Carménère is to Chile as Malbec is to Argentina. It’s a grape that was born in France, but never truly found its place there, instead finding fame and fortune in the climate of a South American country. In the beginning, Carménère was blended with its cousin Merlot, but the Chilean winemakers soon realized the beauty of the grape’s flavors on their own, and began creating a single varietal wine. The grapes create a deep red wine that has flavors of cherries, blackberries and spice. It’s a savory wine that has just a hint of bitterness at the end, making it ideal for dishes involving meat. The flavors and aftertaste of Carménère resemble the complexity of an IPA, making it the ideal wine for someone more loyal to beer, but looking to branch out into wine.