Carmenère: a history of patience

Thanks to its rediscovery, the long misunderstood grape variety slowly carved its path to success: help your wine stand out by entering the Global Carmenère Masters competition by 29 March.

If Carmenère were a saying, it would without a doubt be “everything comes to those who wait”. This black grape variety has been around for centuries, and yet it has only been rediscovered recently.

After a century almost forgotten as a historic Bordeaux blending grape, then mistaken for Merlot, Carmenère has developed a fantastic reputation in the past thirty years, since Chile embraced it as its signature variety.

Carmenère slowly carved its path to success in the wine landscape, and is now not only Chile’s crown jewel, but also grown in China, where it is called Cabernet Gernitsch, in Italy, and back to its origins, in Bordeaux.

After the success of its first edition, which uncovered a myriad of fine Carmenère from Chile but also gems from Northern Italy, the Global Carmenère Masters returns in April. The dedicated competition aims at finding the top expressions across the world of this long misunderstood grape variety.

The Global Carmenère Masters is open to any varietal Carmenère, or blends containing at least 50% Carmenère. They can be produced anywhere in the world. Entries are open for another two weeks and results will be published in the May issue of the drinks business magazine and online.

Time to reward your patience: get your Carmenère a medal and enter the competition here before 29 March.

Entries cost: £159 ex VAT
For more information contact: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com