We are a company committed to Chile, our land, our workers, and our customers. We know we are heirs of a tradition of quality production. This motivates our commitment to deliver to our customers, consistently, distillates with the quality and standards to which they are already accustomed. Today, we are embarked on the task of spreading and sharing our treasure: the Pisco of the Elqui Valley.
We are a company committed to Chile, our land, our workers, and our customers. We know we are heirs of a tradition of quality production. This motivates our commitment to deliver to our customers, consistently, distillates with the quality and standards to which they are already accustomed. Today, we are embarked on the task of spreading and sharing our treasure: the Pisco of the Elqui Valley.
ABOUT US
In the late 1950s, destiny had it that two young Trentino brothers, Aldo and Sergio Olivier, who had moved to Chile, initially settling in La Serena, moved to the Elqui Valley. Around the same time, José Luis Alonso, also an immigrant, from Asturias, who had originally lived in Santiago, decided to move to the same place. New blood was arriving in the Elqui Valley.
The Olivier family had a plot of land, which over time grew, and vineyards became their main activity. Alonso, for his part, established himself in commerce and bought land, and planted vineyards. Among his activities, he became a national distributor for Capel, which allowed him to learn the commercial operation of the pisco industry.
During the 1970s, the Olivier and Alonso families became important grape producers, which they delivered to Capel, as members of the cooperative. In the following years, the two pisco-producing cooperatives that dominated the industry started aggressive price wars,
which translated into low and uncertain returns for the grape growers. Seeking less dependence on third-party decisions, and with the support of the following family-generation, both families partnered to have their distillery. It would allow them to process their grapes and take advantage of the commercial knowledge acquired. Just as pisco gathers people around it, Olivier and Alonso did not hesitate to join forces, passion for excellence, and eagerness to move forward, to carry out a dream.
They had made Chile their homeland, and Elqui, their home. This is how Rio Elqui, a distillery with a soul, was born, as a result of hard work and perseverance, bringing together tradition, innovation, and love for things well done. Since its beginnings, it has been a reference point in the pisco industry and a synonym of quality and seriousness.
ABOUT US
In the late 1950s, destiny had it that two young Trentino brothers, Aldo and Sergio Olivier, who had moved to Chile, initially settling in La Serena, moved to the Elqui Valley. Around the same time, José Luis Alonso, also an immigrant, from Asturias, who had originally lived in Santiago, decided to move to the same place. New blood was arriving in the Elqui Valley.
The Olivier family had a plot of land, which over time grew, and vineyards became their main activity. Alonso, for his part, established himself in commerce and bought land, and planted vineyards. Among his activities, he became a national distributor for Capel, which allowed him to learn the commercial operation of the pisco industry.
During the 1970s, the Olivier and Alonso families became important grape producers, which they delivered to Capel, as members of the cooperative. In the following years, the two pisco-producing cooperatives that dominated the industry started aggressive price wars,
which translated into low and uncertain returns for the grape growers. Seeking less dependence on third-party decisions, and with the support of the following family-generation, both families partnered to have their distillery. It would allow them to process their grapes and take advantage of the commercial knowledge acquired. Just as pisco gathers people around it, Olivier and Alonso did not hesitate to join forces, passion for excellence, and eagerness to move forward, to carry out a dream.
They had made Chile their homeland, and Elqui, their home. This is how Rio Elqui, a distillery with a soul, was born, as a result of hard work and perseverance, bringing together tradition, innovation, and love for things well done. Since its beginnings, it has been a reference point in the pisco industry and a synonym of quality and seriousness.
First operating season of Destileria Rio Elqui, 1987.
HISTORY
The distillery was built as a way to add value to the vineyards that its owners, the Olivier and Alonso families, have in the Elqui Valley. Considering that they had a significant volume of high-quality grapes, the inauguration of the plant in the mid-1980s meant the incorporation of a third major player to the pisco industry.
From the beginning, the emphasis was to concentrate on the production of quality distillates, focusing mainly on being industrial suppliers of alcohol for other pisco distribution companies. Capel was the first long-term client. Then CCU, when it decided to enter the pisco business with its Ruta Norte brand. When the latter partnered with Control, the distillery became a supplier of Compañía Pisquera de Chile (CPCh), the name of the new company.
Currently, we provide pisco elaboration services for several brands. We are interested in promoting this line of business and creating collaboration networks with those companies that require a quality service, like the one we know how to deliver.
There is a rich tradition that we have nurtured from, and innovations that we have developed and added to the production processes. We are always open to supporting the development of new brands of distillates. We are confident that there is plenty of space in the market for high-quality spirits, and that we are capable of elaborating them, at a convenient cost, to potentially interested parties.
HISTORY
The distillery was built as a way to add value to the vineyards that its owners, the Olivier and Alonso families, have in the Elqui Valley. Considering that they had a significant volume of high-quality grapes, the inauguration of the plant in the mid-1980s meant the incorporation of a third major player to the pisco industry.
From the beginning, the emphasis was to concentrate on the production of quality distillates, focusing mainly on being industrial suppliers of alcohol for other pisco distribution companies. Capel was the first long-term client. Then CCU, when it decided to enter the pisco business with its Ruta Norte brand. When the latter partnered with Control, the distillery became a supplier of Compañía Pisquera de Chile (CPCh), the name of the new company.
Currently, we provide pisco elaboration services for several brands. We are interested in promoting this line of business and creating collaboration networks with those companies that require a quality service, like the one we know how to deliver.
There is a rich tradition that we have nurtured from, and innovations that we have developed and added to the production processes. We are always open to supporting the development of new brands of distillates. We are confident that there is plenty of space in the market for high-quality spirits, and that we are capable of elaborating them, at a convenient cost, to potentially interested parties.
We are committed to Chile, our land, our workers, and our customers. We consider ourselves heirs to a tradition of quality production. This motivates our vow to consistently deliver to our customers the distillates with the quality and standards to which they are already accustomed. Today, we are embarked on the task of spreading and sharing our treasure: the grapes and distillates from the Elqui Valley. Tradition and innovation have been key elements in our past and present, and critical for our future. We project ourselves into the future by bringing to the present all that we have learned in these lands of the Elqui, our mistakes and successes, to remain as fertile as the vineyards of our valley. Our high-quality products are a reflection of our desire for perfection and seriousness.
