Red grapeSommo grape guide

Carignan (Carinena)

Carignan (Carinena) 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
Full
Origin
Spain
Top region
Languedoc-Roussillon
4
Key regions
3
Pairings
8
Synonyms

Carignan (Carinena) is a red grape variety, with its roots in Aragon, Spain.

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

The tasting note runs to dark fruits, pepper, licorice, spicy and savory.

It is planted most seriously in Languedoc-Roussillon, Priorat, Maule Valley and California.

In the vineyard it is marked by late ripening, medium vigour and a preference for warm, dry climates.

It blends readily with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre.

On other labels it goes by Cariñena, Mazuelo, Samsó and Carignane.

At the table it suits peppery catalan sausage, spicy lamb meatballs and eggplant lasagne.

The structure.

Body
Full
Tannin
High
Acidity
High
Sweetness
Dry
Alcohol
Medium
Flavours
dark fruitspepperlicorice
Aromas
spicysavory
Styles
dry redfull-bodied red

Where it grows.

Blends well with.

Food pairings.

01 Peppery Catalan sausage
02 Spicy lamb meatballs
03 Eggplant lasagne

Also labelled.

Cariñena, Mazuelo, Samsó, Carignane, Carignan Noir, Carignano, Gragnano, Pinot Evara.

Bottles to look for.

  • Agricola Punica 'Barrua' Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Sardinia, Italy
  • Azienda Agricola Serragghia 'Riserva Giotto' Carignano Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily, Italy
  • Bodegas Marco Abella Mas Mallola, Priorat DOCa, Spain
  • Cantina Mesa Rosa Grande Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Sardinia, Italy
  • Cantina Santadi Grotta Rossa Carignano del Sulcis, Sardinia, Italy
  • Cantina Santadi Rocca Rubia Carignano del Sulcis Riserva, Sardinia, Italy
  • Cantina Santadi Shardana Valli di Porto Pino IGT, Sardinia, Italy
  • Cantine Argiolas 'Is Solinas' Carignano del Sulcis, Sardinia, Italy

Carignan (Carinena): common questions

01.
What does Carignan (Carinena) taste like?
+
Carignan (Carinena) tastes of dark fruits, pepper, licorice, spicy and savory. The wines show full body, high tannin, high acidity, dry and medium alcohol.
02.
Where is Carignan (Carinena) from?
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Carignan (Carinena) originates in Aragon, Spain.
03.
Where is Carignan (Carinena) grown?
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The key regions for Carignan (Carinena) are Languedoc-Roussillon, Priorat, Maule Valley and California.
04.
What food pairs with Carignan (Carinena)?
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Pour it with peppery catalan sausage, spicy lamb meatballs and eggplant lasagne.
05.
What else is Carignan (Carinena) called?
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Carignan (Carinena) is also labelled Cariñena, Mazuelo, Samsó, Carignane and Carignan Noir, plus three more.

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

Grapes in the app

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