Carignan is the type of varietal that takes a while to become ripe. Long season is a must for this type. This means, that it is not susceptible to spring frost and it can produce high yields. On the other hand, it can be sensitive to powdery and downy mildew. Therefore, if you want to know how to make grape wine, particularly of this kind, you must choose your Carignan grapes very carefully to make sure that you don’t pick those that have already been attacked by mildew.
Though Carignan is popular in France and is also quite tough, it does not enjoy the popularity that its counterparts hold, like that of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Well, because honestly speaking, it is the kind of varietal that produces very high acidity and tannic levels as well as color and it does not display as much character, flavor or personality as its counterparts. On the bright side, because of these qualities, it is very much more affordable than the Cabernet or the Merlot. This is why it has become the best choice for everyday consumption. So for those who are learning how to make grape wine on a budget, better use Carignan grapes.
Are you now excited to find out how to make grape wine like Carignan? Well, you just have to follow the very basic directions used on how to make grape wine. It is more or less the same with the procedures we have for making Merlot wine. But there are additional instructions here that you must take note of as you begin to make your first homemade Carignan wine.
I’ve already told you that Carignan grapes take a while to ripen. Therefore, when learning how to make grape wine, choosing those you will use for winemaking is a very critical part of the whole Carignan winemaking process. The riper the grapes are, the more flavorful, richer and more complex your wine will be. Therefore, do take all the time you need in sorting out the grapes prior to starting wine making at home.
There is evidence brought about by the long lived tradition of wine making that when you use uncrushed Carignan grapes, they respond better to fermentation. If you were able to take out the little twigs and stems, the wine you’ll produce will have a smoky, meaty, earthy aroma otherwise, it will be sweet and berry-like.
There are also other ways to produce different tasting Carignan wines. You can have earthy, fruity and soft wine if the process of the fermentation has been cool and short. If you want the opposite aroma or flavor, what you can do is put the fermenter under the heat of the sun or better yet, use heating pads to increase the temperature or punch down the cap as many times as it is practical like twice in a day. You can also do long macerations. However, it is crucial to protect your wine from spoilage since carbon dioxide production will begin to fall off. With regards to the length of time consumed for the whole vinification process, it will also depend on the size of the vessel of the wine you are fermenting. Like for instance, you can still create a tasty wine using small quantity of fruits if the time you will use will also be shortened — disregard introducing the oak flavor, be mindful of oxidation and bottle as early as possible.
Are you now ready to know more about how to make grape wine? Please note that you also don’t need new wood as you age your homemade Carignan wine especially if it’s just less than 10 gallons that you are making. Just use a glass of stainless steel instead. To add some oak character in your wine, just add a few pieces of oak chips by dropping them at the bottom of the mixture. So what are you waiting for? C’mon and practice what you now know about how to make grape wine.
Simon Thomas is a homemade winemaker, enthusiast and author. He lives in California and spends his time teaching others how to setup an amazing boutique winery. His latest book, “Homemade Wine Profit Secrets – Big Profits from Your Wine Hobby” and four other amazing wine books (Great Wines Made Simple, Liqueurs and Party Specials, Healthy Fruit and Herbal Wines, Ladies’ Wines) are available at
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