Chile is the main grower of Carmenere.
Until recently it was thought to be Merlot -- the two vines are very similar and many vineyards tend to be planted with a mix of both.
Carmenere originates from Bordeaux - and there is a tiny amount still grown there -- but after the Phyloxera disaster of the late 1800s when Bordeaux vineyards were replanted on grafted vines, the Bordelais didn't replant the leats succesful vines, and concentrated on Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Carmenere makes a delicious wine and no doubt we'll see it planted elsewhere.
Carmenere was planted at the Guenoc & Langtry estates in California in the late 1990s, and they use Carmenere in their blends.
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