The 1996 harvest had already begun and, as usual, everyone in the grape-growing world was trying to predict the results. Among these were three great friends who shared the same dreams and the same ideals, and who had already been playing a part in the wine industry for several years. Casablanca is the place where passion and know-how are transformed into wine. It was during the year 1980 that Pablo Morandé, who was then working for Concha y Toro, discovered conditions for producing white vinestocks in the Casablanca Valley that were unique in Chile, and similar to those found in the Carneros area of California. With the experience of its enologist, Pablo Morandé, and the recognized quality of its wines as guarantee, Viña Morandé is attempting to use its trademarks to consolidate its position as a modern, go-ahead winery. Viña Morandé was founded in 1996 and its people have been working from the very beginning to break traditional moulds within a conservative market. To do this their strategy has been to achieve recognition as an innovative winery, with a wide variety of products and the best value for money. For two decades, Pablo Morandé was one of the leaders of the team making wines at Concha y Toro, a very well-known Chilean vineyard. Among his many achievements was the wine Melchor de Concha y Toro, which was placed 12th out of 5,000 wines by the magazine Wine Spectator in 1997. This was the first Chilean vineyard to obtain a rating of over 90 points for one of its wines. Pablo is currently considered to be one of the best three wine-producers in Chile.   122 kilometres south of Santiago along the Panamerican Highway rise the buildings of the winery belonging to Viña Morandé S.A. To one side of the main road and opposite the Sanctuary of Santa Rosa de Pelequén, a modern plant is placed, right in the heart of the Rapel Valley.