Cinsaut
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cinsaut or Cinsault (pronounced "san-so") is a red wine grape, whose heat tolerance and productivity make it the fourth most widely-planted grape variety in France. Cinsaut is especially planted in Languedoc and Roussillon. It is often blended with grapes of the Mediterranean regions to add softness and bouquet.
Cinsaut is often blended with Grenache and Carignane. Synonyms include Cinq-saou, Black Malvoisie (in California) Boudales, Plant d'Arles, Picardin noir, Morterille noire, Cuviller, and Hermitage (in South Africa and parts of Europe).
It is sometimes confusingly referred to as Oeillade when sold as a table grape. The true Oeillade with very different leaves is no longer cultivated.
The grape, under the name Ottavianello, has also long been cultivated in Puglia, the “heel” of Italy, where after having fallen into almost complete neglect[1] it has begun to attract the attention of winemakers interested in reviving old varieties.[2]
Cinsaut is also planted in Lebanon, and is an important component in the blend of Lebanon's most famous wine, Chateau Musar.
Cinsaut was crossed with the Pinot Noir grape by the South African chemist and viticulturist Abraham Izak Perold in 1925, and the result was the Pinotage grape variety.
[edit] Notes
- ^ During the first half of the 1990s annual production of the sole DOC wine produced with this grape, the red Ostuni Ottavianello, averaged around 73 hectolitres: less than 10,000 bottles. (Figures from the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestale, Banca Dati Vini DOC, DOCG :: Ostuni Ottavianello (Italian))
- ^ www.diwinetaste.com, Accademia dei Racemi
| Wine styles: | Red/White • Rosé/Blush • Sparkling • Dessert • Fortified • Fruit • Ice Wine | |
| Notable varietals: |
White Albariño • Chardonnay • Chenin blanc • Gewürztraminer • Muscat • Pinot blanc • Pinot gris • Riesling • Sauvignon blanc • Sémillon • Viognier |
Red Cabernet Franc • Cabernet Sauvignon • Carmenère • Durif • Gamay • Grenache • Malbec • Merlot • Petit Verdot • Pinotage • Pinot noir • Sangiovese • Syrah/Shiraz • Tempranillo • Zinfandel |
| Notable regionals: |
Amarone • Asti • Barolo • Barossa • Beaujolais • Bordeaux • Burgundy • Chablis • Champagne • Chianti • Commandaria • Dão • Egri Bikavér • Madeira • Marsala • Port • Retsina • Rhône • Rioja • Sancerre • Sauternes • Sherry • Tokaji • Valpolicella • Vermouth • Vinho Verde • Vouvray | |
| See also: | Glossary of wine terms • List of grape varieties • List of wine-producing regions • List of wine producing countries • Winemaking | |
