One year after its opening, Centro del Vino Concha y Toro presents a new way of connecting with the land that gives rise to one of Chile’s most iconic wine valleys. The installation, composed of ten ceramic bells that produce sound when they come into contact with water, interprets the principal mountains of the Maipo River basin and offers an interactive experience inspired by the landscape, water, and identity of the valley.

As part of its first anniversary celebration, Centro del Vino Concha y Toro marks its consolidation as one of Chile’s leading wine tourism destinations with the unveiling of a new artistic installation: “To the Maipo River” (“Al río Maipo”). Developed by Chilean artist Clemente McKay in collaboration with exhibition design studio Amercanda and design and technology implementation atelier Second Layer, the work invites visitors to experience the connection between the territory, the mountains, and the flow of water that gives life to the Maipo Valley, while contributing to the historical and cultural heritage of Chile and its central region.

The installation was officially inaugurated on September 8 during a ceremony held at Centro del Vino Concha y Toro, bringing together approximately 80 guests specially invited for the occasion. Attendees included members of the Pirque community, local authorities, representatives from the cultural sector and industry, as well as individuals closely connected to the brand.

As part of the event, and following the inaugural ceremony, guests gathered at Plaza Concha y Toro for an artistic intervention, where Clemente McKay and the ensemble La Chimuchina presented a 360-degree performance inspired by the creative universe of the installation. The experience introduced audiences to the sounds, symbols, and defining elements that shape “Al río Maipo,” reinforcing the connection between art, territory, and heritage that inspires this work.

Located at Bodega Concha y Toro, a heritage landmark and iconic feature of Plaza Concha y Toro, the installation consists of ten ceramic bells suspended above an 11-meter-long reflecting pool that evokes the course of the Maipo River. The experience was conceived for direct public interaction: using rounded stones collected from the river’s own banks, visitors activate the bells, which descend into the water and create different sounds as they are submerged.

Clemente McKay, a 28-year-old Chilean artist, has spent the past eight years researching and developing ceramic wind instruments inspired by the legacy of pre-Columbian Andean cultures that practiced this technique for more than 2,000 years. In 2024, following a trip to Italy, he incorporated the form of the European bell into this exploration, giving rise to “Water Bells”, a new artistic language that creates a dialogue between both traditions as an expression of what the artist calls neosyncretism.

“As in its pre-Columbian past, the art of water bells deeply integrates the four elements. Ceramics represent earth and fire, because clay needs fire to take shape; there is also water circulating within them, which in turn activates the air that makes the instrument function,” explains Clemente McKay. 

He adds: “With this work, we sought to represent the sacred nature of mountains as sources of life and guardians of the land. It is an invitation to care for and feel a sense of belonging to a valley whose vitality depends on the generous flows of water originating in Andean glaciers and springs.” 

Each bell bears the name of one of ten mountains that define the geography of the Maipo Valley. Represented peaks include Cerro Manquehue, Cerro El Plomo, San José Volcano, Tupungato Volcano, and Cerro Castillo, among others.

The new installation is scheduled to open to the public in September 2026 and is envisioned as a cultural contribution to the municipality of Pirque, with an educational component aimed at bringing art closer to new audiences.

“From its inception, Centro del Vino was conceived as a place that goes beyond wine, bringing together our historical and cultural heritage, the richness of Chilean art and culture, our connection to nature, and immersive experiences that invite visitors to discover the origins of our winemaking tradition. These water bells embody that vision: they represent the Andean peaks surrounding the Maipo Valley, which are fundamental to our viticulture and the source of the waters that give life to this land. Through this work, we aim to invite our community to experience that connection to landscape, history, and culture in a participatory, sensory, and deeply educational way,” says Isabel Guilisasti, Vice President of Fine Wines and Corporate Image at Viña Concha y Toro. 

Opened in July 2025, Centro del Vino is part of Viña Concha y Toro’s strategy to position Chile on the global wine tourism stage. In less than a year, it has become a platform for premium experiences that has welcomed internationally renowned visitors such as Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Aurora, HYDE, and Zeta Bosio, among others, while also establishing itself as a new cultural hub in the Maipo Valley.

Spanning more than 12,000 square meters, the visitor journey offers an immersive exploration of the origins of Chilean wine through a museum-style route that combines audiovisual installations, historical artifacts, and sensory experiences. One of its key highlights is “The Origin of a Legend,” an experience that culminates in the historic Casillero del Diablo underground cellar, where one of Chilean wine’s most iconic stories comes to life.

Global Recognition and Commitment to Sustainability

The proposal behind Centro del Vino stands out not only for its innovative character but also for its sustainable approach. Since 2022, it has held Preferred by Nature’s sustainable tourism certification, achieving five consecutive years of compliance.

In 2024, the Casillero del Diablo Night Tour was recognized as Chile’s Best Wine Tourism Experience. That same year, Viña Concha y Toro achieved a major milestone by becoming the first Chilean company to establish a Safe Conservation Site (SSC), in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Fundación Chilco.

In 2025, “The Origin of a Legend” project was recognized at the Chile Design Awards, receiving first place in the category Environmental and Spatial Design | Exhibitions and Museography. 

With this new installation, Centro del Vino Concha y Toro reinforces its position as a landmark destination where wine, culture, art, and sustainability converge, promoting a contemporary vision of Chilean wine tourism and helping position the country on the global map of world-class experiences. 

For more information and reservations, visit: enoturismo.conchaytoro.com