Andrés Sanhueza is Viña Santa Ema’s head winemaker, a position he’s held since 2000. His degree is in Agronomy Engineering with a specialization in enology and winemaking from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
His first position in the winemaking industry was as an assistant winemaker at Concha y Toro and Cono Sur, and he’s been a member of the National Association of Agronomists and Winemakers of Chile since 1999.
Together with the Santa Ema winemaking team, he was in charge of the construction project for our modern winemaking cellar El Peral in Isla de Maipo. He also led the process for our ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications. He’s traveled abroad to participate in various harvests including Chateaux Palmer, Bordeaux, and Columbia, Washington.
He was one of the main people involved in creating Rivalta, Santa Ema’s icon wine, and of the modern Amplus line, comprised of complex wines from excellent denominations that have been highly regarded since their launch on the market.
He has personally supervised the production of all of Santa Ema’s wine since 2000, and since 2017 has led the company in the more active role of General Manager, leading not just the winemaking area of the company, but also the commercial area.
Eduardo Velásquez earned his degree in Agronomy from the Universidad de Talca in the Maule Region.
He’s originally from a farming family, and since childhood has had experience in all aspects of agronomy, specializing in viticulture, which has become his inspiration.
Eduardo began working in Santa Ema in 2011, first as apprentice, where he showed great commitment and professionalism in his work.
In 2012 he joined the Santa Ema team formally and has been in charge of fruit supply for three years.
His passion for learning has led Eduardo on trips to the principal winemaking regions of the world like Napa, California, La Rioja, Spain, Bordeaux, France, and Tuscany, Italy.
Today Eduardo is Santa Ema’s Agricultural Manager, and he oversees all of the grapes processed in the winery.
Among his great achievements is the planting project in Cerro Blanco, a vineyard currently producing the highest quality grapes destined for our icon, super premium, and premium wines, and the renovation of the Fundo El Peral vineyards in Isla de Maipo.
“Passionate about winemaking, and for creating wines that express everything that is Chile, so that everyone can enjoy them”.
Rodrigo graduated with a degree in Agronomy Engineering with a specialization in enology and viticulture from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. In 2002 Rodrigo was awarded a Fulbright scholarship, sending him to study at the University of California, Davis, finishing with a Masters in Viticulture and Enology.
During his career he has worked at important wineries in California and Chile, where he has developed his talent leading the areas of viticulture, enology, and project development. He has also been a professor of Wine Sensory Evaluation at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. All of this experience has allowed him to broaden his vision in order to define more diverse styles of wine and winemaking methods that respect the grapes’ natural expression and show the true sense of origin in the wine.
Rodrigo has been Winemaker at Santa Ema since 2006, and he’s committed to the mission of strengthening the winemaking and viticultural teams, contributing with his knowledge, skills, and experience while putting his personal stamp on Santa Ema’s high-end wines.
