TASTE THE DON MELCHOR 2021 WITH THE BRAND AMBASSADOR ITALO JOFRE

Guided Tasting of Luxury Wines from Chile, culminating with a taste of the Don Melchor 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Italo Jofre Luxury Wine Ambassador

Italo Jofre brings a rare combination of winemaking, winegrowing, and wine marketing knowledge to his role as Fine Wine Ambassador for Viña Concha y Toro US, which markets a multi-origin portfolio from Chile, Argentina and California.
“Representing the luxury portfolio from three different New World wine regions is an incredible opportunity,” says Italo.
Italo discovered his passion for wine while taking winegrowing classes for a degree in agricultural engineering from the prestigious Catholic University in Chile. His first winemaking experiences came at Viñedos Emiliana, where he learned from Álvaro Espinoza, the renowned vintner, consulting enologist, and pioneer in establishing Carmenère as a varietal wine.

In 2002, Italo joined the winemaking team at Jim Fetzer’s Ceàgo Vinegarden in California, a leading proponent of organic viticulture.

Italo continued to develop his multi-country wine background by returning to Viñedos Emiliana in the role of brand spokesperson. In addition to representing Emiliana’s wines abroad, he taught educational seminars in almost every state in the U.S. His success as a wine communicator won him invitations to speak at premier venues including the American Wine Society and Epcot Food & Wine Festival, and to appear on television and radio in both the U.S. and Chile.

His opportunity to represent the wines of Chile expanded yet again at Concha y Toro. During his ten-year tenure, Concha y Toro dramatically raised its international reputation, including being named Most Admired Wine Brand in the World by Drinks International. With Concha y Toro’s successful acquisition of Fetzer Vineyards–now Bonterra Organic Estates–and incorporation of its Chilean and Argentinean imports to the U.S., Italo is back in the U.S. and continuing to build strong, mutually successful relationships with wine sellers throughout the country.

His passion for wine has only continued to grow. In 2021, Italo began his postgraduate degree studies in viticulture and vinification at the Universidad de Chile. After graduating at the top of his class, Italo passed his oenology examination through the National Association of Agricultural Engineers and received his winemaker certification in 2022.