ChileCarmenère is a deep-colored red grape originally from Bordeaux that nearly vanished after the phylloxera louse devastated European vineyards in the 1800s — for over a century it was mistaken for Merlot in Chile's vineyards until DNA testing revealed the truth in 1994. It needs a long, warm growing season to fully ripen, and when it does, it produces medium-bodied wines with gentler tannins (the drying, gripping sensation on your gums and tongue) than its Cabernet relatives, along with red fruit and a signature herbal, spicy streak. Today it's regarded as Chile's signature grape.
Also known as Bouton Blanc, Cabernelle, Carbonet, Carbouet, Carmenelle, Carméneyre, Grande Vidure.
Carmenère is a crossing of Cabernet Franc.
Carmenère is a crossing of Trousseau.