The legendary Devil’s Cellar
Casillero del Diablo has grown from local legend to international sensation. The numbers are impressive: a bottle of Casillero del Diablo is sold somewhere in the world every four seconds. The brand ranks consistently as the second most powerful wine brand globally and has held that position for seven consecutive years.
The Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon represents the heart of the collection, made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes sourced from Chile’s Central Valley. This detail matters more than you might think. While many producers stretch their Cabernet with blending grapes, Casillero del Diablo delivers the pure, unadulterated expression of this noble variety.
What makes Chile’s Central Valley so special for Cabernet? The region combines warm, sunlit days with cooling Pacific breezes and the moderating presence of the Andes, a balance that suits Cabernet Sauvignon particularly well. The soils are alluvial and rocky, exactly what Cabernet Sauvignon vines love, forcing them to dig deep and develop concentrated, complex fruit.
Now let’s backtrack to the original local legend. Casillero del Diablo Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon has one of the best origin tales in the entire wine world—one involving missing bottles, frightened villagers, and a legendary creature lurking in the shadows of a nineteenth-century Chilean cellar.
Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
Central Valley, Chile
Let me take you back to 1883, when Don Melchor de Santiago Concha y Toro—a prominent Chilean lawyer, politician, and businessman—founded his winery in the picturesque town of Pirque, nestled at the foot of the magnificent Andes mountains. Don Melchor had a visionary’s eye for quality. He imported precious vine cuttings from France’s renowned Bordeaux region, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc, and planted them in the sun-drenched soils of the Maipo Valley.
Atmospheric entrance to the underground cellar
But here’s where the story gets interesting.
Don Melchor stored his finest bottles behind a wrought iron gate in his personal cellar—his private treasure trove of exceptional wines. Over time, however, he noticed something troubling: bottles kept mysteriously vanishing. It seemed the townspeople had caught wind of his magnificent collection and simply couldn’t resist helping themselves to a taste.
Casa Don Melchor historic manor house
Instead of tightening security, Don Melchor took advantage of something far more powerful than hardware: superstitious belief. He began spreading whispers throughout the village that strange sounds echoed through his cellars at night—unexplained shadows, eerie noises, otherworldly occurrences. The only possible explanation? The Devil himself lurked among the barrels.
The strategy worked brilliantly. Terrified locals began avoiding the cellar entirely. Some even claimed to have witnessed Satan with their own eyes. The thefts stopped immediately. That legend gave the cellar a name that would endure long after the whispers themselves faded: “Casillero del Diablo”: the Devil’s Cellar.
Today, that legendary underground space still exists and draws over 30,000 visitors annually to the Concha y Toro estate in Pirque, just an hour outside Santiago. The recently expanded Centro del Vino offers immersive tours complete with multisensory experiences, vineyard walks, and, of course, tastings of the wines that made the legend famous.
Vineyard Views
The Man Behind the Magic
Marcelo Papa – Technical Director
No discussion of Casillero del Diablo would be complete without mentioning Marcelo Papa, the winemaker who has guided this brand since 1998. In 2005, the Chilean Wine Guide named Papa “Winemaker of the Year” for his extraordinary ability to craft exceptional wines at volume without sacrificing character or quality.
Think about that challenge for a moment. Many winemakers produce stunning wines in tiny quantities. Papa manages to deliver consistency and personality across millions of cases, a feat that earned Casillero del Diablo recognition as Wine Enthusiast’s New World Winery of the Year in 2020.
The Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon under Papa’s direction delivers generous aromas of cherry and blackcurrant, woven together with whispers of vanilla from judicious oak aging. The palate offers medium body with approachable yet structured tannins that carry through to a lingering finish. It’s the kind of wine that feels effortless yet sophisticated, equally at home at a Tuesday dinner as it is at a Saturday celebration.
The grand winery entrance
Perfect Partners at the Table
What to serve alongside this devilishly good bottle?
The natural affinity between Cabernet Sauvignon and red meat is legendary, and this wine embraces that tradition. Grilled ribeye steak, herb-crusted lamb rack, or a slow-roasted beef tenderloin would all find a harmonious partner here. The wine’s firm tannins cut through richness while its fruit character complements the caramelized, savory notes from a proper sear.
But don’t stop at the obvious choices. Well-seasoned dishes such as robust stews, spice-rubbed ribs, or even a hearty mushroom ragout play beautifully against the wine’s structure. And for those who love a cheese course, reach for aged varieties like nutty Gruyère or bold blue cheese. The wine’s backbone stands up to their intensity without flinching.
Your Invitation to Join the Legend
Whether you’re hosting friends for a casual backyard barbecue, planning a cozy date night, or simply want a reliable bottle to have on hand for whatever the week brings, Casillero del Diablo Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon delivers tremendous value and genuine pleasure.
Here’s even better news for Ontario wine lovers: the LCBO currently has this wine on a limited-time offer with $2 off the regular price. Given that this same bottle graces tables across 140 countries worldwide and has earned over 118 scores of 90 points or higher in the past decade, that’s a deal you would make with the devil!
