On November 24, we celebrate the Carmenère blue grape, which is a truly mysterious variety with a special character.
The original birthplace of Carménère is Bordeaux, France, but today it is mostly produced in Chile. The variety is the half-brother of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, a descendant of Cabernet Franc.
The grape variety was thought to be lost until 1994 because it was mistakenly identified as Merlot in the 19th century, but today it is experiencing a renaissance thanks to Chilean winemakers. It was recently discovered that it is genetically identical to the Cabernet Gernischt variety grown in China.
Carménère wines offer intense and complex aromas and flavors such as raspberry, black plum, paprika and spices. Their taste is unique, usually characterized by smooth tannins and soft acids, which is why the variety makes a very good drinking red wine.
Remember this grape variety today and enjoy the special Carménère wines!