Alicante Bouschet

Alicante Bouschet is a complexion grape? 

Teinturier - or dyer grape - is the name given to grapes that have red skin, red juice and red pulp. This combination is quite rare, as almost every grape variety has white flesh, whether white or red variety. Teinturie grapes are welcome cuvée partners, giving the wine a dense red color. Alicante Bouschet was long considered an important blending partner in France, lining thousands of acres of vineyards. Nowadays, Alicante "Henri" Bouschet has lost importance in its homeland. However, one does not have to renounce the qualities of this peculiar grape variety. New plots of Alicante Bouschet are constantly being cultivated in hot areas in Spain, Portugal, Italy, California and North Africa. 

The Bouschet family recipe

The winemaker Henri Bouschet was always interested in new varieties and crossed vast amounts of grape varieties at the Domaine de la Calette in Hérault. Possibly the interest was based with his father, who became known as a breeder of the grape variety Petit Bouschet. Petit Bouschet was composed of Aramon and Teinturier du Cher. The concept of a color bearer as a blending partner runs through the family.

In 1855, Henri crossed his father's grape variety with Grenache and gave the new breed the name Alicante Bouschet - Alicante as a synonym for Grenache and Bouschet to honor his family.