Celebrating Chile’s Signature Grape
Every year on November 24th, wine lovers raise a glass to celebrate International Carménère Day, an acknowledgment of one of Chile’s most emblematic and beloved varietals. But Carménère’s story begins far from South America, in the historic vineyards of southwest France.
From Bordeaux Beginnings to a New Life in Chile
Carménère originated in France’s Médoc within the famed Bordeaux region, where it was once one of the original six red blending grapes of the area. During the mid-1800s, before the catastrophic phylloxera outbreak devastated European vineyards in 1867, grape cuttings were transported abroad, Chile among them.
For decades, what Chilean growers believed to be Merlot quietly flourished in their temperate valleys. It wasn’t until 1994 that French ampelographer Jean Boursiquot made a landmark discovery: many of Chile’s “Merlot” vines were actually Carménère, a grape presumed nearly extinct in France. The mistake had endured for over a century, thanks to similarities in leaf shape and growth patterns.
This rediscovery reshaped Chilean wine identity almost overnight. A forgotten Bordeaux grape found its true home in South America, thriving in the warm days, cool nights, and phylloxera-free soils that allow it to ripen fully, something Bordeaux’s climate often prevented.
A Grape with Deep Ancestral Roots
Genetic research indicates that Carménère is the offspring of Cabernet Franc crossed with Trousseau (also known as Trousseau Noir, Bastardo, or Merenzao), a variety that traces back to Eastern Europe and is still found today in Portugal, especially in some Port blends.
Another theory suggests Carménère may be the product of Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet, a lesser-known variety believed to originate in the Basque Country. As grape genetics research advances, these origins will become clearer. But for now, Carménère’s journey, from obscure Bordeaux relic to Chile’s national pride, remains one of the most compelling stories in wine history.
Carménère in Chile Today
Modern Chilean Carménère is celebrated for its deep color, plush texture, and signature notes of dark fruit, spice, and savory herbs. It is planted widely across the country, particularly in the Cachapoal, Colchagua, and Maipo Valleys, where ideal ripening conditions help it achieve its characteristic softness and aromatic complexity.
If there’s ever been a moment to explore this grape, International Carménère Day is the time!
Miguel Torres Cordillera Carménère 2019
Sourced from the foothills of the Cachapoal Valley, the vines grow in clay-loam and granite soils of colluvial origin. The region experiences warm, sub-humid days followed by near-freezing nighttime temperatures descending from the Andes. These conditions preserve acidity and structure while allowing full fruit expression.
Tasting Notes
Aromas: Bold aromas of plum, blackberries, licorice, and leather dominate the nose and pull you in to take a sip.
Palate: The palate is smooth, soft, and inviting with all the characteristics of a quality Carménère. Interwoven layers reflecting the aromas, with oak, vanilla, chocolate, bay leaf, and cloves, wrapped neatly with pleasing acidity and fine-grain tannins. More than enough complexity and appeal to please, with nice spicy notes, and excellent length on the finish. Give it a little time to open, and notes of tobacco and smoke develop. This is an ideal fall wine around a fire put and for Thanksgiving. This is an ideal fall wine...perfect by the fire pit or poured alongside Thanksgiving dinner!
Aging potential: 5 more years, drink now through 2030.
Food pairing: Try this wine with any grilled or barbecued meats, lamb with mushroom, beef or goat stew, spicy chicken dishes, pork tacos, grilled eggplant and zucchini, or spicy lentil curry.
Let's Celebrate
As we celebrate International Carménère Day, there’s no better time to raise a glass to a grape that journeyed across continents, disappeared from its birthplace, and found its true expression in Chile. Whether you’re discovering Carménère for the first time or revisiting a longtime favorite, let this deeply storied wine remind you that some of the world’s best treasures are the ones we almost lost. Cheers to Chile, to Carménère, and to the wines that keep history alive in every sip!