines.com.

--L.A. Eaton