Level 2 · Wine & Spirits Exam Prep
Carmenère, Malbec and Pinotage
Three New World red varieties with Old World roots.
Topics covered
- Chilean Carmenère
- Argentine Malbec
- South African Pinotage
- Regional identity
Quick Revision
- Carmenère: Chile, green pepper + cassis
- Mistaken for Merlot until 1994 DNA test
- Malbec: Argentina (Mendoza), velvety, blackberry
- Cahors (France): original Malbec home
- Pinotage: South Africa, Pinot Noir × Cinsault
- Created 1925 at Stellenbosch University
Key Facts for the Exam
- Carmenère: originally from Bordeaux, now Chile's signature red grape; green pepper, cassis, plum
- Carmenère was long mistaken for Merlot in Chile; identified by DNA in 1994
- Malbec: originally from Cahors (France); Argentina (Mendoza) is the world's leading producer
- Argentine Malbec: full-bodied, rich, velvety tannins; blackberry, plum, violet, chocolate
- Pinotage: South Africa's unique crossing of Pinot Noir × Cinsault; created in 1925
- Pinotage: smoky, earthy, red fruit character; sometimes described as "rustic" — can be polarising
Level 2 Exam Tips
- 1.Carmenère = Chile. Malbec = Argentina (Mendoza). Pinotage = South Africa. Three countries, three grapes.
- 2.Carmenère was mistaken for Merlot in Chile until 1994 — DNA is the key word.
- 3.Pinotage is a crossing (Pinot Noir + Cinsault) created at Stellenbosch University — not a natural variety.
- 4.Malbec has velvety (soft, smooth) tannins — contrast this with Cabernet Sauvignon's firm tannins.
Common Exam Mistakes
- ✗Saying Carmenère originates from Chile — it came from Bordeaux but thrives in Chile
- ✗Thinking Pinotage tastes like Pinot Noir — it is its own unique character, often smoky and earthy
- ✗Confusing Cahors Malbec (France, austere, tannic) with Argentine Malbec (ripe, velvety)
Related Topics
Key Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is Malbec associated with Argentina rather than France?
- Malbec originated in the Cahors region of southwest France, where it produces dark, tannic wines known as "Black Wine." Cuttings were taken to Argentina in the 19th century, where the high-altitude vineyards of Mendoza proved ideal. Argentine Malbec developed a riper, softer style that became enormously popular globally, while Cahors Malbec remained a more niche product.