Bouschet is, like Müller, Scheu, and Seibel, a vine-breeder’s surname that lives on in the name of his creations, although in this case there were two Bouschets, a 19th-century father and son whose work, perhaps unfortunately, made the spread of aramon possible. In 1824 Louis Bouschet de Bernard combined the productivity of Aramon with the colour expected of a red wine by crossing Aramon with teinturier du Cher and modestly calling the result Petit Bouschet. This expedient cross was popular in France throughout the second half of the 19th century and is still, just, to be found in Portugal. Louis’s son Henri carried on where his father left off, producing more durably alicante bouschet and grand noir de la calmette as well as a Carignan Bouschet.
