Beverage
Carignan
Carignan (Cariñena, Mazuelo, Samsó) is a high-yielding Mediterranean red that old vines transform from coarse bulk into vibrant wines of black fruit, liquorice, acid, and rustic tannin—key in Priorat, Corbières, and Sardinian blends. Young-vine industrial Carignan can taste hollow; bush-vine bottles show real energy. Excellent for long tomato braises, cassoulet-adjacent stews, and grilled meats with herbs. Its acid keeps sauces lively; tannin softens with time and fat. Prefer old-vine labelled bottles when cooking reductions that need fruit density.
Also known as: Cariñena / Mazuelo / Samsó, Carignan, Carignano, Carignan
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Cariñena/Mazuelo spread through Aragon and Catalonia as a hardy red.
Languedoc-Roussillon plantings made Carignan a volume backbone of southern French red.
Old-vine Priorat and quality projects rehabilitated Carignan’s fine-wine reputation.