In the world of luxury, "wings" are a timelessly beloved symbol. But the philosophy within differs by brand. Some brands speak to speed, others to time, and still others to the ideal beauty achieved by humans. If Rolls-Royce's "Spirit of Ecstasy" flaunts extreme elegance through the figure of a woman with outstretched wings, Aston Martin and Bentley applied wings directly to their logos to express speed, the core value of automobiles.
In jewelry and watchmaking, the expression becomes even more meticulous. The French high jewelry house Boucheron elevated free movement to art through the organic forms of feathers and wings, while the Swiss watch brand Longines, with its winged hourglass logo, conveyed a determination to record fleeting moments as eternal heritage.
In the world of wine, wings take on a special meaning as well. The Chilean premium winery Montes embodied them as the figure of an "angel." Behind this lies the dramatic personal story of one of its founders, the late Douglas Murray. Miraculously surviving two serious traffic accidents in the 1990s, Murray believed that the being who protected him was a "guardian angel." At his suggestion, the angel became the brand's symbol, appearing not only on the labels of Montes wines but also in sculptures in the aging cellar.
Aurelio Montes said in several interviews, "After the accident, Douglas said, 'Let's make that angel a partner of our winery.'" The winged angel that represents Montes symbolizes the founders' convictions, good fortune, and spirit of challenge in overcoming adversity. At the same time, it carries the message that wine is not completed by human technique alone but is the result of time, nature, and unseen elements working together. The producer's prayer that Chile's natural environment will lead to a full harvest is also embedded in this symbol.
Montes Winery was founded in 1988 by four experts in winemaking, marketing, finance, and technology. They shared a vision to elevate Chilean wine, long confined to the perception of a low-priced production region, to the premium tier. Initially, they purchased grapes harvested from vineyards of about 30 hectares and started as a small boutique winery, but the success of the "Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon" released in the first year laid the foundation for growth.
Through continued investment in quality and market expansion, Montes has grown into a global winery that now operates about 300 hectares of vineyards and exports wine to more than 55 countries. Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon is regarded in the industry as "Chile's first premium wine" and has come to symbolize the shift in Chilean wine's image.
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from the Apalta and Marchigüe vineyards in the Colchagua Valley. Both areas have granite-based soils but differ in weathering stages, clay content, and organic composition. Apalta is characterized by a heterogeneous soil structure blending gravel and alluvium, and Cabernet Sauvignon grown on plains and gentle slopes with deep soils and adequate water retention expresses elegant, complex aromas and a deep color.
Marchigüe has a flatter terrain, and while some topsoil is as shallow as 60 cm, it has appropriate clay content and high water retention. Vines are planted at a density of about 5,555 per hectare, and the distinct personalities of these two regions are blended to complete the wine's structure and balance.
From harvest to vinification, Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon undergoes meticulous handwork and strict selection. All grapes are harvested by hand, and bunches are hand-sorted before destemming. After a five-day cold soak in fermentation tanks, fermentation proceeds for 7 to 10 days with selected yeasts, followed by malolactic fermentation for up to 20 days in stainless steel and concrete tanks. Some of the wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, while some is kept in concrete tanks before the final blend prior to bottling.
This wine shows an intense ruby hue, with complex aromas centered on blackcurrant and assorted berries, interlaced with cigar box, vanilla, and mint. The freshness of the fruit balances with the depth from oak aging, delivering moderate weight and precise structure. It reveals its full character after about five years of aging and is considered to have aging potential of 10 to 15 years. It pairs well not only with red meats like steak and lamb chops but also with Bolognese pasta and aged cheeses.
In the Korean market, Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon is practically called a "national wine." Cumulative domestic sales have surpassed 17 million bottles. It won Best of 2026 in the New World red wine category at the Korea Wine & Spirits Awards in 2026. The importer is NARA CELLAR.