Generally, the wine offerings in Jamaica have improved tremendously in the past 10 years. It’s in our restaurant industry that we need to do some work, as most restaurateurs that pour wine seem to be offering similar options. When you look at a wine list, if there is one, chances are you will find the same varietals on offer at other restaurants. For red wines, most establishments offer Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon; even the much-loved Pinot Noir is scarce. For white, Chardonnay takes the lead; we see some offering Sauvignon Blanc and hardly do you see Riesling, which is actually the best wine to match with Jamaican foods. Very few restaurateurs, mostly wine lovers themselves, will venture out of the basics listed above. Therefore, only these few will reap the benefits of attracting wine lovers to their establishments, and by now you might have heard the saying: “Wine lovers are a restaurant’s best friend.”

It’s against the backdrop of nudging restaurateurs to get a little bit more adventurous that the Chilean Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Eduardo Bonilla, invited the managers and owners of Kingston’s leading dining destinations to sample wines made by their storied signature varietal – Carménère.

This red varietal disappeared from European vineyards in the mid-19th century and reappeared among Chile’s Merlot vines 100 years later. Carménère, the deepest, darkest, purplest of all red grapes, needs a long growing season to reach its fullest potential. Rich in berry fruits and spice (think blackberries and black pepper), with smooth, well-rounded tannins, Carmenere is a very pleasing and easy-to-drink varietal.

Guests were encouraged to enjoy this wonderful wine with its natural fruity spiciness and to try it with dishes prepared by Delicious Occasions Chef Latoya Panton. This wine can be served with Indian curry and many traditional Jamaican dishes. Like many wines on the market, Carménère is used to make very basic entry-level wines all the way up to very expensive, ultra-high-end luxury wines. The local importers that participated and provided a range of wines for this tasting exercise included GraceKennedy’s Harbour Wines and Spirits, CPJ, Select Brands and Ramsons. The Carménère wines poured were Viña Maipo, Concha y Toro, Montes and Santa Carolina respectively.

The Three Carménères

Guests enjoyed wine and food pairings featuring a reserve wine, a super-premium wine and a luxury icon wine so they could better appreciate differences and, more importantly, know what styles of Carménère wines were available in our markets.

Viña Maipo Vitral Carménère was the first wine poured – This reserve wine is an intense, dark and deep red wine, and has attractive aromas of currants and dark plums with a touch of chocolate. A well-structured and soft wine, it has a mouth-filling texture. Distributed by Harbour Wines & Spirits.

This was followed by the super-premium Concha y Toro Terrunyo Carménère. This wine is dark and deep red with violet nuances. Very elegant, complex, great character of pure carménère, plenty of blueberries, black cherries and violets. Great structure, mouth-filling, mineral, sweet tannins, graphite, powerful as delicate, with lots of fruit giving a long finish. Distributed by CPJ.

The iconic Montes Purple Angel with its intense carmine red in colour and tremendous aromatic potency was the final pour. It is complex and bursting with character. Ripe red and black fruits such as plums, blackberries, strawberries, and cherries predominate on the nose, complemented by aromas of pastries and nutmeg with a touch of cinnamon and jam. The contribution of French oak is distinguished by a delicate aroma of caffe latte, toffee, and caramel followed by notes of toast from the first-use oak. The palate is nicely balanced with very well-rounded tannins. Distributed by Select Brands.

The restaurateurs in attendance were delighted to learn about this wonderful grape varietal, and most of them promised to take a look at offering it in their establishments. Do ask for Carménère on your next dining outing!

Christopher Reckord – Entrepreneur & Wine Enthusiast. Send your questions and comments to creckord@gmail.com. Instagram: @chrisreckord Twitter: @Reckord