Matías Cruzat

The Golden Vines® Ambassador, Chile

“My whole life has revolved around wine,” says Matías Cruzat Undurraga, a passionate Chilean winemaker whose deep family roots in wine—his grandfather worked at Viña Undurraga—shaped his lifelong vocation. A member of Chile’s new generation of talented winemakers, Cruzat combines heritage, precision, and innovation in equal measure.

After earning his degree in Agronomy and Oenology from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Cruzat completed an MSc. in Vineyard and Winery Management at Bordeaux Sciences Agro and Université de Bordeaux, graduating Best of the Class (2021–2023). His international journey has included harvests at Tantara Winery in California, Mullineux Family Wines in South Africa’s Swartland, and the prestigious Château Léoville Las Cases in Bordeaux—formative experiences that refined his global perspective on terroir and technique. Among his inspirations, Cruzat names South Africa’s Swartland Independent Producers, the late Loire visionary Didier Dagueneau, and Spain’s Raúl Pérez.

Cruzat joined Viña San Pedro in 2013 and rose to become Chief Winemaker for the Castillo de Molina and 1865 brands at the VSPT Wine Group. There, he managed the vinification of over five million kilograms of grapes and 6,000 barrels annually, overseeing everything from vineyard management and blending to marketing and innovation. Under his direction, several 1865 wines achieved international acclaim, appearing multiple times in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines and Wine Enthusiast’s Best Buys of the Year.

One highlight of Cruzat’s tenure was the 1865 Syrah from the Elqui Valley, a wine recognized by Master of Wine Tim Atkin as one of the best examples of Chile’s next-generation craftsmanship. The wine earned Cruzat a place among ten “upcoming South American winemakers” (five Chilean, five Argentinian) featured in Atkin’s Decanter October 2018 article “The New Generation.”

Believing that winemaking is as much about people as it is about vines, Cruzat stresses the importance of leadership and communication—skills often overlooked in formal education. Reflecting this philosophy, he founded Hellowine, a digital mail-order wine club connecting consumers directly with Chilean producers. Today, as founder of Bon Vivant, a fine wine import venture, Cruzat continues to champion authenticity, innovation, and Chile’s evolving identity in the global wine world.

Photo: Sarah Mathews