Carmen Winery was founded in 1850 by Christian Lanz, who named it after his wife Carmen. Carmen is the oldest winery in Chile. Today, they utilize the latest winemaking techniques and are one of the largest players in both quality and quantity of Chilean origin. All grapes come from their own vineyards, prioritizing quality over quantity. To achieve this, Carmen Vineyards has restricted yields. This results in wines that are more powerful and full-bodied than many Chilean wines. Moreover, the wines truly taste like the grapes they are made from; they are uniquely authentic. Anyone who tastes them will be immediately impressed by the vast potential of this promising wine country.
In recent years, Carmenère has become Chile's national grape. In 1994, the grape variety was rediscovered in the Carmenère vineyards. It was initially mistaken for Merlot, as it was long thought to be extinct due to phylloxera. However, it soon became clear that this unique grape was indeed planted in Carmen's Alta Maipo Valley vineyards. This grape produces wines with a unique character. The harvested grapes are destemmed and crushed, and fermentation begins at a temperature of around 26 degrees Celsius. Once fermentation is complete, the juice is clarified. The wine is aged in wooden barrels, which gives it a pleasant smoky flavor.
The aroma is complex, with notes of jam, spinach, and chocolate. Aging in wooden barrels gives this wine pleasant smoky and toasted notes, which reveal the flavors of spices. The texture is soft, with rounded tannins and a medium body.
