Carignan: taste, styles and the dishes that match

13 styles and 365 dish scores from our sommelier database

Carignan is a red grape with a character of its own — and that character decides which dishes it shines with. Our sommelier database holds dozens of Carignan styles, each with its own Wine DNA profile, scored against hundreds of dishes. From Rump steak with mushrooms to more surprising pairings: this is the complete guide.

Taste profile (Wine DNA)

Acidity58
Body70
Tannin55
Fruit65
Oak48
Minerality26

Averaged across the styles in our database, Carignan shows fresh acidity, is full-bodied and clearly fruity, with soft tannins.

Well-known Carignan styles

Price-wise Carignan covers the full range: of the 13 styles in our database, 46% sit in the entry segment, 54% mid-range and 0% at the top end. You will find both a weekday bottle and a cellar-worthy wine in this grape.

The best-scoring dishes with Carignan

The dishes below come from our expert scoring: every combination was scored by sommeliers using the Wine DNA of both dish and wine. These are the strongest matches for Carignan styles, from classic to surprising.

  1. Rump steak with mushrooms — best style: Rioja Crianza
  2. Beef carpaccio — best style: Rioja Crianza
  3. Steak tartare — best style: Rioja Crianza
  4. Beef carpaccio — best style: Rioja Crianza
  5. Fried beef fillet with blue cheese salad — best style: Rioja Crianza
  6. Grilled bergylt antiboise — best style: Rosé
  7. Beef carpaccio — best style: Rioja Crianza
  8. Beef carpaccio — best style: Rioja Crianza
  9. Beef Carpaccio with Pesto — best style: Rioja Crianza
  10. Beef carpaccio — best style: Rioja Crianza
  11. Beef Carpaccio with Pesto — best style: Rioja Crianza
  12. Beef carpaccio — best style: Rioja Crianza

Want to know if a specific bottle of Carignan matches your dish? Scan the label in the SommelierX app and see the match instantly.

Open the app →

Frequently asked questions

What does Carignan taste like?
Averaged across the styles in our database, Carignan shows fresh acidity, is full-bodied and clearly fruity, with soft tannins. It varies by style: see the overview above.
What food goes with Carignan?
The highest scores in our sommelier work: Rump steak with mushrooms, Beef carpaccio, Steak tartare. The full list is above.
Is Carignan a red wine?
In our database Carignan is mostly made as a red wine (13 linked styles); regional exceptions exist.

More grape guides