Pomegranates: Innovative business for Viña Apaltagua

Apaltagua´s big bet for the industrial production of Vitapome juice and Granate Sparkling wine has generated blue numbers for the company.  It has now introduced healthier, natural products into the market, ideal for palates eager to taste different flavors.

For 2018, Viña Apaltagua projects a net growth of 25% on the production of juice and sparkling wine made from fresh pomegranate, the most recent innovation from this wine producing company.

“These products have been available in the marketplace for less than a year. Therefore, there is a big potential for growth. In numbers, the pomegranate global business for the company is around a USD 1.000.000 a year, including the sale of pomegranate fruit, juice and sparkling wine”, says Apaltagua´s CEO, Rodrigo Abarzúa.

As a pioneer, in 2017, the company began an industrial production of Vitapome juice and Granate sparkling wine, with a positive response from the public. At the same time, it continues to export fresh pomegranate fruit to the Netherlands, USA, Canada, Germany and Russia. Apaltagua sends approximately 100.000 cartons annually, which represents 10% of the total Chilean exports of pomegranate.

Apaltagua’s pomegranate farms are located in the Curicó Valley, where it also holds a cooling, refrigerating and packing plant, with a total area of 80 hectares.  The company plans on adding 50 hectares of fruit, during the next three years.

PREMIUM FLAVORS

In its first year of production the company generated 25.000 liters of Vitapome, sold mainly in Chile, Brazil and China. The company expects to increase this volume thus offering its product to the large retail chains.

Abarzúa adds, “Our buyers are well informed about the benefits granted by the consumption of pomegranates. It is a fruit with antioxidant properties ten times higher than wine, a high level of vitamins and the potential to decrease prostate cancer in men and hormonal imbalances in women, according to studies in Europe.”

“It is a premium product, 100% natural and pure.  No sugar, water or artificial flavors are added, and it is one of the few in the world made solely from pomegranates. There are some products in the USA and Turkey which contain preservatives or are made from pomegranate concentrate. Ours comes from pressed fresh pomegranates”, Abarzúa says.

Parallel to this, the first production of Granate sparkling wine consisted on 10.000 cartons, sold in the domestic market as well as in the United States and Germany. “It is an innovative blend of Chardonnay and cold pressed pomegranate juice, a well-balanced, demi-sec wine, with a low alcoholic degree, excellent as an aperitif.  It is a product which grants more variety to the category and to the national wine industry that struggles with innovation”, says Rodrigo Abarzúa.

Consumers report is above the expectations. “In Chile the consumption of sparkling wines is growing at a fast rate.  Consumers are seeking new flavors and natural products without preservatives and additives, qualities that make Granate a healthier option,” he adds.

Granate sparkling wine can be purchased at Jumbo supermarkets, Vinoteca stores and Apaltagua four points of sales, including the online site www.clubapaltagua.cl.

Plans for this second semester include the launching of Granate Sparkling in Finland and consolidation in markets such as China, Russia and Belgium.