Carignan

Carignan is the variety most responsible for the fabled 'European Wine Lake'. It's home is the South of France, particularly the Midi, but it seems likely the variety may have originated in the Spanish province of Aragon.

Corbiere Vineyards Near Durban, Languedoc where Carignan is the dominant variety

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Carignan was once much more popular in Australia. It seems to have a had a role in some of the wine we once called claret, often blended with such varieties as Shiraz, Grenache, Cinsaut and Mourvedre. Little of it seems to have survived the vine pulls of the 1980s when there was a glut of ordinary red wine in Australia. I am not aware of anyone producing a varietal wine from it in Australia.

Carignan is a high yielding variety; it can produce up to 10 tons per acre, but this seems to be one of its only virtues.

Jancis Robinson
on Carignan Wines

Its wine is high in everything - acidity, tannins, colour and bitterness - but finesse and charm.
- Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd edition, 2006

In 2004 Jancis attended a tasting of Carignan. Some of her comments were

Seriously old Carignane vines can produce concentrated, characterful wine if yields are not too high and the terroir is interesting.
My main criticism of Carignane at its least successful is its combination of high acidity and green, unripe flavors
...perhaps this is to miss the point of Carignane. Perhaps it is meant to be a cussed brute, like the rocks that litter the Languedoc landscape? If so, let others wallow in it.

- Article in San Francisco Chronicle 14 October 2004, reproduced on Carignan Renaissance website

It became very popular after the independence of Algeria meant that France needed a source of grapes to make vin ordinaire. That need has long since passed as the market demands quality rather than quantity in its wine these days.

Carignan wines are now in retreat but some winemakers headed by John Bojanowski of Clos du Gravillas wines in St. Jean de Minervois, Langeudoc have started the Carignan Renaissance They hope to reverse the trend of ripping out Carignan and replacing it with the ubiquitous Merlot. More strength to their arm I say!

In the US they call the variety Carignane probably the extra 'e' gives its name a little French sophistication. In Italy it is Carignano, and in Spain Carinena. Other synonyms include Bois Dur, Catalan, Tinto Mazuella, Monestel and Rousillonen. There is a white mutation Carignan Blanc that is used in the Roussillon region.

Australian Wineries using this variety include

Happs Margaret River
Kabminye Barossa
Spinifex Barossa

I'm sure that it is used more widely as a minor player in blends, particularly in its former stronghold of South Australia. If you know of anyone using the variety, or have an opinion about Carignan, please share your information via the Readers advice page of this site.