Cinsaut (otherwise spelled as Cinsault) is widely used throughout the south of France, and is used both as a varietal in a fruity and light wine, and a blending grape to accompany hardier grapes such as Carignan.

It also makes appearances in the Rhone to contribute to Chateauneuf du Pape (one of the 13 permitted grape varieties), and is otherwise known in the region as Picardan. The cinsault is a dark skinned grape variety with a slightly perfumed scent and low tannins, making this ideal for the production of rose. The nature of the vine allows the grapes to be picked with machinery, helping the production of wines.