Name (also Carthagène) for a sweet and high-alcohol vin de liqueur(liqueur wine) from the French Languedoc region. Alcohol is added to the unfermented white or red grape must to stop fermentation. As a rule, it consists of 80% grape must and 20% brandy. The must must come from at least 50% Grenache Noir (Garnacha Tinta) or Grenache Blanc (Garnacha Blanca).

The alcohol content is usually between 16 and 18% by volume, with a residual sugar content of 150 g/litre. In some cases, various flavouring ingredients such as vanilla are also used, but no sugar. Cartagène is drunk as an aperitif or digestif for personal consumption. An application for AOC recognition under the name "Cartagène du Languedoc" was submitted to the INAO in 1989, but has not (yet) been granted.
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien