Alfonso Chadwick Errázuriz was born in Santiago, Chile on March 1, 1914 to Alejandro Chadwick Ortúzar and Leonor Errazuriz Echazarreta. He studied at the German School of Santiago and law at the Catholic University of Chile, but business was his real interest.
He was involved in different businesses and became recognized as one of Chile´s renowned entrepreneurs. He specialised in food and drink but the wine industry and polo were his passions.
His working career started in 1932 and he worked in various family businesses such as the Hacienda Malloa of Malloa, Viña El Condor, Viña San José de Tocornal of Puente Alto and in the Haciendas Esperanza and Todos los Santos de Sagrada Familia in Curicó. During this time he established the first wine brokerage firm in Chile.
Around this time Don Alfonso´s polo career began and in his time he was considered one of the best Chilean polo players. He won many important Chilean Polo tournaments and was a member of the Chilean National Team for many years.
His passion for this sport was such that he laid his own polo field on the Viña San José Tocornal property in the Maipo Valley which he acquired in 1945. Here, Don Alfonso established his home but also produced fine red wines from the site which were much renowned in Chile. Today the polo field has been planted to the Viñedo Chadwick vineyards.
Don Alfonso was considered a visionary in his time particularly in the modernization of the Chilean wine industry. In 1983, he took control of Viña Errázuriz at Panquehue in the Aconcagua Valley. This winery was founded in 1870 by his ancestor Don Maximiano Errázuriz and was the start of Viña Errázuriz as we know it today.
Don Alfonso had five children. Today his son Eduardo is President of Viña Errázuriz, continuing his great legacy; his passion for wine and persistence in pursuit of excellence. |
Alfonso Chadwick
(1914-1993) |
