Confirm your age
You must be at least 18 years old to browse this site.
The Cinsault grape variety is one of those discreet viticultural treasures that have shaped the identity of wines from France and many other Mediterranean countries. Often relegated to the background behind its more powerful companions like Syrah or Grenache, it is now returning to the forefront thanks to its freshness, its finesse, and its unique role in blends. Through each bottle, it tells a story of sunshine, terroirs, and ancient traditions. It can be found in rosé wines of great elegance, as well as in light reds, and sometimes even in white wine cuvées resulting from creative vinification.
More supple than other grape varieties, Cinsault is known for offering wines with a light color and fruity and floral aromas, perfect for convivial tasting. Ideal for an aperitif, it is equally pleasant when paired with grilled meats, cheeses, or Mediterranean dishes. It is this accessible and charming profile that explains its return to favor in cellars, on tables, and on every specialized wine sales website.
An ancient history rooted in the Mediterranean basin
As early as the Middle Ages, the Cinsault grape variety was mentioned in the south of France, particularly in Provence and Languedoc. Adapted to dry and sunny climates, it quickly found its place in the vineyards of the Côtes de Provence, where it contributed to shaping the reputation of pale and refined rosé wines. From the 19th century onwards, it experienced remarkable expansion: appreciated for its resistance and productivity, it became one of the most planted grape varieties in Languedoc. Every day, it gained ground on the hills and plains, as winemakers discovered its potential.
Exported to North Africa, then to Lebanon and South Africa, Cinsault accompanied the colonial and commercial history of wine. From there, it established itself on different continents, adapted to varied soils, and proved its resilience. Today, it is experiencing a revival: many estates are choosing to highlight this grape variety that long remained in the shadows, revealing another facet of great French wines.
Growing regions and global distribution
In France: a Mediterranean grape variety par excellence
The Cinsault grape variety is inseparable from the south of France. In the Côtes de Provence, it is an essential component of great rosé wines, known for their freshness and elegantly pale color. These wines are among the most popular for a summer aperitif, served well chilled in beautiful bottles that reflect the light. In Languedoc, Cinsault is used for both supple reds and delicate rosés. In the southern Rhône Valley, it is used in the composition of famous appellations such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where it softens the power of more tannic grape varieties.
In South Africa: a historic establishment
Introduced in the 19th century, Cinsault established itself in South African vineyards to the point of being the origin of Pinotage, a unique cross with Pinot Noir. In this country, it was long used to produce everyday wines, but also quality cuvées. Today, it is attracting a new generation of winemakers who choose to limit yields to offer more concentrated wines, ideal for tasting.
In Lebanon and the Middle East
In the Bekaa Valley, the Cinsault grape variety is at the heart of blends. Often associated with Grenache and Syrah, it produces full-bodied and balanced wines, with fruity and floral aromas. This profile makes it an ideal companion for traditional Lebanese dishes, to be enjoyed during a meal or as an aperitif.
In South America
In Chile, particularly in the Itata region, old Cinsault vines, sometimes centuries old, are used to produce crisp and fresh natural wines. Here, winemakers are reviving a preserved grape heritage, respecting the soil and valuing the simplicity of winemaking. Each bottle embodies a rare authenticity.
Synonyms and regional appellations
Like many old grape varieties, Cinsault is known by several names: Œillade noire in France, Ottavianello in Italy, Hermitage in South Africa. These local appellations reflect its adaptation to different soils and climates.
Physical description of the grape variety
Cinsault is a vigorous vine, recognizable by its large rounded and lobed leaves. Its bunches are often conical and loose, which limits the risk of disease. The bluish-black berries are particularly juicy. Their sweet and aromatic pulp allows for the production of light wines, with a light color and immediately pleasant aromas on the palate. This versatile character explains why the vinification of Cinsault can vary from a simple rosé to more concentrated reds.
Viticultural and winemaking characteristics
The Cinsault grape variety loves warmth and resists drought well. Its deep roots allow it to extract the richness of poor Mediterranean soils. But its productivity can become excessive: left unchecked, it produces very large quantities of grapes, to the detriment of quality. This is why good winemakers choose to voluntarily restrict yields, in order to obtain balanced and expressive bottles.
In terms of vinification, Cinsault shines in rosé wines, especially those from the Côtes de Provence. But it is also used in reds and, more rarely, in experimental white wines. In all cases, it produces accessible wines, with a pleasant and fruity profile that appeals to enthusiasts.
An enticing aromatic palette
On the nose, the Cinsault grape variety reveals notes of strawberry, raspberry, and redcurrant, enhanced by floral touches of violet or peony. On the palate, it stands out for its suppleness and lightness, making each tasting smooth and pleasant. Its light and brilliant color makes it immediately recognizable, particularly in Côtes de Provence rosé wines, often chosen for aperitifs.
Wine styles produced
The Cinsault grape variety can offer several styles:
In red wines, light and supple wines, ready to drink as soon as they are bottled, pleasant from the first days after purchase.
In rosé wines, its area of excellence, it expresses freshness and elegance, perfect for serving as an aperitif.
In blends, it softens more powerful grape varieties, bringing fruit and balance.
In experimental white wines, it demonstrates its versatility, proving that it can also surprise curious enthusiasts.
Aging potential and food and wine pairings
Wines made from the Cinsault grape variety are generally intended to be drunk young, between 3 and 5 years, to preserve their fruitiness. However, old vines in Lebanon, Chile, or South Africa sometimes produce cuvées capable of aging longer.
At the table, its Côtes de Provence rosé wines are excellent as an aperitif, served with salads, tapas, or seafood. The supple reds pair well with poultry, delicate meats, and grilled vegetables. For a more in-depth tasting, Cinsault also accompanies fresh cheeses as well as a Mediterranean dish with herbs.
Conclusion: a grape variety of the future
Long discreet, the Cinsault grape variety is returning to the forefront thanks to its accessibility, its pleasant lightness, and its unique role in French wines. Its ability to adapt to soils, climates, and winemaking styles makes it an ally of modern winemakers. Each bottle, whether it is a Côtes de Provence rosé, a supple Languedoc red, or a natural wine from Chile, proves that it can appeal to enthusiasts worldwide.
Easy to discover and appreciate, Cinsault is asserting itself as a grape variety of the future. Every day, it reminds us that elegance can be simple, and that a pleasant wine, with a light color and vibrant fruitiness, can rival the greatest. Our selections highlight this unique grape variety so that every bottle is a true invitation to taste.
Sort by:
13 products
13 products
Grande Pestilence Red 2017
To make this blend of Cinsault and Grenache grown on schist soils in the Faugères appellation area, the Cinsault macerates whole bunches for sixty days with the partially destemmed Grenache, before aging for one year in vats. Its notes of white pepper, rose, and peony will complement grilled meats, charcuterie, and spicy terrines.
Aging potential: ten years.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Pairs with: Terrines and pâtés, Red meats, Grilled meats
Côtes du Rhône Red 2022
This Côtes-du-Rhône from Domaine des Grandes Serres is what its name implies: an organic and natural red wine from the lower Rhône Valley, in the AOC-AOP Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages. It is part of the estate's "Comics" natural series (see label).
Vinification
The Côtes-du-Rhône from Domaine des Grandes Serres is made from 80% Syrah, with 5% of each of the following grape varieties: Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, all grown on limestone and sandstone soils. The harvest is manual, the grapes are destemmed and macerated on the skins for three weeks. After pressing, the wine rests for eight months in stainless steel vats.
Tasting
A good, dense, indulgent, and fruity Côtes-du-Rhône, without the slight bite of sulfites, does that tempt you? This Côtes-du-Rhône is part of the estate's organic and natural "Comics" series and will always be perfect when you want a warm, fruity red wine suitable for all occasions.
Learn more about Domaine des Grandes Serres
Domaine des Grandes Serres, created in 1977 with respect for the environment and the terroir, represents the excellence and vitality, in organic and natural mode, of the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, where it covers 12 hectares. To make his estate and merchant wines, he harvests, buys grapes, vinifies, and ages them over a wide area, centered around Châteauneuf and the southern Côtes-du-Rhône, extending to areas such as Lirac and the Costières de Nîmes.
An organic commitment without ostentation
A large portion of the Domaine des Grandes Serres vintages are organic and without added sulfites, although the estate does not publicly boast about it. Modestly, Samuel Montgermont, the estate's general manager, explains that the geological and climatic conditions, particularly the mistral wind, promote the health of the vineyard and allow for the elimination of inputs. While the labels don't take themselves seriously, the wines are solid, fresh, and flavorful.
Grande Pestilence Rouge 2019
La Sorga
Antony Tortul loves old vineyards: he devotes his life to finding and vinifying them. Just as there are landless shepherds, he can be defined as a landless winegrower, in other words, a wine merchant whose area of activity extends throughout Languedoc and, eastward, as far as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in search of the best terroirs. Born in Foix, with six years of experience as a wine technician and oenologist in various vineyards in the south of France, he created La Sorga in 2008. His enthusiasm leads him on a path filled with favorites, and each of these favorites is a vineyard. The result is a dizzying mosaic of natural, lively, and spirited wines, which reinvents itself each year with around thirty cuvées per vintage. Few winemakers can list such a variety of grape varieties on their menu: the whole of southern France is there with muscats, grenaches, picpoul, mauzac, carignan, cinsault, marsanne, alicante, braucol, duras, viognier, len-de-l’el, and tutti quanti.
The label and the name with their pestilential connotations should not make this wine pass for what it is not: no morbid stench will disturb your experience once the bottle is opened. The nose, on the contrary, is of great aromatic complexity: black fruits, humus, white pepper, peony, and on the palate the citrus peel typical of the schist soils of the Faugères region and particularly Cabrerolles, from which this wine comes. The texture is very rounded, the finish is long and already very straight! No sulfites, no filtration, nothing else for that matter. The blend is made from sixty percent Cinsault (sixty-five-year-old vines), twenty percent Grenache (sixty-five-year-old vines), and twenty percent Carignan (sixty-five-year-old vines). Vinification is done in whole bunches in a quasi-infusion for sixty days for Cinsault and forty-five days for the other grape varieties. Once everything is blended, aging is one year in vats. It will keep well for a good ten years.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
The Rosé Rosé 2022
Clos Des B
Desirably fruity, marked by red fruits and citrus zest (orange and lemon), the Rosé du Clos des B is (as its name suggests) a natural rosé wine emblematic of the sandy-schist terroir of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and the unique microclimate of the hills of Grimaud. It welcomes us with its nose of red fruit sorbet, notes of small red fruits on the palate, and a zesty, citrusy finish. This wine is produced in the Côtes-de-Provence appellation and made from two southern grape varieties common in the region: 90% Grenache as the majority variety and 10% Cinsault. This is a direct-pressed rosé, without prior crushing, extracted using a vertical press after destemming the grapes and vinified in stainless steel vats. No crushing is performed. The two grape varieties ferment together in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, without added sulfites. No fining, filtration, or addition of sulfites at bottling.
To find out more
Clos des B (initials of the two owners, Gwendolyn Berger and Jean-Jacques Branger) is located in Grimaud, in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. They are therefore the proud producers of the very first natural cuvées from this geographical area. Those who know that this region is home to some interesting viticulture will avoid thinking of the celebrity seaside resort and swimming pool rosé: before the two Bs bought these three hectares of vines, all these wines went to the cooperative cellar of the Vignerons de Saint-Tropez. Driven by a "thirst for vines," as they put it, Gwendolyn and Jean-Jacques overcame administrative difficulties, restored the vineyard, and soon produced reds, rosés, and even a blanc de noirs. Their grape varieties are typical of the region: Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, growing on schist sands crisscrossed by quartz veins. The property benefits from a microclimate that protects the vines from humidity, disease, and frost. The viticulture and winemaking approach resolutely embraces organic (the estate has been in conversion since 2020), biodynamics, and natural methods. The wines are made without added sulfites, fining, or filtration. The wines of Clos des B are a true reflection of their terroir and climate: fresh, fruity, and very pleasant to drink.
Fond Cyprès - Rodolphe Ourliac et Laetitia Gianesini
Magnum Variette Red 2018
4400
€44,00
Unit price perFond Cyprès - Rodolphe Ourliac et Laetitia Gianesini
Magnum Variette Red 2018
4400
€44,00
Unit price perMagnum Variette Red 2018
A blend of Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault: a full-bodied red with aromas of garrigue, blackcurrant, and blackberry. Pairs well with red wine stews: beef stew, gardianne, beef bourguignon, coq au vin, as well as roast red meats. Ideal with poached pears.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Cinsauriel Red 2021
Cinsauriel is an organic and natural red wine from the Languedoc region, produced by Jean-Louis Pinto of the Es d’Aqui estate. 100% Cinsault, classified as Vin de France, it comes from the schist soils of Berlou, near Saint-Chinian.
Vinification
Cinsauriel is obtained by fermentation with indigenous yeasts and a month of maceration of the whole bunches in sandstone jars, the container where the aging also takes place.
Tasting
Beautiful bright ruby color, nose of pepper, rose and strawberry, accents of garrigue, candied black olive and prune. Lively and powerful, Cinsauriel is a robust and distinguished wine. It calls for solid foods: beef, roast pork, roast poultry such as chicken, capon or duck. He also enjoys charcuterie and cured meats.
Learn more about Jean-Louis Pinto and the Es d’Aqui estate
A child of Ariège, Jean-Louis Pinto chose to stay in the country and make wines that resemble their terroir, hence the name Es d’Aqui (“He is from here”) that he gave to his wine merchant estate, located in Moulin-Neuf, a town near the Aude, between Mirepoix and Limoux. A region where vines once abounded, until the major mildew attacks at the beginning of the 20th century.
Winemaker and merchant
Jean-Louis buys grapes grown organically by winegrower friends. He monitors the fruit set, the ripening, and does everything to know the grapes before harvesting them. He vinifies them at home using natural methods, practicing long macerations on whole bunches and very gentle pressings in a vertical press. He says he has "a lot of vines in common" with his friend Anthony Tortul (La Sorga).
All the terroirs of Languedoc
Jean-Louis Pinto's collection area extends throughout Languedoc, particularly in Hérault, Aude, and Tarn. "I make wines from the South," he says. "I'm mainly looking for terroirs that give freshness." The most powerful reds are made in five terracotta jars, which help him control extraction and give his wines, he says, "a very crystalline quality."
Es d'aqui Cinsauriel Red 2019
With a beautiful, vibrant ruby color, it offers a nose of pepper, rose, and strawberry, as well as notes of garrigue, candied black olive, and prune. Lively and powerful. This 100% Cinsault, grown on the schist soils of Berlou, near Saint-Chinian, is produced by fermentation with indigenous yeasts over twenty-eight days of whole-bunch maceration in sandstone jars, where the wine is also aged.
Find out more
A native of Ariège, Jean-Louis Pinto chose to stay in the region and make wines that reflect their terroir, hence the name Es d’Aqui (“It’s from here”), which he gave to his winemaking business, located in Moulin-Neuf, a commune near the Aude department, between Mirepoix and Limoux. A region where vines once abounded, until the major mildew attacks at the beginning of the 20th century. Jean-Louis buys grapes grown organically by other winegrowers, his friends, whom he trusts completely. He doesn't just buy the product; he monitors the fruit set and ripening, and makes regular visits until August to get to know the grapes before harvesting them. He vinifies them at home using natural methods, practicing long macerations on whole bunches. A three-week maceration is common for him, as are very gentle pressings in a vertical press. He says he has "a lot of vines in common" with his friend Anthony Tortul (La Sorga). His collection area extends throughout the Languedoc, particularly in the Hérault, around Adissan, Faugères and Saint-Chinian, as well as in the Aude (Limoux) and Tarn (Gaillac), two terroirs that are dear to him. It turns out that the typical Languedoc soils – schist, basalt, pebbles, clay-siliceous – particularly appeal to him for the freshness they give to the wines. “I make wines from the South,” he says. “I mainly look for terroirs that give freshness, even if the wines have an alcohol content of 14 degrees.” The grape varieties are, of course, typically Languedoc: Grenache, Carignan, Mauzac, Cinsault, Braucol, Duras and Sauvignon. The most powerful reds are made in five terracotta jars, which help him control extraction and give his wines, he says, "a very crystalline side." The soil, the location, as we understand it, are of the utmost importance to him: once again, the name of his estate Es d'Aqui was not chosen by chance.
Lou Dilun Red 2021,
Lou Dilun ("Monday" in Provençal) is an organic and natural wine from the Côtes-de-Provence appellation and under the Écocert organic label, with no added sulfites. In the Grimaud vineyards, the Grenache and Cinsault grapes are selected on the vine. Everything is done, in the vineyard and in the cellar, to ensure the harvest is in perfect health and to avoid the use of sulfur in the vineyard or sulfites in the cellar. Fresh on the palate, Lou Dilun is lively and fruity, silky and velvety, with beautiful body. Light notes of fruit pit emerge from the framework of melted tannins. The secret to its incomparable roundness and fruitiness? Six months of aging in Atelier Centre France oak barrels. This is a wine that will be a pleasure to pair with a beautiful roast poultry.
Learn more about Clos des B
Clos des B (initials of the two owners) is an organic and natural wine estate located in Grimaud, in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Gwendolyn Berger and Jean-Jacques Branger are the proud producers of the very first natural cuvées from this geographical area. Before the two Bs bought these three hectares of vines, all these wines went to the cooperative cellar of the Vignerons de Saint-Tropez. Driven by a "thirst for vines," as they say, Gwendolyn and Jean-Jacques overcame administrative difficulties, restored the vineyard, and soon produced reds, rosés, and even a blanc de noirs. Their grape varieties are typical of the region: Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, growing on schistose sands crossed by quartz veins. The property benefits from a microclimate that protects the vines from humidity, disease, and frost. The viticulture and winemaking approach resolutely embraces organic (the estate is under the Ecocert label, applied for in 2020), biodynamics, and natural. The wines are without added sulfites, fining, or filtration. The wines of Clos des B are a true reflection of their terroir and climate: fresh, fruity, and very pleasant to drink, beautiful natural wines from the terroir of Provence.
Es d'aqui Cinsauriel Red 2017
This 100% Cinsault, grown on schist soils near Saint-Chinian, is produced by fermentation with indigenous yeasts during twenty-eight days of whole-bunch maceration. Part of the wine is aged in steel vats. With a beautiful, vibrant ruby color, it offers a nose of pepper, rose, and strawberry, as well as notes of garrigue, candied black olive, and prune. Lively and powerful.
Terre Mere Red 2021,
Equipped with the Écocert organic label, Terre Mère is a natural red wine, with no added sulfites, from the Clos des B estate, located in the Bay of Saint-Tropez. Red and especially black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry) abound on the nose and palate. The wine is structured and tannic, but the tannins are supple and well-integrated, and the finish includes a very seductive note of bitter almond. It resembles an Amarone, but without the cooking note, with much more fresh fruit and freshness despite its overripeness. Terre Mère presents a beautiful liveliness upon opening, but we do not recommend decanting. It gains dimension and breadth at the end of the bottle. It comes from the finest grapes, plot by plot and vine by vine, which have been isolated vine by vine to be brought to this overripeness.
Why “Mother Earth”?
The name Mother Earth is a tribute, through the terroir, to Pacha Mama, the great earthly divinity. One clearly perceives through the tasting the producer’s desire to stick to the terroir, to extract its quintessence, in addition to the resolution to add no input to the vineyard or the cellar. This mature and evolved typicity (15% alcohol) results from particular winemaking methods: Mother Earth, a red wine in AOP Côtes-de-Provence, is composed of 50% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 30% Mourvèdre harvested overripe in September. Vinification is carried out 90% in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and 10% in open barrels. Foot-punching is performed, as well as a few small pumping overs. Malolactic fermentation is complete. The wine is aged in 600-liter barrels and in 228-liter barrels previously used for several wines. No sulfites are added, neither in the vineyard, nor during vinification, nor at bottling. To discover other wines from the terroirs of Provence, also explore the Domaine des Grandes Serres, in the Southern Côtes-du-Rhône. And to accompany this beautiful wine, why not slice a beautiful sausage from Maison Montalet?
Learn more about Clos des B
Clos des B (initials of the two owners) is an organic and natural wine estate located in Grimaud, in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Gwendolyn Berger and Jean-Jacques Branger are the proud producers of the very first natural cuvées from this geographical area. Before the two Bs bought these three hectares of vines, all these wines went to the cooperative cellar of the Vignerons de Saint-Tropez. Driven by a "thirst for vines," as they say, Gwendolyn and Jean-Jacques overcame administrative difficulties, restored the vineyard, and soon produced reds, rosés, and even a blanc de noirs. Their grape varieties are typical of the region: Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, growing on schist sands crisscrossed by quartz veins. The property benefits from a microclimate that protects the vines from humidity, disease, and frost. The viticulture and winemaking approach resolutely embraces organic (the estate is under the Écocert label, applied for in 2020), biodynamics, and natural methods. The wines are made without added sulfites, fining, or filtration. The wines of Clos des B are a true reflection of their terroir and climate: fresh, fruity, and very pleasant to drink, beautiful natural wines from the terroir of Provence.
Super Pink Rosé 2023,
Frédéric Cossard
An elegant and delicious rosé, Super Pink embodies the pure expression of Cinsault. This pale-colored wine is the result of direct-press vinification of grapes harvested manually in the Vaucluse region. Its nose is marked by delicate notes of red fruits, citrus fruits, and flowers. On the palate, its vinous texture and freshness invite a light and festive tasting.
Ideal as an aperitif or with summer dishes such as barbecues, tapas, or smoked fish, this rosé is best enjoyed chilled, between 8 and 10°C. Drink within 2 years.
Domaine des Grandes Serres
Côtes du Rhône (exclusive vintage) Red 2022
1107
Domaine des Grandes Serres
Côtes du Rhône (exclusive vintage) Red 2022
1107
Côtes du Rhône Red 2022
This Côtes-du-Rhône from Domaine des Grandes Serres is what its name implies: an organic and natural red wine from the lower Rhône Valley, in the AOC-AOP Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages. It is part of the estate's "Comics" natural series (see label).
Vinification
The Côtes-du-Rhône from Domaine des Grandes Serres is made from 80% Syrah, with 5% of each of the following grape varieties: Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, all grown on limestone and sandstone soils. The harvest is manual, the grapes are destemmed and macerated on the skins for three weeks. After pressing, the wine rests for eight months in stainless steel vats.
Tasting
A good, dense, indulgent, and fruity Côtes-du-Rhône, without the slight bite of sulfites, does that tempt you? This Côtes-du-Rhône is part of the estate's organic and natural "Comics" series and will always be perfect when you want a warm, fruity red wine suitable for all occasions.
Learn more about Domaine des Grandes Serres
Domaine des Grandes Serres, created in 1977 with respect for the environment and the terroir, represents the excellence and vitality, in organic and natural mode, of the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, where it covers 12 hectares. To make his estate and merchant wines, he harvests, buys grapes, vinifies, and ages them over a wide area, centered around Châteauneuf and the southern Côtes-du-Rhône, extending to areas such as Lirac and the Costières de Nîmes.
An organic commitment without ostentation
A large portion of the Domaine des Grandes Serres vintages are organic and without added sulfites, although the estate does not publicly boast about it. Modestly, Samuel Montgermont, the estate's general manager, explains that the geological and climatic conditions, particularly the mistral wind, promote the health of the vineyard and allow for the elimination of inputs. While the labels don't take themselves seriously, the wines are solid, fresh, and flavorful.
