A selection of wines made with the wonderful Carignan grape variety.
Carignan has its roots firmly based in France, in particular, the Languedoc Rousillon region where it enjoys great success in many blended wines. It is a difficult grape to look after and vinify and this is why you don't see many examples as a single grape style.
This grape is grown throughout the world as it is one of those varieties that produce high yields which is great for the winemaker. However, it is also susceptible to the hazards of winemaking such as mildew and rot.
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Read MoreA selection of wines made with the wonderful Carignan grape variety.
Carignan has its roots firmly based in France, in particular, the Languedoc Rousillon region where it enjoys great success in many blended wines. It is a difficult grape to look after and vinify and this is why you don't see many examples as a single grape style.
This grape is grown throughout the world as it is one of those varieties that produce high yields which is great for the winemaker. However, it is also susceptible to the hazards of winemaking such as mildew and rot.
Carignan is also one of those grape varieties that take on different names in different countries which causes confusion for customers. In Spain for example it is known as Carineña whereas in Italy its name is Gragnano!
Carignan is also one of those grapes that need to be hand-harvested. This is because it grows a very thick stalk and the clusters of grapes grow very close to the trunk which causes issues with the mechanical harvesting machines. As it produces highly tannic wines with great degrees of astringency it needs to be in the hands of a great winemaker to showcase the beauty of the grape. This is one of the reasons it is mostly used in blending as it gives a deep colour and adds structure with its high tannins.
