20 Years of the Berlin Tasting: Celebrating the Legacy and Excellence of Viña Errázuriz

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the historic Berlin Tasting, a groundbreaking event that forever changed global perceptions of Chilean wine quality. Organised by Viñedos Familia Chadwick in January 2004 at Berlin's Ritz-Carlton, the blind tasting brought together 36 of Europe’s top wine critics to evaluate 16 world-class wines, including Grand Crus from Bordeaux, Super Tuscans, and top Chilean labels. In a stunning result, Viñedo Chadwick 2000 and Seña 2001 claimed first and second places, proving that Chilean wines could rival the world’s finest.

Inspired by the legendary “Judgment of Paris” in 1976, the Berlin Tasting marked the beginning of a global journey for Chilean wines. Over the next decade, similar tastings were held in 22 cities worldwide, with more than 1,400 experts witnessing Chile’s rise as a winemaking powerhouse. Notably, Don Maximiano earned five first-place awards, and KAI, the iconic Carmenere, triumphed in New York in 2010.

To commemorate this milestone, Viñedos Familia Chadwick launched a celebratory global tour, showcasing its legacy in the world’s most prominent wine capitals across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The journey began with elegant events in Berlin and London, followed by vibrant stops in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and the dynamic Asian cities of Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. The tour then returned to Europe with a distinguished gathering in Zurich, continued to Toronto, and concluded triumphantly in Santiago. Each destination featured exclusive masterclasses and vertical tastings of vintages spanning four decades, underscoring the remarkable consistency, unparalleled quality, and distinctive character of Chile’s terroir.

This anniversary also marks a new chapter for Viñedos Familia Chadwick, led by Eduardo Chadwick’s daughters—Magui, Mane, Pepa, and Ale—who are committed to preserving and innovating the family legacy. Their dedication ensures that the Berlin Tasting’s vision of excellence will continue to inspire future generations.