Alicante Bouschet, developed by Louis and Henri Bouschet, is a Grenache - Petit Bouschet cross. It was extremely popular in the early 20th century, but has fallen from favor in recent years. Alicante Bouschet is the ideal teinturier variety. It used to be blended with other less-alcoholic, paler colored, but more aromatic grape varieties cultivated on the plains. Nowadays, it is mainly grown in southern France. This grape variety has been grown all over the world for its strong color: Italy, Spain, Greece, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, as well as California, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, and Brazil in the Americas. It is preferable to prune this variety short to prevent exhausting the vines. It is susceptible to several pests and diseases: downy mildew, dead-arm disease, flavescence dorée, bacterial necrosis, and various diseases affecting the wood. It has medium-sized bunches and grapes. Alicante Bouschet wines are very deep-colored with a high alcohol content, but they lack acidity and have little bouquet. It is essentially a blending variety.