Chateau Maris Carignan "Continuite De Nature" Cru La Liviniere 2010

Winery: Chateau Maris

Varietal: Carignan

Although nowadays most commonly associated with the wines of southern France – particularly Languedoc – and Sicily, the Carignan grape varietal was once an important indigenous Spanish grape, and was used in the production of early Rioja wines. Today, the grape is found in many different countries, and is most commonly used in blended wines, where its strong tannins and astringent nature can boost other, weaker bodied varietals to produce superbly balanced blends. Carignan grows in hot and dry conditions, and is particularly susceptible to rot and mildew, making it quite a challenging grape to cultivate. However, given careful treatment, the Carignan grape is capable of producing sumptuous single variety wines, packed full of interesting earthy flavors quite unlike other red wine grapes.

Region: Languedoc Roussillon

Languedoc Roussillon is a fascinating region of France for wine, culture and history. Having over 700,000 acres under vine, Languedoc Roussillon is the single biggest wine region on earth, providing the world with millions of bottles of wine each year. Indeed, the annual output of Languedoc Roussillon alone is larger than that of the United States, and despite the vast quantity of wine it producer, wineries in Languedoc Roussillon have never lost sight of the fact they are dedicated to quality first and foremost. The climate of the region is one of the most ideal on earth for viticulture, with months of blazing sunshine tempered by cooling breezes and plenty of moisture, resulting in wonderfully ripened grapes packed full of fascinating flavors and characteristics.

Country: France

French winemakers are subjected to several laws and regulations regarding the wines they produce, and how they can be labeled and sold. Such procedures are designed to increase the overall quality of the country's produce, and also to ensure that wines made in each particular region or appellation are of a character and type which is representative of the area. Thankfully for consumers of wine world-wide, the French have a particularly high reputation to uphold, and seem to do so flawlessly. Every year, wineries from all over France produce millions upon millions of bottles of fine wine, making the most of their native grape varieties and the excellent terrain which covers most of the country. From the expensive and exquisite red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, to the white wines and cremants of central France, the French are dedicated to providing the world with wines of the highest quality and most distinctive character.