★ Top rated 5 hours 15 minutes 📍 Bordeaux Saint Emilion Wine and E Bike Half Day Tour
🕑 Half-day
Carménère at a Glance
Common Flavors
- Fruit
- Earth & Mineral Notes
- Additional Complexities
Structure
- Body Medium - Full
- Sugar Dry
- Tannins Medium - Medium Minus
- Acid Medium Plus, High
- Alcohol Medium (12.0 - 13.5% ABV)
- Finish Medium - Long, Structured
Food Pairings
- Lean Meats
- Tomato Based Pasta
The Shape of Carménère
Each spoke runs from delicate (centre) to pronounced (edge). Tap a benchmark to lay a familiar grape over the top.
Carménère
More About Carménère
Learn About Carmenere Wine and Where This Unique Grape Originated From
Carménère is a medium bodied savory red wine originating from France, but now predominantly produced in Chile. The name for the grape was derived from the French word for crimson “carmin” referring to the bright crimson autumn leaves of the vines prior to leaf fall.
It was originally planted in the Medoc region in France and occasionally used in small percentages in Bordeaux blends. Carménère was largely abandoned in France due to its poor fruit set and unreliable yields after the threat of phylloxera in the 19th century. Around this time, Carménère was brought to Chile and originally planted amongst other varietals, including Merlot. It was later identified and now flourishes in Chile’s optimal warm and dry growing environment.
Carménère is Chile’s quintessential grape varietal. In 1998 it was declared the official variety for the country. It is found principally in the Colchagua, Rapel, and Maipo valleys. Outside of Chile, Carmenere is found in small quantities -- North Eastern Italy in the Veneto is of particular note. Carménère is produced as a mono varietal but often is accompanied with Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon.
What Does Carménère Wine Taste Like? What Foods Pair Well with Carménère?
Carménère is deep and bright ruby red in color. When harvested early, Carménère can lend toward the herbaceous side of the flavor spectrum. When optimally ripe, these wines exhibit pronounced notes of red raspberry and savory sour cherry fruit. Spicy earth notes are present along with dark chocolate, tobacco and leather.
The high acid and soft tannin profile makes Carménère an ideal food pair with a variety of cuisine from cheeses to meats with lower fat content.
Many fine examples are found in Chile such as Montes Alpha Carménère from Colchagua Valley, Chile. The wine demonstrates the elegant quality that can be enjoyed upon release or will age gracefully for 10 years. From the Veneto in Italy, Inama Carménère Piu is another example of a premium fine wine made primarily from Carménère.
Learn About These Other Wine Grape Varieties
Where It Grows
Taste Carménère at the Source
Carménère is tied to a handful of regions. Explore each as a travel destination — with wineries, tours and guides.
Editor’s spotlight
Featured Winery · Carménère
Yorkville Cellars
★ 4.9
Last Updated on December 13, 2019. We invite you to visit our tasting room set among the vineyards and to enjoy a picnic under the shady big oaks. Remember — we have a complimentary tasting ...
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Wineries Known for Carménère
Estates specializing in Carménère, open for tastings.
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Tours Featuring Carménère
Bookable experiences in Carménère's home regions.
★ Top rated 5 hours 15 minutes 📍 Bordeaux
★ Top rated 9 hours 📍 Bordeaux Bordeaux Médoc Region Private Wine Lovers Tour with Chateau Visits & Tastings
🕑 Full-day
6 hours 📍 Bordeaux Saint Emilion Castle and Village Wine Tour
🕑 Half-day
★ Top rated 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 📍 Bordeaux Chateau du Taillan and Park including Wine Tasting Tour
🕑 Morning
★ Top rated 4 hours 📍 Bordeaux Wine Tour of Mèdoc : Châteaux, Tastings and WSET Guide
🕑 Half-day
★ Top rated 3 hours 30 minutes 📍 Bordeaux Bordeaux Food and Wine Tour : Authentic Artisan Flavors
🕑 Morning
Carménère: Frequently Asked Questions
What does Carménère wine taste like?
Carménère delivers ripe plum, blackberry and red-fruit flavors with signature green-pepper, herbal and spicy notes. This red shows medium-to-full body, soft tannins and moderate acidity. Its distinctive bell-pepper and tobacco character, plus hints of chocolate and smoke, make it recognizable and approachable.
Is Carménère sweet or dry?
Carménère is made dry, showing ripe dark fruit balanced by savory, herbal notes. Its soft tannins and smooth texture make it approachable, but there is no sweetness. The classic Chilean style is a dry, medium-to-full-bodied red with a distinctive peppery edge.
What food pairs well with Carménère?
Carménère pairs well with grilled and roasted meats, steak, lamb and pork. Its herbal, peppery character complements bell peppers, spiced dishes, barbecue and tomato-based sauces. It also suits medium and aged cheeses, sausages and hearty stews, matching its smooth, savory dark-fruit profile.
What is the difference between Carménère and Merlot?
Carménère was historically confused with Merlot in Chile until identified by DNA in 1994. Both are soft and plummy, but Carménère is more herbaceous, showing signature green-pepper and spicy notes, ripening later. Merlot is rounder, fruitier and softer, without Carménère's savory, peppery character.
Where is Carménère grown?
Carménère originated in Bordeaux, France, but nearly vanished after phylloxera. Today Chile is its heartland, where it thrives in warm valleys like Colchagua and Maipo as the country's signature grape. Smaller plantings exist in Italy, China, Argentina and California.
How should you serve Carménère?
Serve Carménère at 60-65°F in a standard red-wine glass, decanting fuller, more tannic versions to open its fruit and soften tannins. Its smooth texture makes it approachable young, though premium examples can age several years, developing deeper, spicier complexity.
