Sebastián Rodríguez of Casillero del Diablo — Respect is the most important thing, and if we were to start a movement, I would say it should involve respecting others.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Sebastian Rodriguez.

For Sebastián Rodríguez, the road to winemaker began along the coast of Chile. Growing up in San Antonio, a coastal city to the north of the Maipo River, Sebastián was drawn to the land — to the agricultural fields, to the diverse plant life, to the valley and the beach.“My interest in wine began with viticulture, so even as a winemaker today, I am very focused on what’s happening in the vineyards and how we’re caring for each block,” said Sebastián.“Without quality grapes we cannot make a quality wine, so the vineyard is still the most important part of the winemaking process for me.” As the winemaker behind Casillero del Diablo, Sebastián crafts a broad portfolio of offerings, from a signature Cabernet Sauvignon, which includes fruit from the famed Maipo Valley, to a crisp Sauvignon Blanc sourced primarily from the coastal vineyards of the San Antonio Valley, closer to his roots. He studied agronomy — the science of soil management and crop production — at Universidad Mayor in Santiago, before earning his technical diploma in winemaking from the prestigious Universidad de Chile. He honed his skills crafting…