Carignano | Carignan

Though Carignan is of Spanish origin, it is more commonly found today in France, and is widely planted through the western Mediterranean and spread throughout the globe. Its wide geography explains its many synonyms (Mazuelo, Cariñena, Samsó, Carignano amongst them). In the 1980s, it was France’s most planted grape variety, responsible for the Wine Lake of jug wine from the Languedoc. The grape’s naturally high tannins, acidity, and astringency can make is a challenge solo if not handled smartly, but aids it to be an excellent blending partner, along with Cinsault and Grenache in France, or along with Tempranillo and Graciano in Rioja