The Carménère Grape: A Hero in Exile
Born in Bordeaux, lost to phylloxera, and reborn in Chile — Carménère is a varietal whose destiny was written across two continents.
A Grape Between Two Worlds
Carménère is a legacy of two ancient worlds. It began in France, conceived in the noble terroirs between the valleys of Bordeaux and the foothills stretching toward Barcelona. There, it struggled — the strain, bred with vision, failed to thrive in the climate of its homeland.
For more than a century, Carménère was believed lost. Phylloxera ravaged the European vineyards, and the grape faded into legend. But like a hero in exile, it had already found destiny elsewhere.
Reborn in Chile
Chile — a land of fire-forged mountains, vast skies, and ocean-kissed valleys — gave Carménère the balance of sun, soil, and spirit it needed to reveal its true character. Long mistaken for Merlot, the grape was finally identified in the 1990s, and Chilean winemakers understood they had been guarding a treasure without knowing its name.
At Casa Blaví, we honor this exile and this return. Our Carménère remembers who it was always meant to become.