Aspiran Bouschet is a black grape from the South of France, best known for providing colour when blended with other varieties.
Characteristics
The main characteristic is its ability to give colour. No reports of the variety’s other characteristics have been found.
Wines
Aspiran Bouschet appears to be mainly used in blends where it participates in very small quantities, from one to five percent. It is also allowed for making rosé in the AOC Minervois in Languedoc.
A wine from the Lisbon region in Portugal is advertised as being made from Aspiran Bouschet. There are however no reports of plantings of the grape in Portugal.
Furthermore, as the name Bouschet is the name, or part of the name, for several varieties and synonyms, we cannot be sure that whether this wine is made from Aspiran Bouschet or from another grape.
Food pairing
Given the lack of information on the grape’s characteristics and the absence of varietal wines, no pairing suggestions can be given.
Where is it grown?
Presumably more or less extinct in France (it is not reported in the latest census), Aspiran Bouschet has found a new home in Argentina. In 2010, plantings of 3.042 ha/7,517 ac were reported, a tenfold increase in ten years.
Initially found only in Mendoza, there are now substantial plantings reported from many parts of Argentina; San Martin, Rivadavia, Junin, Maipu, Santa Rosa, Lavalle, and Lujan de Cuyo.
History
The grape was created in 1865 by Henri Bouschet by crossing Aspiran Noir (also known as Rivairenc) and Teinturier, both very old varieties. Rivairenc and Teinturier were common varieties before the Phylloxera disease struck Europe, but are today almost extinct.