Carmenère

noun

Car·​me·​nère ˌkär-mə-ˈner How to pronounce Carmenère (audio)
plural Carmenères
: a full-bodied red varietal wine produced especially in Chile
Cordova believes that Chile's wine industry will prosper even more as the world comes to recognize the unique characteristics of the varietal the country claims as its own, Carmenère.Chris Hardman, Americas, July/August 2004
also : the grape from which the wine is made
The Carmenère grape has a strange history in Chile, where until recently growers mistook it for a late-ripening Merlot. This largely forgotten variety from Bordeaux was transported to Chile before it was nearly wiped out by phylloxera in France in the mid-nineteenth century. Ruth Van Waerebeek, Food & Wine, June 2002

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French carmenère, "variety of red grape," borrowed from regional French (Médoc), probably alteration, by suffix substitution, of carmenet, variant of carbenet, cabernet, names for local grape varieties, of obscure origin

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Carmenère was in 1846

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near Carmenère

Cite this Entry

“Carmenère.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Carmen%C3%A8re. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!