Grenache
Known throughout the world, Grenache’s famed home is southern France. In its most famous appellations, this spicy grape is one of the 13 permitted blending varieties and often the primary grape used in the Rhône Valley’s famous wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is also used in neighboring appellations, like Vacqueyras and Gigondas.
Of course, these days, Grenache’s fame neither begins nor ends in France. Spain produces rich and focused wines from this variety, most notably in regions like Catalonia’s Priorat, where the grape provides the backbone for ageworthy wines. The grape is actually believed to be native to Spain, where it is referred to as Garnacha, although it did not become of premium importance to Spanish winemaking until after the phylloxera epidemic of the 1800s.
In the vineyard, these light, thin-skin purple grapes appear as sizeable berries, often hidden beneath a canopy. Grenache thrives in hot, dry climates with well-drained soils. Even then, it is a late-ripening variety, often outlasting the harvest dates of other varieties. Because of its thin skin, this grape performs well as the base for rosé, producing vibrant pink wines from skin contact. The grape is known for its tolerance to wind, too, which is particularly useful in the Rhône, a region known for wind so fickle it has own name: Le Mistral.
Because of its late ripening, Grenache has the potential to produce extremely high alcohol wines. The most identifying flavor note with this grape is white pepper; wines are often subtly spiced, expressing bright red fruit, like strawberry, raspberry and tart cherry.
Grenache in France
Of the permitted varieties in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Grenache is the most common. Elsewhere in the Rhône Valley, it is a key variety in Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre (G-S-M) blends, and contributes to the rosés of Tavel and Lirac.
The grape is also widely planted in France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region. Winemakers often blend it with Carignan, Cinsaut, Syrah and Mourvèdre. In Rousillon, it is used in still dry wines as well as vins doux naturels like Banyuls or Rivesaltes.
Garnacha in Spain
This grape has found success in diverse regions around the world. In addition to the Rhône and Catalonia, Garnacha is often made into rosé and still reds in Spain’s Navarra region. It is also grown in the Aragon and Rioja regions. Several different clonal varieties of Garnacha are used in Spain, and they differ in color and intensity. In Aragon, the grape is used to produce single-variety wines, while in Rioja it tends to be blended with Tempranillo.
Global Production
In Sardinia, Grenache, called Cannonau, is made into rich red wines. The grape is also grown in Australia, California, Washington, Israel, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and South Africa.
Synonyms: Aleante, Aleantedi Rivalto, Red Grenache, Garnacha Comun, Garnacha Negra, Garnacha Tinta, Alicante Grenache, Alicant Blau, Abundante, Aleante Poggiarelli, Alicante, Aragones, Bois Jaune, Bordò, Cannonaddu, Cannonadu Nieddu, Cannonau, Cannonau Selvaggio, Canonazo, Carignane Rosso, Elegante, Francese, Gamay del Trasimeno, Gamay Perugino, Garnacha Roja, Garnacha Tinta, Garnatxa Negra, Garnatxa Pais, Gironet, Granaccia, Granaxa, Grenache Noir, Grenache Rouge, Kek Grenache, Lladoner, Mencida, Navaro, Navarra, Navarre de la Dordogne, Navarro, Negru Calvese, Ranconnat, Red Grenache, Redondal, Retagliadu Nieddu, Rivesaltes, Roussillon Tinto, Roussillon, Rouvaillard, Sans Pareil, Santa Maria de Alcantara, Tentillo, Tintella, Tintilla, Tinto Menudo, Tinto Navalcarnero, Tai Rosso, Toledana, Uva di Spagna
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Alma Rosa 2020 Attente Red (Sta. Rita Hills)
Central CoastThis dark and intense blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah starts ...See Full Review$85 -
Wrath 2020 Destruction Level Red (Monterey)
Central CoastThis attention-grabbing blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah is impressive now ...Cellar SelectionSee Full Review$39 -
Margerum 2021 Estate Grenache (Los Olivos District)
Central CoastThis estate bottling begins with aromas of dark plum, mace, aromatic herb ...See Full Review$60 -
Tower 15 2020 Denner Vineyard Grenache (Paso Robles Willow Creek District)
Central CoastFresh strawberry and light carnation aromas meet with dewy chaparral scents on ...See Full Review$105 -
Seña 2020 Rocas de Seña Red (Aconcagua Valley)
ChileAn enticing nose offers notes of blackberry and blueberry alongside green bell ...See Full Review$60 -
McPrice Myers 2020 Paper Street Vineyard Cuvée Red (Paso Robles Willow Creek District)
Central CoastDark and intense aromas of black plum, blackberry, myrtle liqueur and nutmeg ...See Full Review$65 -
Margerum 2021 Grenache (Santa Barbara County)
Central CoastLovely layers of rose petal, hibiscus, sumac, strawberry and lavender make for ...See Full Review$40 -
Alma Rosa 2020 El Jabali Grenache (Sta. Rita Hills)
Central CoastDark red fruit, loamy soil, crumpled red flower, cinnamon and cola aromas ...See Full Review$58 -
Top Source 2019 Columbia Valley Red Wine Grenache-Syrah (Columbia Valley (OR))
Oregon OtherAromas of Bing cherries and macerated strawberries mix it up with black ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$30 -
Margerum 2020 M5 Reserve Red (Santa Barbara County)
Central CoastHailing from eight different vineyards, this blend of 49% Grenache, 31% Syrah, ...See Full Review$50 -
Margerum 2021 M5 Estate White (Los Olivos District)
Central CoastA light color in the glass, this blend of 47% Grenache Blanc, ...See Full Review$30 -
Bella Grace 2018 Estate Grenache Noir (Amador County)
Sierra FoothillsThis well-balanced, engaging and appetizing expression of Grenache incorporates elevated acidity that ...See Full Review$36 -
McPrice Myers 2020 Sel de la Terre Grenache (Paso Robles)
Central CoastFocused aromas of Montmorency cherry, dark lavender, char and a hint of ...See Full Review$55 -
Angove 2019 Warboys Vineyard Shiraz-Grenache (McLaren Vale)
South AustraliaThis Shiraz-Grenache blend, from organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards, is in a ...See Full Review$75 -
Effort 2021 Rosé of Grenache (Edna Valley)
Central CoastPink bubblegum aromas are cut by lemonade, chalk and herb on the ...See Full Review$26 -
Folded Hills 2020 Grant Grenache (Santa Ynez Valley)
Central CoastVery light in the glass, this bottling snaps on the nose with ...See Full Review$52 -
Zaca Mesa 2021 Estate Grenache Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley)
Central CoastA light hue in the glass, this clean and precise bottling offers ...See Full Review$28 -
Top Source 2018 Columbia Valley Red Wine Syrah-Grenache (Columbia Valley (OR))
Oregon OtherThe RhĂ´ne meets the Pacific Rim on the nose of this beautiful ...See Full Review$30 -
Dubost 2020 Alexandrine White (Adelaida District)
Central CoastThe complex nose of this blend of 50% Viognier, 30% Grenache Blanc ...See Full Review$40 -
Rucksack Cellars 2020 R G-S-M (Sierra Foothills)
Sierra FoothillsTechnically an “SGM,” with 71% Syrah, 17% Grenache and 12% Mourvèdre, this ...See Full Review$24
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