Carmenere in Australia?

[Jake Barnes]

Hello everyone,

It seems like this is a wine that people either love or they hate. I'm just wondering if anyone has come across is in any shops or online retailers here.

[Wizz]

Jake, I'm surprised no one has picked this up, given Darby's recent posts on unusual varieties.

So, I'll take up the chalice, seeing as I'm a Townsville boy, and I've also recently been to Chile - hows that for an all round coincidence?

I'm afraid I've never seen Carmenere locally. Not once. To be honest I'm not surprised, as the Chilenos only identified it fairly recently and it wasnt known to occur anywhere else, although I gather Argentina now has some plantings.

I only tried one while in Sth America, and it was fairly ordinary, although I'm assured there are good ones around.

What sparked your interest in Carmenere?

cheers

Andrew

[Guest]

I only tried one while in Sth America, and it was fairly ordinary, although I'm assured there are good ones around.

cheers

Andrew

try Clos Alpalta from Casa Lapostolle.

[Nayan]

Jake,

Not much help, but I know that the Olssens of Watervale have some Carmenere growing; though I don't believe the wine is released commercially.

As far as I am aware this is the only current planting in Australia.

Regards

Nayan

[Wizz unlogged]

I only tried one while in Sth America, and it was fairly ordinary, although I'm assured there are good ones around.

cheers

Andrew

try Clos Alpalta from Casa Lapostolle.

Can I get it in Australia?

[Andy]

Topic of great interest as I only recently discovered this fascinating variety in Amsterdam. The only wines available have been from Chile but excellent QPR and would highly encourage anyone with the opportunity to get their hands on some.

Where were the articles posted you referred to Wizz?

[Nayan]

try Clos Alpalta from Casa Lapostolle.

Can I get it in Australia?

Wizz,

Have been looking for this myself for a couple of years, but it seems that the nearest agent is in Auckland.

Separate topic, but the Kiwis seem to get much more interesting international wines (and at a better price!) than we do in Oz.

N.

[Wizz]

Andy, the articles on how Carmenere was discovered appeared some time ago, I think my first reading on this was on the old Winepros forum. I found about about the Argentinian plantings in a book on South American wine which I borrowed called Vineyards, Wineries and Wines of South America. Amazon has it. Its a Halliday sized book covering the whole continent, written in Spanish and English.

As to Carmenere being good value, everything from Chile seems to be good value! They crap on Australia at the low price points. Have a look at Chilevinos.com (but you'll have to read Spanish and know the exchange rate for the Chilean Peso!).

cheers,

Andrew