Heads up: this guide contains an affiliate link. If you buy through it we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Carignan spent most of the twentieth century as the grape nobody loved. It was the most-planted variety in France, churning out oceans of thin, tough red from overcropped vines in the Languedoc, and the European Union actually paid growers to rip it out. Millions of vines went. Then somebody tasted what the old, low-yielding, hillside vines could do, and Carignan became cool.
This is the rustic revivalist of the wine world: a grape that is dreadful when pushed and glorious when left alone. Old-vine Carignan from Priorat, the Languedoc, Chile and Sardinia now makes some of the most exciting reds around, dark and savoury with a wild-herb edge that tastes like the hills it grew on.
Table of Contents
What Does Carignan Taste Like?
Blackberry, raspberry, dried cranberry and plum, with garrigue herbs, black pepper, liquorice and an earthy, iron-like savouriness. Young or overcropped versions can be hard and rustic; old-vine Carignan is deep, silky and spicy. It is medium to full in body, with firm tannin and high acidity that keeps it fresh even in the heat.
| Aspect | Rating out of 5 | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | 🍷 | Dry, with a wild-herb edge |
| Body | 🍷🍷🍷🍷 | Medium to full, sturdier than it looks |
| Tannins | 🍷🍷🍷🍷 | Firm and rustic, softened by old vines |
| Acidity | 🍷🍷🍷🍷 | Bright, a lifeline in hot vineyards |
| Alcohol by Volume | 🍷🍷🍷🍷 | Typically 13.5–14.5% |
Each wine glass icon is one point on a 5-point scale: one glass is low, five is high, based on the grape’s typical style.
Where It Grows
The Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France still has the most, with the best coming from old bush vines in Corbières, Minervois and Faugères. Spain, where it is called Cariñena or Mazuelo, uses it in Priorat’s famous blends and Rioja’s. Sardinia calls it Carignano and makes lovely versions in the south-west. Chile’s dry-farmed old vines in Maule are a modern cult.
Australia has a small Carignan story, mostly in the Barossa, McLaren Vale and the Riverland, where it was once used for fortified and bulk wine and a few old blocks survived. Modern growers are now bottling it on its own or in Mediterranean blends, and it suits our warm, dry conditions well. Bottles are rare but worth hunting.
How to Serve It
Temperature: 15–17°C.
Glass: a medium to large red bowl; the glasses roundup has options.
Decanting: an hour in a decanter or a pass through an aerator softens young tannins nicely.
Ageing: everyday Carignan is best within five years. Serious old-vine bottles from Priorat or the Languedoc age for a decade or more.
What to Eat With It
Rustic Mediterranean food: lamb with rosemary, cassoulet, grilled sausages, ratatouille, salami and hard sheep’s cheeses. It also handles Mexican food and barbecue well thanks to its acid and spice. More in the pairing guides.
Celebrated Wine Labels
| Wine Label | Country | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Domaine de Fontsainte | France | Corbières old vines, classic Languedoc |
| Celler de Capçanes | Spain | Montsant, next door to Priorat, great value |
| Ridge Vineyards | USA | California heritage Carignane from century-old vines |
| De Martino | Chile | Maule dry-farmed old vines, a modern classic |
| Château Ollieux Romanis | France | Corbières, rich and characterful |
Drink One Tonight
No straight Carignan was in stock at our partner shop when we checked, but this organic Côtes du Rhône is the traditional way to drink it: Carignan blended with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from 40-year-old vines.
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Côtes du Rhône Parallèle 45 2023
Carignan the way the south of France drinks it, in a sunny blend from a great Rhône name. When a straight old-vine Carignan lands in stock, it joins this one.
- A genuine southern French blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Marselan and Carignan
- Organic fruit from vines averaging 40 years old
- From one of the Rhône's most famous houses
- Made for lamb, sausages and herby Mediterranean cooking
- Carignan is a supporting player in the blend
- Mid-thirties price for a Côtes du Rhône
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some interesting facts about Carignan?
It was once the most-planted grape in all of France, and the European Union paid growers to pull it out in the 1980s and 1990s. Some of the oldest surviving vines in the Mediterranean are Carignan, over a hundred years old. And the grape ripens so late that it needs the hottest sites, which is exactly why the good stuff comes from sun-baked hillsides.
Where does the name Carignan originate from?
From the town of Cariñena in Aragón, north-east Spain, which is thought to be where the grape came from before it crossed into France. Confusingly, the Cariñena wine region today grows mostly Grenache.
To which wines is Carignan similar?
Grenache and Syrah are its usual blending partners and share its warm-climate spice. Zinfandel and Mourvèdre share its rustic weight. Read our Grenache guide for the nearest cousin.
Is Carignan known by any other names?
Cariñena or Mazuelo in Spain, Carignano in Italy, Carignane in California, and Samsó in Catalonia. Same grape, many accents.
Is Carignan good on its own or only in blends?
Both. It was blended for decades to hide its rough edges, but old-vine, low-yield Carignan on its own is now some of the most sought-after red in the Mediterranean. If a label says “vieilles vignes” or “old vines”, that is the one to buy.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It keeps the wine flowing and the reviews honest.
User Review
( votes)
Sip smarter, subscribe now!
One short, useful email a week: pairings that actually work, honest reviews, and your free Food Pairing e-book the moment you join. No spam, no snobbery, and your inbox stays classy.
