In 1865, the world was in the throes of upheaval. The American Civil War had just ended, and President Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated, while in Europe, nation-states were emerging one after another. The Second French Empire was retreating, and the unification of Italy was accelerating. In this time of reordering and reshaping of new orders and civilizations, literature and art marked the beginning of modernity. Traditional Romanticism lost its strength, giving rise to novels that honestly depict the realities of life, class, and the scars of war, and art movements portraying the everyday lives of farmers and workers.
The period of upheaval also reached the vineyards without exception. In the early 1860s, phylloxera began to spread rapidly in France. This pest was introduced as American grape varieties and seedlings were imported to Europe, and soon it spread across Europe, including Italy, Spain, and Germany. By the end of the 1870s, about 40% of France's vineyards were in ruins, so much so that it was said the French wine industry faced extinction.
However, Chile was different. Surrounded by the Andes Mountains, deserts, seas, and glaciers, Chile was geographically isolated and was able to escape the impacts of phylloxera. To this day, Chile is the only country regarded as a phylloxera-free zone, producing high-quality wine from healthy vines.
In this year of historical upheaval, the San Pedro winery was established in Chile. Founded by the Correa Albano brothers from Spain in the Maule region of Chile, San Pedro grew to become a representative winery that led the modernization of the Chilean wine industry, using European immigrants and technology as a springboard.
The vineyards of San Pedro are scattered throughout Chile, but most are located south of Santiago. They include Maipo, Casablanca, Leyda, Cachapoal, Colchagua, Curicó, and Maule. To the north of Santiago lies the Elqui region.
There are slight variations in climate and soil by region, but generally, summers are hot and dry, while winters are cool with rainfall. The temperature difference between day and night is significant, and during the grape harvest season in summer, it hardly rains, reducing the risk of disease. The influence of the Mediterranean climate allows the grapes to ripen slowly. Soil that is a mixture of sediment, clay, and gravel provides excellent drainage and is conducive for root development, creating optimal conditions for growing high-quality grapes.
Around the time of the 100th anniversary of its establishment, San Pedro winery aimed to commemorate its history by branding the year 1865 and has continuously expanded its lineup. This series, which incorporates the founding year directly in its name, represents the traditions of Chilean wineries while also embodying the will to express modern and sophisticated sensibilities of the new world. According to Wine Intelligence, a global beverage monitoring organization, 1865 has held the top brand recognition for nine consecutive years in South Korea from 2016 to 2024.
The early 1865 series selected the most suitable vineyards that could perfectly express the grape varieties and was primarily released as single-varietal wines. The 1865 wines use grapes produced in regions such as Elqui, Leyda, Maipo, Cachapoal, and Uco from San Pedro's vineyards, with the 1865 Master Blend being a blend of grapes produced from each of these regions. It is lauded for embodying the pinnacle of San Pedro's blending philosophy by merging diverse terroirs and varieties.
The 1865 Master Blend consists of 60% Syrah, 16% Malbec, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot. The blending ratio is adjusted slightly for each vintage. It has a deep ruby color with dominant flavors of ripe red fruits, such as cherry and red currant. The flavors derived from oak aging, including vanilla and cocoa, harmonize impressively with spicy notes. It features a solid body and structure, harmonious acidity, and an elegant, long-lasting finish. It pairs well with red meats, fatty fish, hard cheeses, and smoked or preserved foods.
The 2021 vintage received high praise from global critics, scoring 93 points from Tim Atkin, 91 points from Descorchados, and 93 points from James Suckling. It won the Korea Wine & Spirits Awards for the institutional sector of red wine from the new world priced between 30,000 won and 60,000 won in 2025. The importing company is Keumyang International.