An expert Chilean grape grower and global marketer reflect on a fruitful partnership

This February, table grapes from Chile are harvesting and being sent to markets across the globe. One of Chile’s grape producers is Santa Elena, a company that is not only a grower for Divine Flavor International, but also a partner of the produce brand that harvest grapes in Chile from December to March.

Overseeing a vast majority of Santa Elena’s production is grape specialist and part-owner Gonzalo Tocornal. In 2013, Tocornal crossed paths with Divine Flavor/Grupo Alta’s Carlos Bon at a grape field day in South Africa, according to a news release. Both gentlemen, quite involved with respective grape growing territories, were attending the South African event. Bon had his eyes set on expanding the menu of table grapes for Grupo Alta’s farms and Divine Flavor’s customers, according to the release.

One of those varieties was Muscat Beauty, a specialty grape owned by Santa Elena and grown exclusively by a handful of growers. It was during this trip that Bon and Tocornal spent time getting to know one another discussing grapes, flavor and the industry in general. For these two grape connoisseurs, they would spend the rest of their visit in South Africa discussing their passion for grapes, and not long after, their arrangements for an international partnership, according to the release. 

“The Muscat Beauty was a key part to starting our partnership, but we both knew early on after meeting each other, the potential of Santa Elena together with Divine Flavor would have a tremendous impact on the future of our companies,” Tocornal said in the release.

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“From the very first moment meeting Gonzalo, it was very obvious the type of grower he was and what Santa Elena stood for,” Bon said in the release. “His values, knowledge, and passion of grape growing greatly resembled that of what we do in Grupo Alta and we saw an opportunity to expand our offerings with an expert grower dedicated to flavor and key varieties.”

While Santa Elena produces commercial grapes, they are not an industrial farm, Bon continued.

“What Gonzalo Tocornal does in Santa Elena is an artform fueled by passion. There’s a purpose to every decision he makes during pre-production, production, and post-harvesting and not only does he know how to grow flavorful grapes, but he also grows a piece of finished fruit durable to withstand the supply chain to other countries. He truly is a grape artist,” Bon said in the release.

Santa Elena was founded in the 1970s by a California grape company and has been through several owners throughout the years. The company is now owned by Tocornal and a few other shareholders.

Tocornal mentions the collaboration between like-minded companies is essential for international partnerships. Before the relationship began with Divine Flavor, Santa Elena’s fruit was sent to various brokers around the world.

“There’s a lot of hard work and investment to grow table grapes,” Tocornal said in the release. “In my 40 years of doing this, I have learned you have to be focused on what you do and have passion to be the best.”

Tocornal, who mainly focuses on the grower side, has always searched for how to best market his grapes and reach the final consumer in North America.

“For our company, it is very important to work with grape experts and those who understand the amount of effort which goes into this business,” he said in the release. “Divine Flavor and Grupo Alta share the same experience as we do in Santa Elena which is why our partnership excels. They are not only a big grower in Mexico, but a marketer who has built an excellent relationship with customers around the world, so to have this partnership with them is the best way to have consumers eat our fruit.”

Divine Flavor and Santa Elena are starting their seventh import program together this year, which also includes other grape companies in Peru, such as Ecosac and Campo Del Sur, and another Chilean produce company, Unifrutti Group, according to the release.

Both Chile and Peru serve as important grape growing regions until Divine Flavor’s grape programs start in Mexico during the late spring. The Chilean season is full steam until April, with fruit supplies lasting until mid-late May. Grape offerings will include varieties such as Sable Seedless, Sweet Celebration, Scarlotta, Muscat Beauty, Autumn Crisp, Cotton Candy, Candy Hearts and Candy Snaps/Candy Dreams.