About Us
Carpe Vinum International (CVI) is a young, specialist wine importer and distributor focused on Chilean vineyards and produce.
Chile’s unbroken history of producing wine since Catholic priests harvested the first grapes in 1551, means that some of the vines are twice as old as those found in France and California. Chile’s other legacy comes from being the only country spared from the phylloxera virus which eradicated the overwhelming majority of vines in the world in the 19th Century . More recently, some of the most influential oenologists in Europe such as Miguel Torres, Robert Mondavi and representatives from Château Lafite Rothschild have made great wines in Chile using a variety of well known grapes, and some rarer varieties such as Carmenére.
This unique history and the more recent influx of expertise combines with ideal weather conditions and tiptop soil to produce high quality wines across all five main regions . Chile’s hallmark has been the production of large volumes of good wine at a reasonable production price which has driven sales and customer satisfaction. Chilean wine is very competitive in foreign markets and the overwhelming majority of the produce is now exported to the USA and Europe where demand keeps growing.
Our aim is to stay on the front edge of the market. We have a dedicated local sourcing partner in Chile who regularly engages with Chile’s vibrant wine producing community to discover the best new wines from vineyards of all sizes, and introduce them to our customers .
The CVI team is committed to building long term strategic partnerships with wine producers and clients to deliver excellence and the best wine drinking experience.
References: Knowles, T. and Sharples, L. (2002), "The History and Development of Chilean Wines", International Journal of Wine Marketing, Vol. 14 No. 2, pp. 7-16.
Our Philosophy
At CVI, we are strong advocates of supporting and promoting ethical wine products with organic / biodynamic wine, an integral part of our range. This sector is already growing rapidly in Chile. According to a new study by the International Wines and Spirits Record, the UK market is growing too and is expected to account for 9% of still wine consumption in 2022 compared to 5% now. CVI will be part of that growth, in partnership with our clients.
As a specialist supplier we can offer our clients a bespoke product to suit their customers, their brand and their approach to business. At the heart of this is a strong personal relationship with our local partners, our sourcing team and our clients. This allows us to adapt and respond to the needs of your company.
Tomás Camprubí
Managing Director
Tomás’ international background and Anglo-Chilean family has led to a passion for winemaking. From a young age he has spent a lot of time around vines and the wine production process. He has had the opportunity to discover some excellent products – often from smaller producers - that are not yet known in the UK. He wants to share these discoveries with others. Tomás leads the commercial and development aspects of the business.
Joshua Hunter
Creative Director
With a keen passion for wine as well as photography and design, our Creative Director, Josh, is dedicated to ensuring that our wines flourish in the UK marketplace. Working with some of the best winemakers in South America, he has developed great admiration for the craft.
