In France’s Southern Rhône, the three main varietals used to produce wine are Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Grenache tends to be the most dominant grape used in the Rhône blends and provides soft, spiced berry flavors and a round mouthfeel. Syrah brings out a wild side to the blend with aromas of smoked meat, black pepper and olive tapenade and is bolstered by a muscular structure. Mourvèdre adds earth tones and gamy flavors with high amounts of color pigment and tannin. Another wine region that produces GSM blends is Australia. However, in the land down under Shiraz plays a larger part in the blend, and thus the wines are often labeled SGM. These wines are typically more fruit forward with plenty of vanilla and dark chocolate tones imparted by barrel aging. In California, the Rhône Rangers have made a name for themselves producing and promoting mainly Central Coast wines based on Rhône varietals. The intriguing part of GSM blends is that each region has its own climate and terroir, creating wines with plenty of individuality. Be sure to look through our GSM Wine Reviews for further insight into the world of GSM blends.