Chef Choi Hyun-seok presented a Chilean winery 'Don Melchor' pairing dinner at his restaurant 'Choi Dot' in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, on the evening of 2nd. About 40 industry insiders and general customers attended the event. Tickets sold for 350,000 won each were sold out within a few days.
Notably at the event, both Chef Choi and the popularity of Enrique Tirado, the winemaker and CEO of Don Melchor, were high. One attendee brought Don Melchor wine to get a signature from CEO Tirado and presented him with a gift. This is the first time that Keumyang International, the importer of Don Melchor, has collaborated with a top chef in the country for their wine brand.
According to relevant industry sources on the 3rd, Chef Choi and Keumyang International held a dinner event with the concept of 'One and Only' the day before. It was said to imply a meeting of two first places. The Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 vintage was ranked first last year by Wine Spectator, one of the most trusted evaluation organizations in the global wine market. Wine Spectator judges over 10,000 wines each year. CEO Tirado noted, 'Don Melchor has been producing wine since 1987 and has been in the top 100 of Wine Spectator 10 times and the top 10 four times.'
When the news broke that the Don Melchor 2021 vintage had secured the top spot at Wine Spectator, the stock available for sale in the country was sold out in an instant. In response, Keumyang International proceeded with a re-import. Observing the rapid sell-out in Korea, Don Melchor decided to urgently send half of the stock intended for other countries to Korea.
From this year, the Don Melchor 2022 vintage has also started to be sold in the country. The limited edition 'DM/01', released for the first time in 35 years, is also on sale. CEO Tirado said, 'DM/01 is the first to be released in Korea outside of Chile.' This indicates how important the Korean market is to them. A total of 6,000 bottles of DM/01 were produced, of which 600 bottles, accounting for 10%, were shipped to Korea.
Don Melchor is a subsidiary of South America's largest wine company, Concha y Toro. They produce a wide range of wines, from the accessible Diablo to the luxury Alma Viva. The brand Don Melchor, which was independently established in 1987, focuses on premium wines.
Don Melchor is situated in the Maipo Valley, Chile's representative wine region, particularly in the Puente Alto area. The winds coming down from the Andes Mountains cool the heat and it is affected by a typical Mediterranean climate. Don Melchor is characterized by its meticulous management of vineyard sections. CEO Tirado stated, 'Don Melchor divides its 1.27㎢ vineyard into 7 large sections for grape production. The 7 sections are further divided into a total of 151 areas, allowing for detailed analysis and precise management.' This approach focuses on deeply understanding the differences between each grapevine and soil.
Don Melchor blends Cabernet Sauvignon produced from each section to make wine. The limited edition DM/01 was reportedly made solely from grapes produced in section 1. CEO Tirado explained that section 1 is the oldest vineyard, and they believed it best represents the history of Don Melchor. He added, 'Chile is a place unaffected by the phylloxera pest, and section 1 is a special section where the vines were planted in 1979, playing a crucial role in the blending of Don Melchor. It is characterized by its intense fruit flavors and excellent delicacy.'
The event involved discussions over four months between Chef Choi, CEO Tirado, and Jo Nae-jin, the general manager and sommelier of Choi Dot. They paired Choi Dot's signature dishes with the Don Melchor 2021, 2022 vintages, and DM/01. Sommelier Jo noted, 'Since mid-August, we have introduced Don Melchor 2022 as one of the signature pairing wines at Choi Dot,' adding, 'We are pairing Don Melchor with the main menu.'
That day, Chef Choi introduced Don Melchor 2022 paired with the last menu, braised short rib risotto. He said, 'Even though I am not a wine expert, I could intuitively feel that Don Melchor 2022 is a good wine from the moment I tasted it.' He continued, 'The balance it provides, not overshadowing the flavors of the food, was impressive.' He added, 'The balance of tannins and fruit aromas is excellent, making it a wine that would satisfy both those new to wine and those knowledgeable about its depth.'
The brand manager of Keumyang International stated, 'Don Melchor is a wine that sets new records in the wine industry every year, and the 2022 vintage will also be a wine that satisfies wine enthusiasts,' adding, 'We will continue to carry out various promotions in the future.' There is anticipation of whether Don Melchor can elevate the recently stagnated atmosphere in the wine industry.