Chiliean earthquake: wineries reaction

Written by Richard Siddle /Harpers
Monday, 01 March 2010

Harpers Wine & Spirit has received messages from Chilean producers, O Fournier and Claro Wineries, following this weekend's earthquake and impact on their wineries. We will keep you updated on events as we receive them.

José Manuel Ortega, chairman O. Fournier Group, said: "As most of you may know, we suffered a severe earthquake in Chile yesterday. The center of the earthquake was just 60 miles from our Maule operations. All our staff is well. The challenge now is enormous as we were about to start our harvest.

"Since we started the O. Fournier project 10 years ago, we have had significant and difficult times. This event tops anything we may have encountered in the past for personal and business reasons. I am blessed to have such a brave and committed group of O. Fournier staff in Chile who will be up to the task with the help of everyone else in the O. Fournier family.

"Finally, I want to thank all the people that have contacted us yesterday, from China, Japan, US, England, Holland, Brazil and so many other places. I was deeply touched by such a sense of care and solidarity. These circumstances show once more why the wine business and its people are so special and make me, once more, be extremely proud to be a part of it."

Juan Ramsay, Claro Wineries, said: "Our company is focusing all of its efforts to provide support to the families of those employees that have been affected, and fortunately we have no lives loss to mourn.

"We deeply appreciate all of your calls for support, and we will keep you updated with the latest news we have about this tragedy.

"In the meantime, we would like to ask you for some patience and understanding until we are able to re-establish communications and service."