Carignan

Carignan [Cah-reen-yawN] is a red wine grape. Today, Carignan is the most widely planted red grape in France particularly in Southern France, but is slowly being replaced by other more distinctive varietals. The vines of this grape bud and ripen quite late in season, producing wines that are high in colour, acidity and tannins, but without many particularly distinctive flavours. It is an exceptionally productive and vigorous vine, producing approximately four times as much as a respectable Cabernet Sauvignon however it is sensitive and easily contracts downy and powdery mildew, and rot. These factors contribute to the need for an abundance of skill to produce a sophisticated wine. When grown successfully it is generally used as a blending partner with Syrah and Grenache or on its own as a simple table wine. As a single varietal wine it is generally unoaked, fruity and sometimes peppery like Syrah.