Originally from Santiago, Chile, Sebastian Ruíz learned in his youth a respect for what the land could produce. Whenever he visited his grandfather’s rural lands, he witnessed the fruit the land could yield, and was impressed by the wisdom of those who cultivated it.

These influences helped Ruíz to join the University of Chile’s Agricultural School in 1986. By 1993, he secured professional roles in the winemaking business as a chemical analyst and assistant oenologist. He continued his education in oenology at Catholic University of Chile, earning top marks on the Oenology Exam. He then set off for the Rapel Valley. There, he was charged with building a wine cellar in close to a vineyard field. He also installed a bottling line and tended that season’s grape harvest — his first.

His career was furthered by many technical winemaking experiences abroad, both in France and the United States. Discovering these distinctive regions and methods offered him a firsthand understanding of the different climates and soils around the world. By attending wine fairs and other events during his travels, he got to know global wine customers and what they expected of their wines.

In 1998, Ruíz became winemaker-in-chief at Viña Misiones de Rengo with two goals: maintain the highest wine standard, and build up a strong area of grape advising. Ruíz accomplished both of these, and his arrival at Tamarí signals a commitment to producing the finest wines in South America.