Red grapeSommo grape guide

Alicante Bouschet

Alicante Bouschet wine guide: what this red grape tastes like, where it comes from, the regions that grow it, and what to eat with it.

Colour
Red
Body
Medium-full
Origin
Spain
Top region
Alentejo
2
Key regions
3
Pairings
3
Synonyms

Alicante Bouschet is a red grape variety, with its roots in Almansa, Spain.

The wines show medium-full body, medium tannin, medium acidity, dry and medium alcohol.

The tasting note runs to red fruits, blackberry, plum, spice, earth and floral.

It is planted most seriously in Alentejo and Almansa.

In the vineyard it is marked by early ripening, high vigour and a preference for warm to hot.

It blends readily with Grenache, Syrah and Merlot.

On other labels it goes by Alicante, Alicante Henri Bouschet and Garnacha Tintorera.

At the table it suits doner kebab, red peppers stuffed with beef and roasted suckling pig with tamarillo sauce.

The structure.

Body
Medium-full
Tannin
Medium
Acidity
Medium
Sweetness
Dry
Alcohol
Medium
Flavours
red fruitsblackberryplum
Aromas
spiceearthfloral
Styles
dry redrosé

Where it grows.

Blends well with.

Food pairings.

01 Doner kebab
02 Red peppers stuffed with beef
03 Roasted suckling pig with tamarillo sauce

Also labelled.

Alicante, Alicante Henri Bouschet, Garnacha Tintorera.

Bottles to look for.

  • 200 Gallons Double Cask Reserva Alicante Bouschet, Vinho Regional Peninsula de Setubal, Portugal
  • Aluado Alicante Bouschet, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Aluado Reserva Alicante Bouschet, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Bacalhoa Alicante Bouschet Vinho Regional Peninsula Setubal, Portugal
  • Bodegas Atalaya 'El Vigia De La Atalaya', Almansa, Spain
  • Bodegas Piqueras 'Los Losares' Garnacha Tintorera, Almansa, Spain
  • Bodegas Pittacum 'La Prohibicion', Bierzo, Spain
  • Bodegas Vicente Gandia El Miracle by Mariscal Garnacha Tintorera, Valencia, Spain

Alicante Bouschet: common questions

01.
What does Alicante Bouschet taste like?
+
Alicante Bouschet tastes of red fruits, blackberry, plum, spice, earth and floral. The wines show medium-full body, medium tannin, medium acidity, dry and medium alcohol.
02.
Where is Alicante Bouschet from?
+
Alicante Bouschet originates in Almansa, Spain.
03.
Where is Alicante Bouschet grown?
+
The key regions for Alicante Bouschet are Alentejo and Almansa.
04.
What food pairs with Alicante Bouschet?
+
Pour it with doner kebab, red peppers stuffed with beef and roasted suckling pig with tamarillo sauce.
05.
What else is Alicante Bouschet called?
+
Alicante Bouschet is also labelled Alicante, Alicante Henri Bouschet and Garnacha Tintorera.

Keep going: the A to Z grape index, or the wine regions of Spain.

Grapes in the app

Scan a Alicante Bouschet,
see what is in your glass.

Sommo reads the label, names the grape and the region, and files the tasting note where you will find it again.