There’s no movie (that I am aware of) glamorizing Grenache the way Miles romanticized Pinot Noir in Sideways. Grenache is often unfairly overlooked except perhaps on International Grenache Day, which lands on September 16th this year. Yet, Grenache deserves more than one day. Whether you’re opting for a Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (GSM) blend – the quintessential Southern Rhône blend, or hunting for a single varietal version, Grenache is worth seeking out.
Grenache has range from affordable bottles to cult trophies like France’s Château Rayas and California’s Sine Qua Non. It’s incredibly versatile, widespread, and has a reputation for making every other grape variety around it perform better. It can be made in a wide range of styles but is known for its intense aromatics and terrific flavor, offering juicy red fruit layered with spice, florals, and crushed herbs. Grenache loves hot, dry weather, and it ripens late, sometimes with high sugar levels, which can send alcohol percentages soaring without impairing the balance. Notably, Grenache may also be a climate change-resistant wine, given its ability to withstand heat.
Known as Garnacha Tinta in Spain, Grenache Noir in France, and Cannonau in Italy, it’s thought to have originated in Northern Spain and then spread to other Mediterranean lands with the colonization by the French and Spanish of North Africa in the 19th century. Today, it’s grown worldwide, including France, Spain, Italy, Australia, and the United States. Recently, there have been reports of new Grenache plantings in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.
To begin your exploration, start with Spanish Garnacha, which almost always over-delivers on quality for value. Pioneering Spanish winemakers have worked tirelessly to elevate the variety. Priorat is one of the Spanish regions most known for Garnacha, but Garnacha from sites like Sierra de Gredos (west of Madrid) has been getting much attention from wine critics.
Next, look for wines from California’s Central Coast as the region has a well-deserved reputation with the variety. Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles is one of the pioneers of this movement in California, producing a Grenache varietal wine since 2006. Washington State is also solidifying its reputation with the grape. Look to the Yakima Valley to deliver Grenache with complexity, spiciness, and bright acidity.
In France, look to Côtes-du-Rhône villages like Cairanne or Ventoux, which will almost always be Grenache dominant. The villages of Gigondas and Lirac also produce spicy Grenache-dominant-based blends. Australian Grenache can be harder to find, but look out for it in McLaren Vale. South Africa’s Swartland has also contributed to Grenache’s appeal.
Lastly, many great rosés also incorporate it. Tavel in Southern France, for example, is a rosé based largely on Grenache. White Grenache (often called Grenache Blanc or Garnacha Blanca) is also well worth seeking out. So, grab yourself a glass of Grenache/Garnacha and raise a toast to this underappreciated grape!
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