carmenere

Relax in a Carmenere Wine Bath in Chile

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine

The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago is offering a true delight for a true oenophile: a Carmenere Wine Bath.

You may be accustomed to phoning the front desk to request your bath drawn, but until now, asking them to pour booze in it was something of a faux pas. Wine baths have slowly been gaining acclaim for their antioxidant benefits in various parts of the world, like in Japan where they celebrate the yearly uncorking of their Beaujolais Nouveau by pouring it into natural springs and soaking in it.

The Carmenere grape is a relatively new discovery; the grape was mistaken for Merlot until 1994 and has only been found in Chile. How fitting then, that when visiting Santiago, you can bathe in Carmenere.

No advance reservations are required; simply dial the front desk and ask that the Bath Butler draw you a Carmenere Wine Bath, and you will find your bathroom decked with candles and, of course, a wine-filled tub of pink bubbles full of antioxidants and a literally intoxicating fragrance. As an added indulgence, a glass of the Carmenere will sit bathside for you to drink as you soak.

The Carmenere Wine Bath at the Ritz-Carlton, Santiago costs $50.00.

Tags: carmenere, Chile, Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, wine, wine bath

Chilean Wines Making Impression on U.S. Consumers

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Argentina and Australia have both widened our national palates and expanded our wine vocabulary. As they have grown in prestige and density the U.S. has embraced their unique qualities and beamed with pride at the continued diversity of personal wine knowledge.

Another country home to the Southern Hemisphere is also prompting increased interest among oenophiles -- Chile. Although known for their Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet blends exports for Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Carmenere and Syrah have increased in spite of the American recession. To capitalize on consumers' continued interest in the range of wines from Chile the 'Wines of Chile' is to open a new U.S. office in NYC.

If you're unfamiliar with Chilean wines I suggest you start with the Carmenere -- typically they are full-bodied and hold a deeply colored essence plus it sounds sensual when it rolls of the tongue.

Gallery: Chilean Wine Tasting