Carménère

Carménère is a deep, dark-skinned grape variety, best known for its deep purple-red colour and full-bodied, spicy wines. Originating in Bordeaux, France, it has made its way to other parts of the world, where it has been used to produce some truly remarkable wines.

Carménère is a dark-skinned grape variety with aromas ranging from ripe red fruits, plums, and cherries, to spicy, smoky and herbaceous notes. On the palate, the wines are usually full-bodied and intense, with soft tannins and a slight spicy finish.

Originally grown in France's Bordeaux region, Carménère can now be found in various parts of the world, including Chile, Italy, the United States, and New Zealand. It is particularly popular in Chile, where it is used to produce some of the country’s most sought-after wines. Carménère is a late-ripening grape, and as such, it is best suited to warmer climates. To ensure that its grapes reach optimal ripeness, growers must pay close attention to the amount of sunlight and water the vines receive. As for winemaking, Carménère grapes are usually picked relatively late in the season and fermented in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks. Carménère wines vary greatly in style depending on where they are produced. Wines from France tend to be full-bodied and intense, with strong tannins and a spicy finish. Meanwhile, wines from Chile are often softer and more fruit-forward, and can range from light-bodied and easy drinking to more complex and age-worthy. Carménère is an incredibly versatile wine that pairs well with a wide range of dishes. Its intense, full-bodied flavours work well with red and white meat dishes, as well as robust vegetarian dishes. It also pairs well with aged cheeses, making it an ideal accompaniment to a cheese platter.

In the twentieth century, Carménère in Chile was mistaken for Merlot where it was called the “Chilean Merlot“.

However, DNA testing in the late 1990s clearly showed that this grape variety grown in Chile was in fact Carménère. Since then, it has become increasingly popular in its home country.