Today marks 20 years since the discovery of Chile’s flagship variety, Carmenere. On 24 November 1994 Jean-Marie Boursiquot discovered that some vineyards in Chile – which were previously believed to be Merlot – were in fact Carmenere.The rediscovery of the variety is an important one, not just for Chile but for the world of wine as it was thought to have been lost for good. One of the oldest noble varieties, known as the ‘grandfather’ of Bordeaux varieties, Carmenere was historically a popular variety in France, especially in Bordeaux. In the mid 19th century however, it was all but lost as phylloxera destroyed the vines. Carmenere is particularly susceptible to the disease and was not easily grafted or replanted post-phylloxera, disappearing into obscurity.
