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    Carménère

    Vitis vinifera L.

    A Bordeaux variety that survived in Chile under another name.

    VIVC
    № 21091
    Berry skin
    black (noir)1
    Origin
    France1
    Synonyms in VIVC
    351
    central lobepetiolar sinuslobes: 5cluster

    No parents confirmed by DNA (VIVC).

    vinoluma engraving: schematic leaf after the description (5 lobes).

    Where Carménère comes from and grows

    1. Origin (VIVC)France
    2. Atlas regionBordeaux

    Country of origin as given by VIVC. Regions are those where the atlas sources mention the variety; not a complete list of where it grows.

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    Origin

    Carménère is originally from the Bordeaux vineyards.2 Genetic analyses in Montpellier suggest it descends from Cabernet Franc.2 VIVC, however, records several different proposals for its pedigree rather than a single confirmed one.1

    It is still a permitted variety for red Bordeaux.3 Yet in all of France it covered only 78 hectares in 2018.2

    Chile and China

    In 2010 Chile had 9,502 hectares of Carménère, 8.13% of its vineyard area.5 By 2015 the OIV counted 11,000 hectares there, and China had another 8,000 hectares.6

    Other names

    Examples of synonyms recorded in VIVC: Cabernet Carmenere, Bordo, Bouton Blanc, Cabernelle, Cabernet Cosmo.1

    Around the world

    In 2023 it covered 14,824 hectares of bearing vineyards worldwide, ranking 51 of 1497 varieties in the database.7

    The largest area is in Chile: 10,220 ha (69% of the world total), across 13 countries.7

    Between 2000 and 2023 its area grew by 160%.7

    1. Chile10,220 ha
    2. China4,480 ha
    3. Argentina49 ha
    4. France28 ha
    5. Croatia19 ha
    6. Brazil14 ha
    7. Canada6.4 ha
    8. Uruguay4.3 ha
    9. New Zealand2.1 ha
    10. Hungary0.5 ha
    11. the United States0.4 ha
    12. Spain0.1 ha

    Area, 2023

    5,71111,36622,47014,8242000201020162023

    Regions

    Sources

    1. VIVC passport data: CARMENERE. Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Geilweilerhof, accessed 2026-10-14. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    2. Carmenère N. plantGrape (IFV / INRAE / Institut Agro), accessed 2026-10-14. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    3. Cahier des charges de l'appellation d'origine contrôlée « Bordeaux ». INAO, 2023. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
    4. 5 Interesting facts about Carmenere. Concha y Toro (winery), accessed 2026-10-14. level 4 · checked 2026-10-13
    5. Pszczólkowski T., Ph. Carmenère, mayoría de edad: 1994-2012. Estudios Avanzados 20:137-153. Universidad de Santiago de Chile (IDEA), 2013. level 3 · checked 2026-10-13
    6. Focus OIV 2017: Distribution of the world's grapevine varieties. OIV, 2017. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    7. Database of Regional, National and Global Winegrape Bearing Areas by Variety, 2000 to 2023. Anderson K., Nelgen S., Puga G. Wine Economics Research Centre, University of Adelaide (CC BY 4.0), 2026. level 3 · checked 2026-10-13