Carménère’s Quiet Revolution: Why Chile’s Forgotten Grape is Stealing the Spotlight
This is worth savoring: Carménère isn’t your average red. It’s the wine that makes you question your palate—and maybe your life choices. Often dismissed as a vegetal oddity, this Chilean grape is a paradox: simultaneously bold and delicate, brash and refined. Yet its reputation is a mirage. A well-made bottle reveals layers of complexity that defy its controversial image. Carménère’s story is one of misidentification and resurrection. For decades, Chilean vintners mistook it for Merlot, until 1996 exposed the truth: half of Chile’s Merlot vines were actually Carménère. The grape’s survival is a testament to its resilience, but its character…
