Root:1 Carmenere Reserva 2012
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Try Root 1 Carmenere with hearty chili, pork stew or barbeque ribs. Serve with roasted eggplant parmesean or vegetarian lasagna, or pair it with rich cheeses like Camembert or Brie.
Blend 85% Carmenere, 15% Syrah
Root:1 is the first in Chile to be certified 100% sustainable by Wines of Chile and the first winery in the country to adopt carbon offset measures. With vineyards located in the Maipo, Colchagua, and Casablanca Valleys, Root:1 maintains a longstanding commitment to sustainable viticulture that ensures all farming and winemaking practices are specifically tailored to nurture the unique attributes of each vineyard, the environment, and the local community. Under the careful stewardship of Head Winemaker Ángel Marchant, the results of this commitment are evident in the quality of the entire Root:1 range.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere flourish in the warm, dry, sun-drenched Maipo and Colchagua Valleys, respectively. Located between the massive Andes Mountains and Pacific's low Coastal Mountains, these valleys are world-renowned for producing outstanding red wines with rich color, full body, and the true varietal character that Root:1 is known for.
The cold-climate vineyards of Casablanca are perfectly suited for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Maritime breezes keep temperatures cool, while daytime sun encourages a lengthy growing season.
Dark, full-bodied and herbaceous with a spicy kick, Carménère found great success with its move to Chile in the mid-19th century. However, the variety went a bit undercover until 1994 when many plantings previously thought to be Merlot, were profiled as Carménère. Somm Secret— Carménère is both a progeny and a great-grandchild of the similarly flavored Cabernet Franc.
Dramatic geographic and climatic changes from west to east make Chile an exciting frontier for wines of all styles. Chile’s entire western border is Pacific coastline, its center is composed of warm valleys and on its eastern border, are the soaring Andes Mountains.
Chile’s central valleys, sheltered by the costal ranges, and in some parts climbing the eastern slopes of the Andes, remain relatively warm and dry. The conditions are ideal for producing concentrated, full-bodied, aromatic reds rich in black and red fruits. The eponymous Aconcagua Valley—hot and dry—is home to intense red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.
The Maipo, Rapel, Curicó and Maule Valleys specialize in Cabernet and Bordeaux Blends as well as Carmenère, Chile’s unofficial signature grape.
Chilly breezes from the Antarctic Humboldt Current allow the coastal regions of Casablanca Valley and San Antonio Valley to focus on the cool climate loving varieties, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Chile’s Coquimbo region in the far north, containing the Elqui and Limari Valleys, historically focused solely on Pisco production. But here the minimal rainfall, intense sunlight and chilly ocean breezes allow success with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The up-and-coming southern regions of Bio Bio and Itata in the south make excellent Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Spanish settlers, Juan Jufre and Diego Garcia de Cáceres, most likely brought Vitis vinifera (Europe’s wine producing vine species) to the Central Valley of Chile sometime in the 1550s. One fun fact about Chile is that its natural geographical borders have allowed it to avoid phylloxera and as a result, vines are often planted on their own rootstock rather than grafted.