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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E. Guigal 2017 Château de Nalys Grand Vin Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyPiquant hits of shaved peppercorn and clove lend warmth to rich, glossy ...Cellar SelectionSee Full Review$105 -
Domaine de Vieux Telegraphe 2017 La Crau Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyVieux Telegraphe is the iconic expression of La Crau, Châteauneuf-du-Pape's famed stony ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$100 -
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Stolpman 2018 Sun & Earth Red (Ballard Canyon)
Central CoastThis long-awaited project by the vineyard's resident manager Ruben “The Grape Whisperer” ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$98 -
Domaine Charvin 2017 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyRich, ripe black cherry and dried strawberry flavors pulsate from the core ...Cellar SelectionSee Full Review$65 -
Domaine La Consonnière 2017 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyAn 80-20 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre sourced entirely from Châteauneuf-du-Pape's sandy ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$48 -
Tardieu-Laurent 2018 Vieilles Vignes Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyCompared with Tardieu-Laurent's translucent standard-label Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this old-vines bottling demonstrates marked intensity ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full ReviewN/A -
Domaine l'Abbé Dîne 2017 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyGorgeous whiffs of strawberry jam, dried fig, granite and crushed pepper introduce ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full ReviewN/A -
Bosquet des Papes 2017 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyThis is a bold, perfumed Grenache blend that wafts of pristine, sun-kissed ...See Full Review$55 -
Château Gigognan 2017 Clos du Roi Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyWafting of garrigue, blackberries and dusty earth, there's so much to appreciate ...See Full Review$50 -
Domaine de la Charbonnière 2017 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyIntroducing itself with plumes of ripe blueberry, strawberry, thyme and violet, this ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$40 -
Domaine Georges-Lombrière 2017 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyThis is a bold, perfumed blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (20%) and ...See Full Review$95 -
Clos Saint Antonin 2017 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyMade from 100% Grenache sourced from the famed sandy soils of La ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$70 -
Domaine Santa Duc 2017 Habemus Papam Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleySourced primarily from sandy soils, this blend of 64% Grenache, 25% Syrah, ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$50 -
Château Mont-Redon 2017 Abielle-Fabre Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyDelicately whiffs of sun-scorched sage and thyme lend a sultry flair to ...See Full Review$46 -
Tardieu-Laurent 2018 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyWhiffs of tea leaves, dried strawberries and crushed earth introduce this fragrant, ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full ReviewN/A -
Château Fortia 2017 Cuvée du Baron Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyThis perfumed blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (35%) and Mourvèdre (15%) fills ...Cellar SelectionSee Full Review$50 -
Domaine Saint Laurent 2017 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyCutting mineral tones and lush raspberry and blackberry flavors collide in this ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$50 -
La Grand Comtadine 2019 Héritiers Cheron-Misset (Gigondas)
Rhône ValleyPristine blackberry and raspberry flavors are edged by veins of crushed stone ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$60 -
Château La Nerthe 2017 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyRipe, luminous wild strawberries and black cherry flavors explode from nose to ...See Full Review$60 -
Domaine de Marcoux 2017 Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Rhône ValleyDelightful whispers of smoke and earth extend from nose to finish in ...Editors’ ChoiceSee Full Review$65
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