7 curiosities about the best vineyard in the world: Santa Rita

In 2025, Viña Santa Rita was recognized by Forbes as the best winery in the world. The top position of the influential ranking The World’s 50 Best Wineries 2025 featured this wine estate from the historic Maipo Valley, located less than one hour from downtown Santiago de Chile.

This recognition is no coincidence. Santa Rita is a winery where wine coexists with history, art, memory, and landscape. More than an oenological visit, touring the estate is a profound cultural experience. Beyond securing first place, the winery also reinforced Chile’s position as one of the world’s leading wine-producing countries, surpassing iconic European wineries.

Below are seven fascinating facts about Viña Santa Rita:

1. The Courtyard of the 120 Patriots

Viña Santa Rita was a direct witness to one of the most critical moments of the Chilean independence process. In 1818, after the patriot defeat at the Battle of Cancha Rayada, the former Hacienda Santa Rita opened its doors to shelter 120 soldiers of the Liberation Army, who were being pursued by royalist forces.

This act saved lives and kept the independence cause alive at a decisive moment. Today, this episode is commemorated at the Courtyard of the 120 Patriots, a space rich in historical symbolism that connects the present with the origins of the Republic of Chile.

As a tribute to this act of courage and solidarity, the winery created the wine “120”, an iconic label internationally recognized for embodying the spirit of resistance and freedom.

2. Andean Museum

Santa Rita is one of the few wineries in the world that houses a museum of great cultural significance. The Andean Museum, inaugurated in 2006, preserves a collection of more than 3,000 pre-Columbian archaeological pieces, originating from diverse cultures across Chile and South America.

The museum tour allows visitors to understand the symbolic, artistic, and spiritual richness of indigenous peoples, through ceramics, textiles, ceremonial objects, and sculptures, all integrated within a unique wine-growing environment.

3. 19th-century cellars still in operation

One of the most distinctive aspects of Viña Santa Rita is that its 19th-century underground cellars are still used today for the aging and storage of wines.

Thanks to their natural conditions of humidity and constant temperature, these spaces provide an ideal environment for wine aging, demonstrating how heritage architecture can remain an active part of modern winemaking.

4. French Garden

The surroundings of Santa Rita are defined by an elegant French Garden, inspired by the classic designs of the great 19th-century estates. Its geometric pathways and carefully designed green areas reflect the European influence that shaped the winery’s origins.

According to tradition, the design was created by French landscape architect Guillermo Renner, making it a key element of the tourism experience.

5. Violeta Parra and rural inspiration

The relationship between Santa Rita and Chilean culture is also expressed through art. Oral tradition suggests that Violeta Parra, one of the most important figures in national folklore, spent time at the winery during her travels through the Chilean rural world.

These environments influenced her deep connection with popular traditions, which she later transformed into music, poetry, and visual art.

6. Doña Paula: a tribute to women in history

The restaurant Doña Paula pays tribute to Paula Jaraquemada, one of the most significant women of the independence process. Her name symbolizes the essential role of rural women, often overlooked, yet fundamental in the history of Chile.

The restaurant’s gastronomic proposal integrates identity, territory, and tradition, engaging in dialogue with historical memory.

7. History, wine, and sustainability

With more than 140 years of history, Viña Santa Rita has embraced sustainability as a core pillar of its philosophy. Its work in the Maipo Valley is based on a long-term vision, focused on protecting the natural environment and historical heritage.

Key initiatives include responsible water use, ecosystem protection, certified agricultural practices, and energy efficiency in production processes.

In this way, Santa Rita demonstrates that tradition, oenological excellence, and environmental commitment can coexist—explaining why it is now recognized as the best winery in the world.

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