Alicante Bouschet

Alicante Bouschet is a teinturier grape? 

A teinturier - or dye grape - refers to grapes that have red skin, red juice, and red pulp. This combination is quite rare, as almost every grape variety has white pulp, regardless of whether it is white or red. Teinturier grapes are popular components in blends, contributing a rich red color to the wine. For a long time, Alicante Bouschet was considered an important blending partner in France, covering thousands of hectares of vineyard area. Nowadays, Alicante “Henri” Bouschet has lost significance in its home country. However, one does not have to forgo the qualities of this peculiar grape variety. New parcels of Alicante Bouschet are continually being cultivated in hot regions of Spain, Portugal, Italy, California, and North Africa. 

The Bouschet Family Recipe

The winemaker Henri Bouschet was always interested in new varieties and crossed countless grape varieties at the Domaine de la Calette in Hérault. His interest may have stemmed from his father, who became known as a breeder of the grape variety Petit Bouschet. Petit Bouschet was a cross between 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 named the new variety Alicante Bouschet - Alicante as a synonym for Grenache and Bouschet in honor of his family.