Wines made from Carmenère grapes of Oregon
Discover the best wines made with Carmenère as a single variety or as a blend of Oregon.
Carménère is a grape variety of Bordeaux origin. It is the result of a cross between Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet. In France, it occupies only about ten hectares, but it is also grown in Chile, Peru, the Andes, California, Italy and Argentina. The leaves of the carmenere are shiny and revolute. Its berries are round and medium-sized. Carménère is susceptible to grey rot, especially in wet autumn. It can also be exposed to the risk of climatic coulure, which is why it is important to grow it on poor soil and in warm areas. Carménère is associated with an average second ripening period. This variety has only one approved clone, 1059. It can be vinified with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It produces a rich, highly coloured wine, which acquires character when combined with other grape varieties.
Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, is one of the youngest and most promising wine regions in the world. The state put itself on the international wine map in the late 1960s and has been building its position ever since. Production volumes have remained relatively quiet. The 2017 Oregon Vineyards and Wineries report recorded just under 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares) of planted vineyards.