Alicante Bouschet is a cross of Petit Bouschet (itself a cross of the very old variety Teinturier du Cher and Aramon) and Grenache, which has been widely cultivated since 1866. Alicante is a teinturier, a grape with red flesh, which makes it useful for blending with light red wine and can producing deep dark wines, with spice, rich fruit and a gentle earthiness. Although originally from France it is now particularly popular in Portugal and Spain (where it is known as Garnacha Tintorera) and California.