Originally from Spain, Carignan is a black grape variety that is very rarely found today, as it is cultivated less and less. The bunches and berries of this variety are large. They are rounded and slightly elliptical in shape. The skin is thick, which adds a tannic touch to the wine.

In France, it is found in the Corsican Massif, Languedoc-Roussillon and Côtes-du-Rhône. Although the variety is highly productive in these regions, the area under cultivation is fairly small. Only a few winegrowers cultivate it. It is grown on almost 73,000 hectares of land in France. It is also grown in Italy, California, Portugal, Tunisia, Morocco and Argentina.

Carignan produces fairly powerful wines with alcohol levels of over 12°. They are distinguished by the spicy notes on the palate. There are also fruit flavours such as prune, black cherry and blackberry. To correct the imbalance, some producers resort to carbonic maceration: this produces a softer, fruitier wine. As a result, the tannins are less herbaceous and less hard. For the production of wines with red fruit aromas, Carigan is often combined with Grenache. It is rare to find a bottle of wine that is 100% Carignan.