Carignan is a red grape varietal that originates from Spain, but is better known in the south of France. For a long time, it had a bit of a bad reputation as a thin, workhorse wine. This was mostly due to over planting and its usage as a blending grape. Recently, wineries across the world have begun to unlock its true potential again.
Carignan is made for the table, and is a fantastic wine to pair with food. It’s medium-bodied, rich with fruit, and shows a balanced level of tannins. You’ll discover flavours of red fruits, cranberry sauce, baking spice and a touch of savory meatiness. This makes it a brilliant pairing for rich vegetables (like butternut squash) and darker poultry, all the way up to very dense meats like beef or lamb.
Meat That Pairs Well With Carignan
With a hint of meatiness in its flavour profile, Carignan is a natural pairing for a variety of meats. You can start off with roast chicken and work your way up. Carignan has enough body to pair with rich poultry such as turkey, quail and pheasant, as well as red meats such as beef or lamb. Its fresh acidity can cut through fattier cuts of meat, and Carignan’s deep well of red fruit flavours make it ideal for matching cranberry sauce, or even meatballs in a tomato sauce.
With its hints of smokiness and baking spice, it is also a fantastic accompaniment for cured meats and comforting meals in fall and winter. All in all, Carignan is just a great wine to have on the table.
Cheese That Pairs Well With Carignan
Carignan has what could be described as a bold, rustic style, so it’s fun to pair with equally rustic, farmyard-style cheeses. If you can find it, the Spanish cheese Tronchón is perfect – it has a mild, salty and slightly tangy taste. Carignan is good with a range of cheeses, from these softer, creamy examples to hard and sharp examples. Some other specific names to look out for are Manchego, Gouda, Parmesan and Pecorino.
Appetizers That Pair Well With Carignan
On a charcuterie board, Carignan will pair beautifully with pretty much anything. Try to enhance the wine’s naturally spicy profile by sourcing some herby and spicy appetizers, such as flavoured cheeses, marinated olives, and dry spicy meats like chorizo.
Vegetarian Dishes That Pair Well With Carignan
Carignan deserves to be paired with some equally rich vegetable dishes – think about grilled sweet potatoes, rather than a cucumber salad. Carignan does have an earthy side, so it can be excellent when paired with mushroom risotto, or risotto with butternut squash. With its depth of baking spice flavourings, Carignan is also good during winter and fall. Try pairing it with pumpkin, spiced with cinnamon and ginger. Stuffed peppers are also a good option.
Carignan brings enough acid and red fruits to qualify for tomato-based dishes too. Consider pairing it with vegetarian pizza and pasta dishes.
Herbs That Pair Well With Carignan
Pair Carignan with baking spices that are already present in the wine’s profile, such as cinnamon, star anise and liquorice. It can also bring subtle hints of dried herbs, the classic “Herbes de Provence” such as rosemary, thyme and dill, so if you aren’t already, try to include those in your dish.
Food That Does Not Pair Well With Carignan
As a relatively bold red wine, you should probably avoid pairing Carignan with delicate, flakey fish or oily fish like herring mackerel or trout. While it’s usually medium-bodied, the wine has enough strong flavours to overwhelm delicate dishes. It also has medium levels of tannin, which can cause an unpleasant bitter sensation when mixed with fishy oils.
Best Foods To Eat With Carignan
Carignan is a classic pairing for dark meats. It’s also an excellent choice for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah meals, with its wintry spices and dried herb undertones. Here are 5 of your best options:
- Roast Turkey
- Beef
- Lamb
- Roast pumpkin
- Charcuterie boards
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