Matt Ridgway, Coordinating Director, Chile
Born, raised and educated in the United Kingdom, Matt has lived in South America, working and personally investing in South American real estate, since September 2003. After three years living in Buenos Aires he made the permanent move across the Andes in December 2006. He splits his time between the UNESCO World Heritage port city of Valparaiso and Santa Cruz, in the heart of the Colchagua Valley. Matt is a graduate of the prestigious University of Leeds Business School. He is a fluent Spanish speaker and fully understands South American business culture. Matt coordinates all of Chile Investments’ activities and professionals and ensures that clients receive first class service at all times.
Tony Correia, Consultant Agricultural Expert, California
Tony is Chile Investments' advisor in the Napa Valley, California. Tony has over 30 years of experience in rural real-estate appraisal in California with an emphasis on vineyards and fruit farms. He recently retired as President of Correia-Xavier Inc. Tony visited Chile for the first time in early 2008 and recognised the country’s potential, such as its excellent value real-estate and stable economic and political environment. Tony has worked with many of California’s largest and most prestigious vineyards. He has worked as an expert witness in courts of law and brings vast experience to Chile Investments’ team. He is a regular contributor to wine and rural property magazines around the world and a regular public speaker on the subject of agricultural property and vineyards.
Rafael del Valle, Water Rights and Agricultural Property Lawyer
Rafael del Valle is recognised in Chile as the pre-eminent expert in water rights analysis, one of the most essential aspects of agricultural property appraisal. Rafael has over 25 years of experience working for Chile’s most important vineyards, fruit and mining companies. He is the only lawyer in his field to spend much of his time actually on site, constantly visiting properties, interviewing managers and mapping out water sources. Rafael is also an expert in agricultural property title searches and handles all legal aspects of the purchase process. He has been widely published, is a regular public speaker and is also professor of law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica.
Hans Fleichsmann, Consultant Oenologist, Santa Cruz, Chile
Hans is based in Santa Cruz, the heart of the Colchagua Valley, a region recognised as one of the finest in the world for wine production. Hans is a graduate of one of Chile’s finest universities, Universidad de Chile, where he studied Agronomy and Viticulture. He started his working life at Concha y Toro, Chile’s largest and most important vineyard. Since 2002, Hans has worked on-site at Viña Estampa, a young and dynamic vineyard specialising in mixed varietal wines, which have won local and international awards. Hans has travelled extensively worldwide for work and educational purposes.
Legal, Tax and Accounting
Chile Investments has entered into a strategic partnership with two of Chile’s best-known consultancies, Claro y Asociados and MAAS, to provide first-class tax, legal, accounting and business-management services for our clients.
Claro y Asociados has over 30 years’ experience working with some of Chile’s largest companies, government departments and multinationals. The firm is led by Jorge Claro Mimica, founder of Chile’s only dedicated sports television channel, El Canal de Futbol.
MAAS is a highly respected and well known tax consultancy which has provided legal and tax planning services to many Chilean and multinational corporations. MAAS ensures that all of Chile Investments’ clients’ tax issues are handled quickly, legally and efficiently.
