Carmenère: the flag bearer for Chilean wine

Following a five-year major research project to identify the best Carmenère clone for producing top quality wines in Chile, Mario Pablo Silva, president of Wines of Chile and MD of Casa Silva, affirms the potential of the variety.

“Carmenère is going to help define Chilean winemaking in the future and will bring uniqueness to our wines,” states Marlo.

“It is now time for Chile to embrace Carmenère’s potential. Not only is it a unique variety to our country, it can make truly world-class wines, whether varietal or blends. As producers, we must strive to understand how to get the best out of the variety and continue to identify the best terroirs that enable us to optimize its natural characteristics: deep colour, elegance, structure, plentiful soft tannins and concentrated flavours. If we don’t, we are missing the opportunity to gain our rightful place on the lists of Britain’s best retailers and restaurants.”

The Genoma Research project findings, which will be presented in the UK next year, studied 42 different phenotypes of Carmenère that were planted in a special experimental vineyard at Viña Casa Silva’s Los Lingues estate in the foothill of the Andes. Experts from the University of Talca, the University Federico Santa Maria, the INIA and the Max Planck Institute of Germany worked under the direction of Mario Geisse, technical director and winemaker at Viña Casa Silva, to conduct the research.

30 November 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor