Emily Faulconer: the future face of Chilean wine

The results of Los Más Influyentes del Vino, a major annual survey of over 40 leading figures in the Chilean wine trade, have identified the names and projects shaping the country’s future. At the heart of the findings is a resounding endorsement of Emily Faulconer (pictured) as the standout figure poised to carry Chilean fine wine forward. In a striking show of confidence, Faulconer was the most voted personality in Los Más Influyentes del Vino, an exercise described as “clearly revealing” by its organisers. Her rapid rise through the ranks — from Viñedos de Alcohuaz in the northern Andes to Viña Carmen and now the technical directorship of Viñedos Familia Chadwick — positions her as a central protagonist in the next chapter of Chilean winemaking. She now oversees the iconic labels Seña and Viñedo Chadwick, stepping into the role previously held by Francisco Baettig, whose tenure shaped the modern era of Chile’s ultra-premium wines. “She’s a young face in Chilean winemaking who has already led major projects in our country,” says advanced sommelier Marcelo Pino. Her transition has been described as both bold and necessary for continuity and renewal at the very top of Chile’s wine pyramid.

Carrying the legacy of Seña and Chadwick

Last year, Seña was awarded one of the top wines of the year by the survey’s tasting panel. Although the 2022 vintage still carried Baettig’s imprint, Faulconer was quick to express her sense of purpose. “I’m happy... I feel very challenged. I’m eager to do what I do, to be a part of it, to participate in the next stage of what Viñedo Chadwick and Seña are,” she told the panel. These two wines are often considered bellwethers for Chile’s positioning on the world stage, and Faulconer’s stewardship is regarded as both a natural evolution and a bold new era. Her peers agree. “She is at the helm of the most successful winery in terms of quality, consistency and press,” says MontGras winemaker Benjamín Leiva. Rafael Urrejola, named Winemaker of the Year, calls her “a professional with passion, experience and successful results at a young age.” Her calm demeanour and clear-eyed resolve are frequently cited as key strengths.

A generational shift led by women

Faulconer is not alone in shaping Chile’s winemaking future. Teresita Ovalle, recently named Best Young Winemaker by the Los Más Influyentes tasting panel, has been making waves with her work at Santa Rita’s Florés line. With training in Tuscany, the Rhône and Sancerre, Ovalle brings a cosmopolitan sensibility to her meticulous, terroir-specific wines. In the far north, Rosario Fillol has taken the reins at Viñedos de Alcohuaz, continuing the legacy of Marcelo Retamal in producing high-altitude wines such as Rhu and Cuesta Chica. Described as “sensitive and with much to give,” Fillol is quietly expanding the horizons of what northern Chile can offer. At Emiliana, Spain’s Noelia Orts has long been the voice of organic winemaking. Responsible for Coyam and Gê, she is lauded for her relaxed but precise style and her long-standing leadership in the organic space. She notes a curious disparity: “There are more women winemakers in Chile than in my country, Spain, but few in executive roles.”

Quiet achievers gaining traction

Another name drawing acclaim is Natalia Poblete of Casa Bauzá, who has helped position a small operation in the Maipo foothills into one with national relevance. Her personal label, Moretta Wines, developed alongside María José Ortúzar, has further showcased her stylistic clarity and discipline. Felipe García highlights her attention to vinification and cellar order while Eduardo Jordán praises her ability to create “a very clear style for a winery that did not previously have a defined identity.” Hers is a story of focus over flair, but one that her peers increasingly regard as exemplary.

A new generation with a clear direction

The 2025 edition of Los Más Influyentes del Vino has not only identified those destined to lead but also offered a glimpse of the shifting values in Chile’s wine landscape: a turn towards terroir, personal vision and deeper engagement with sustainable practices. At the centre of this momentum is Emily Faulconer, whose poised assumption of one of Chile’s most prestigious technical roles may well come to symbolise the decade ahead.