How do you pronounce Carménère?

Carménère is pronounced kar-men-YAIR.

Where does Carménère come from?

Carménère grows in Central Valley, Chile.

Expect black plum, bell pepper, cocoa, green peppercorn. Closest familiar reference: a plush Merlot with a savory, herbal edge.

If you usually drink Merlot, Carménère is the underdog swap to try. Other lesser-known grapes in the same style: Cannonau, Teroldego, Bonarda.

Tasting profile: Soft dark plum and blackberry with a savory green-herb streak and a bell-pepper lift that keeps it from ever tasting flat.
Where it grows: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Explore the South America field guide
Where to buy: For specific bottles and where to buy them, read the deep dive.

The region

If you like

Wines like Carménère

What wine is Carménère similar to?: If you usually drink Merlot, Carménère is the underdog swap to try. Other lesser-known grapes in the same style: Cannonau, Teroldego, Bonarda.

JOIN THE PACK

One overlooked wine at a time: what it tastes like, the famous one it can replace, and the catch. Free.