THE PIONEERING HOLISTIC VIK WINERY OPERATES WITH 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY
VIK, the stunning destination set on 11,000 acres in Chile’s Millahue Valley, is accrediting, through final certification under the I-REC standard, that 100% of the electricity it uses comes from renewable energy sources. AtriaE is the company that supplies electricity to VIK and, a year past accrediting that this supply comes from clean, non-polluting origins, the VIK Winery is about to obtain this important international recognition.
Vik Chile, the striking retreat, and the remarkable VIK Vineyard and Winery are the foundation for VIK which, since its debut, has garnered international acclaim, drawing visitors from across the globe to enjoy a pioneering experience unlike anything else in the world. Sustainability and holism are integral parts of every single element at VIK and were incorporated into the overall vision for the property from the design to the culinary offerings. Since 2014, VIK has been progressively incorporating renewable energy into the electricity supply for its facilities and processes. Under the I-REC standard, the final accreditation certifies that this renewable supply has been obtained in accordance with the heightened international standards, reporting zero carbon emissions.
“This initiative guarantees to our consumers around the world that VIK remains committed to producing our exceptional portfolio of wines with the least possible environmental impact and pollution from point of origin through arrival to their final destination,” stated VIK CEO Gastón Williams. “This highlights that we are a company whose purpose is intimately linked with its surroundings and with caring for our planet.”
Ideally situated on 11,000 acres in the gorgeous Millahue Valley, VIK Winery was conceived by celebrated Pritzker Prize candidate, Chilean architect Smiljan Radic, in collaboration with Alex and Carrie Vik.
The winery was thoughtfully designed to have minimal impact on the surrounding landscape. Its primary architectural element is the uniquely transparent, stretched fabric roof, which gives the impression of an enormous sleek white wing suspended over the structure. The roof’s stretched fabric allows for natural sunlight to permeate the winery, so it is able to operate without artificial lighting. The majority of the building is located underground to naturally cool the wine during the wine making process by maintaining a consistent temperature of 57 degrees using the natural thermal amplitude of the valley.
The entrance to the VIK Winery is an arresting visual display of a two-degree sloping plaza of running water streaming over the space, which provides an additional cooling element. Placed throughout the plaza is a sculptural river rock installation by Smiljan Radic and Marcela Correa. Walkways have been cut into the plaza allowing visitors to walk through the water-filled landscape.
VIK’s viticultural and winemaking management are inspired by its commitment to holism and caring for the environment. It prioritizes natural processes that are in harmony with nature and works in a personalized manner to efficiently optimize natural resources. Protecting the health of the vineyard’s soil and surrounding environment is essential to enhancing the terroir and VIK takes specific measures to ensure sustainable practices including the use of natural herbicides as an alternative to glyphosate and other pesticides, the implementation of a phytosanitary program with the use of organic products, minimal and appropriate fertilization according to the crop requirements detected by nutrient analysis in leaf tissues and soil measurements, and decreasing the use of fuel in hillside cultivation by modifying the irrigation method.
VIK also takes great care to mitigate, recover and improve the natural landscape and is a member of Chile's Wine Climate Change and Biodiversity program, committed to conserving the native forest, flora, and fauna. Specific measures are taken to preserve flora and fauna and generate a synergistic relationship with the vineyard include the planting of over 590 native trees throughout and around the vineyard, the use of a personal water treatment facility where plants eat bacterium, enabling VIK to recover drained water to reuse for irrigation purposes, and the preservation of native wild animals and plants.
Working in tandem with VIK Winery is Vik Chile, the avant-garde retreat and wine-spa. Vik Chile operates in an environmentally-conscious manner through its extensive use of water collection and recycling, innovative solar technologies, intelligent energy efficiency systems, and green architecture.
The property uses free cooling, solar energy, natural insulation and geothermal energy to ensure maximum efficiency, and has its own water treatment facility. Throughout the retreat, radiant heat is generated by solar tubes, while fireplaces provide additional heat. Vik Chile also recycles and has its own compost. They work with a local company called Rendering, which takes the used soil and uses it to support local companies. Puro Vik, the newest addition to VIK, is a collection of 7 individual glass houses floating just below Vik Chile, in the stunning nature and vineyard of Chile’s Millahue Valley. The roofs at Puro Vik are covered with wild grass or solar panels depending on each house’s exposure to minimize the need for energy by maximizing natural resources.
VIK’s sustainable ethos continues with culinary offerings. Milla Milla, the property’s signature restaurant, and the Milla Milla Pavilion, the restaurant at the Winery, support local farms and producers with menus that highlight the Chilean terroir through the use of locally-grown and produced ingredients. Vik Chile also contributes to the natural environment through the property’s organic garden, which spans 1.2 acres and is where the team cultivates approximately 250 different varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs throughout the year. VIK’s goal for the garden is also to help recover endemic, traditional varieties of produce. They are able to preserve varieties of plants by reproducing them, harvesting the seeds, and sharing these seeds with other local growers and those interested in conservation. Visitors are invited to join the team in harvesting crops and cooking alongside them, and to indulge in the vibrant cuisine offered throughout the property.
VIK is accessible via the Santiago airport, which is serviced daily from international airports around the world. The property is a two-hour drive from the airport and reservations can be made by contacting [email protected] or +56 22 979 8330 / +56 22 897 9723.
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