Carménère

Carménère, Maipo, Chile

Three grape varieties that originated in France have found a new homeland in South America, where they have flourished and become the flagship grapes of their respective countries. Today, Tannat represents Uruguay, Malbec symbolizes Argentina, and Carménère stands for Chile. The migration stories of Tannat and Malbec follow a fairly typical path, but the modern history of Carménère is a tale of human slip-up.

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Overview of South American wines

In the present day, it’s virtually impossible to envision the global wine market without the vibrant presence of South American wines. Walk into any wine store in North America, one not exclusively dedicated to a specific region, and you’ll undoubtedly find Chilean and Argentinean wines gracing its shelves. Yet, a mere two decades ago, the prospect of encountering South American wines outside of South America was an exceedingly rare occurrence.

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