Winemaker

Félix Pavone Arbea

Discipline: Winemaker
Venue: Viña Santa Ema · Winery

Portrait of Félix Pavone Arbea

i. Biography

Félix Pavone Arbea founded Viña Santa Ema in Isla de Maipo, Chile, in 1956, and that remains the central fact of his place in Chilean wine. With his father, Pedro Pavone, he helped establish a family project built on patience, continuity, and a fixed sense of identity. At Santa Ema, the work has long centered on high-quality wine production, with meticulous winemaking techniques at Viña Santa Ema in Maipo Alto, Pirque, Chile, aimed at bringing out the potential of each variety rather than forcing it into a preset mold.

The Sunday letter

Read Made By's new profiles every Sunday.

Meet the chefs, winemakers and sommeliers behind the places we cover. See a sample below before you subscribe.

See a sample of the Sunday email

One email a week. Unsubscribe from any issue.

At a Glance - Founded Vinos Santa Ema with Pedro Pavone in 1956. - Specialty: high-quality wine production at Santa Ema. - Craft note: meticulous winemaking techniques at Viña Santa Ema in Maipo Alto, Pirque, Chile, aimed at maximizing the potential of each variety.

Signature

The signature wines include Félix, a label that reads as a direct mark of authorship inside the broader family house. The name ties the bottling to Félix Pavone Arbea and to the same measured approach that has shaped Santa Ema’s identity from the start.

In Their Words “We have had a lot of interest from other wineries and foreign investors in partnering with us, but this is a 100% family winery and the idea is to keep it that way. That rumor is out there, but no, there is no possibility.” Taken together, the quotes point to stewardship over expansion: a family winery held together by structure, discipline, and a clear decision to keep control where it was set in 1956. Félix Pavone Arbea is presented here as the custodian of a house that began in Isla de Maipo and remains, by design, in family hands.

FAQ What is Félix Pavone Arbea's current role? As of 2026, Félix Pavone Arbea is Founder. What is Félix Pavone Arbea known for? High-quality wine production at Santa Ema.