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Alicante Bouschet 🍷
Alicante Bouschet (ally-can-tay boo-shey) was created in 1866 by botanist Henri Bouschet when he crossed Granacha with Petit Bouschet in Southern France.
This grape is unique in that both the skins and the flesh are red, yielding red juice (most red grapes produce clear juice).
Nearly half of all Alicante Bouschet is grown in Spain while France, Chile, Portugal and several other European countries and the U.S. grow small percentages.
Wines made from Alicante Bouschet can have smokey, sweet aromas including sweet tobacco. On the palate, the flavors include black cherry, blackberry, black plum, and black pepper.
The wines are typically full-bodied, are medium-high in tannin, with medium to high acidity, and very low sweetness levels.
Alicante Bouschet can be aged in the bottle for 5 to 7 years.
Decant young Alicante Bouschet wines for 1-2 hours while an older wine (5+ years) should be decanted at least 30 minutes before serving in a large red wine glass at 60-65 °F.