My recent visit to Mediterranean France and Spain gave me a chance to explore the possibilities of Carignan. It's a contradictory variety: younger vines producer high yields while older vines produce low yields for completely different levels of quality. It can be a minor or significant part of a blend, or a single-varietal wine. But one consistency: warm Mediterranan climates, which is what this episode is all about.

Carignan in the Mediterranean

An Englishman in California soaking up the sun, I am a WSET Diploma graduate and Certified WSET Educator. I blog about wine, teach it at all levels, and drink plenty of it. Follow me on twitter @mattswineworld or check out my website: matthewsworldofwineanddrink.com

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Interview with Rui Lucas of Prior Lucas in Bairrada, Portugal. It's a region heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, and therefore cooler and wetter than other areas further inland. Baga is the main variety, well-suited to the humid climate, producing tannic, high-acid, ageworthy wines. There's also sparkling wine made, which we talk about in this episode. Bairrada is an interesting, very individual region!

https://priorlucas.pt/

Bairrada: Interview with Rui Lucas of Prior Lucas

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Culture Wine Co & Peter Andrews: South Africa

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Michigan

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Gamay

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Carignan in the Mediterranean

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