W3 Wine School

Carignan (France)

Carignan is most often used as a blending grape.

In Languedoc-Roussillon it is produed as a Vin de Pays ("Country wine").

Carignan Flavors

Cherry, Red Berries, and Black Currant are typical Carignan flavors, with hints of Flowers, Herbs and Spices.

Red Cherry
Cherry
Cranberry
Cranberry
Raspberry
Raspberry
Black Currant
Black
Currant
Flowers
Flowers
Herbs
Herbs
Spices
Spices
Licoricer
Licorice

Tertiary Flavors from Aging

Oak
Oak
Vanilla
Vanilla
Nuts
Hazelnuts
Cured Meat
Cured Meat

Carignan Profile

Carignan is naturally high in acidity and tannins:

BODY:Medium
TANNINS:Medium - High
FRUIT:Medium
ACIDITY:Medium - High
ALCOHOL:12.5-14% ABV
Temperature Serving temperature:
15-16°C (59-61°F)

Carignan Food Pairing

Carignan is a food friendly table wine.

Salami
Salami
Ham
Ham
Chicken
Chicken
Turkey
Turkey
Pork
Pork
Lamb
Lamb
Veal
Veal
Red Meat
Beef

Excellent Pairings

Smoked Meat.
BBQ. Chicken. Turkey. Pork. Lamb.
Beef. Veal. Roast. Grilled.

The Ideal Glass for Carignan

The Bordeaux Glass was designed for enjoying fuller-bodied, tannic red wines. They are taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.

The tall size allows the bouquet of the wine to develop, smooth out rough edges, play down tannins, and allow the wine to achieve balance.

The slimmer bowl directs the wine to the back of your mouth for a maximum taste.

If You Like Carignan

You Might Also Like:

Cabernet Franc (France)
Chianti Classico (Italy)
Douro Tinto (Portugal)
GSM Wines (France)
Mencia (Spain)
Merlot (France)
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (Italy)
Ribera del Duero (Spain)
Sangiovese (Italy)
Tempranillo (Spain)
Tinta de Toro (Spain)

About Carignan

The grape is called:

It is found as a blendig wine all around the world:

The grape prefers warm and dry climates.

About 30% of French Carignan is located in Languedoc-Roussillon, where it normally is produced as "Vin de Pays" or "Vin de France".

Carignan is also planted in Argentina, Australia, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Israel, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia and Turkey.


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