Carignan is a wine variety that used to be the most common vine planted in France, but now most drinkers have never heard of it. But this doesn’t mean that this incredible food wine needs to remain that way! This grape produces plenty of fruit in the vineyard and produces affordable food wines that pair like a dream. This Carignan wine guide will dive into everything you need to know about this French grape variety.
Carignan wine guide
Carignan is a medium-bodied red wine mostly grown in Southern France. But it’s also found in Northern Spain, Sardinia (Italy) and even in the US. Although for a long time, it was considered a low-quality grape, many producers are reinvigorating old vineyards and making incredible fruit-driven reds that are gaining popularity.
Origin of Carignan
You may not have heard of Carignan before, but in the 1970’s it was the most planted wine grape in France with over 500,000 acres in the Languedoc-Roussillon. It was planted as it is highly productive and survives with little water, and at the time producers were receiving government aid based on their production. Unfortunately, this gave Carignan a bit of a bad reputation, especially as Merlot became more popular. Fortunately, several producers have started to produce rich, fruity red wines that are helping to shape a new wave for this grape variety.
The flavour profile of Carignan
Carignan is a fruit-forward, medium-bodied wine, yet has a lovely balance between flavours and no bitter tannin. If you love lighter-styled Zinfandel, Merlot or Cotes du Rhone blends, Carignan should be on your list. Notes of red fruits, spice and even a hint of earthiness tend to be the focus of the flavours. These wines are nicely balanced with rich and smooth notes and much lighter tannins than something like a Cabernet.
Where you’ll find Carignan
Most of the world’s production of Carignan is focused in France, Spain, Italy and the United States. In France, the most well-known expressions come from Southern France and the Languedoc-Roussillon. Here it is produced as a single varietal and blended with grapes like Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.
In Spain, the grape is called Cariñena and Carinyena where again it is used for single varietal or age-worthy blends in the Priorat region. In Rioja, it goes by Mazuelo, and supplements Tempranillo and Garnacha.
In Italy, Carignan produces increasingly important wines in the Carignano del Sulcis DOC (Denominazione d’Origine Controllata) of Sardinia. And in the United States, you’ll find Carignane, particularly in Mendocino.
What to pair with Carignan
Carignan has a lovely balanced flavour profile with the perfect amount of tannins to make it a great wine to pair with food. Because of its medium-bodied style, it goes with big, bold dishes and lighter ones too. From richer poultry dishes to roasted pork and beef brisket, this wine is the perfect paid. It also has a nice spice profile, so pairing this wine with spiced dishes is a lovely complementary pairing.
Summary: Carignan wine guide
Carignan may not be as well known as some of the other grape varieties, but it is a great option if you are after an affordable food wine that will go with almost anything. It’s balanced flavours and medium body make it great with everything from poultry to rich meat dishes, and it also pairs well with spiced dishes too. If you haven’t tried it yet, I hope this Carignan wine guide inspires you to seek Carignan out!
Want to learn more about other wine varieties? Check out the Cheeky Vino wine guides now.