Collection: Carmenere

Carmenere is a dark grape variety with roots in Bordeaux, where it was historically one of the region's classic grapes. It also appears under the synonyms Cabarnelle, Carmenelle and Grande Vidure. Today the grape is best known from Chile, where it was rediscovered and properly established at the end of the 20th century, after leading a more overlooked existence for many years. In addition to Chile, Carmenere is also grown in California and in France.

The grape also has an interesting connection to Spain. During the 19th century it was imported to Vega Sicilia in northern Spain, where historical plantings existed on the estate. This testifies to how Carmenere has found its way over time to several wine regions far from its original Bordeaux.

Carmenere produces full-bodied red wines, and it is precisely this power and depth that make the grape worth exploring. At Copenhagen Wine you encounter Carmenere from Italy, which is the country we carry the grape from. It may seem surprising, but Italian winemakers have embraced the grape, and the results are worth tasting. Our Italian selection spans two different areas. From Toscana, a region most people associate with Sangiovese, you find Carmenere in a style that draws on central Italy's warmth and structure. And from Friuli-Venezia Giulia in northeastern Italy comes a different approach, marked by this cooler area's more restrained and precise expression.

If you are fond of full-bodied red wines with character and at the same time curious about a grape with an unusual history, Carmenere is a fine place to start. It is still a relatively overlooked variety in many wine shops, and that makes it all the more interesting to discover how it unfolds in the Italian interpretations we have chosen to carry. Take a look at the selection above and find a bottle that suits your taste and your occasion.