Vitis vinifera ‘Carignan’

‘No. 33 — Carignan (1/1, or No. 1 of Mr. Busby’s private collection). Black grape, bearing occasionally in great abundance, and sometimes comparatively little, appears to be hardy, and subject to no disease; ripens too late with me to estimate its qualities as a wine grape.

The foregoing three [Carignan, Grenache and Mataro], with sometimes the addition of No. 36 [Mourastell], are described by Mr. Busby, in his journal, and by French authors, as the sorts used in making the wine of Roussillon; the whole being usually planted together. Some of the wine made from them, on decomposing schistus, is said to have been kept more than 150 years, and to have continued to improve to the last.’ [Maro p.29/1844].