Béquignol noir
Béquignol noir is a red wine grape (Vitis vinifera) that began in Southwest France but is now grown mainly in Argentina’s Mendoza region, where it is often used to add color to red blends and is sometimes called Red Chenin.
The grape is different from other red varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Durif, Fer, and Prunelard, though it has shared many names with them. DNA studies confirm it is a distinct variety, and a 2011 study suggested a possible parent-offspring link with the Jura grape Savagnin, though it’s not clear which way the relationship goes.
The name likely comes from the Gascon dialect meaning “little beak,” possibly referring to the small berry size. The first written record comes from the 1760s in the Bordeaux area.
Béquignol noir ripens mid to late and produces very small berries. The vine is vigorous and high-yielding, relatively drought-tolerant but very prone to mite problems. In France it is now rare—less than 1 hectare was reported in 2008, mainly in the Gironde and Vendée regions, though it remains an authorized variety there.
Most plantings are in Argentina, with about 900 hectares recorded in 2008, especially in Mendoza’s high-altitude vineyards. There it is used much like Douce noir (Bonarda) to deepen color in red blends.
Wine from Béquignol noir is generally light-bodied with deep color and is usually meant to be consumed young, according to wine expert Jancis Robinson.
Béquignol noir has color mutations named Béquignol blanc and Béquignol gris, which are rarely seen. It has been known by many synonyms, including Red Chenin in Argentina.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 02:10 (CET).