TwoMoreGlasses.com® Carmen Gran Reserva Merlot 2020 (6x75cl) – 7856120725702

Viña Carmen is Chile’s oldest winery, founded in 1850 by Christian Lanz and named after his wife. Chile was in its infancy as an independent country and, from the outset, companies like Carmen focused on quality to secure export markets and showcase Chile as a competitive country.

In 1994, the company was the first in the country to market an organic, sustainable label (Nativa), and in 1996 was the first to sell a varietal Carmenère after it had been identified as being distinct from Merlot two years before. The company now has Valle Central vineyard holdings in Maipo, Apalta and Colchagua, and cooler sites in Casablanca and Leyda.

This range of terroir allows Carmen to grow specific varieties in prime locations as well as sourcing from older holdings. Indeed, the flagship wine is the Gold Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, from a specific parcel in the Maipo Valley planted in 1957.

The range also includes the Winemaker’s Red and Winemaker’s Black (a Carmenère-based blend), and various varietal reds and whites under the Gran Reserva, Premier 1850 and Insigne designations. The Wave Series focuses on fruit from the Leyda Valley, and in addition to Nativa, the company also owns the Red Fall and Toltén brand.

Since 1987 the company has been part of the Claro group, which also includes Terra Andina, Santa Rita, Nativa and Doña Paula in Argentina.

A new winery – the Bodega Gold – was constructed in 2020 for the production of Gold and other top-end wines. Viña Carmen currently exports to over 50 countries worldwide.