Grenache is a red grape used in the production of red wine in Spain, France, and other parts of the world. It is primarily used as a blending grape and is known as Garnacha in Spain. Grenache is also used in rosé wines and has seen a surge in popularity in California and Australia.
Grenache is a red grape used extensively in the production of red wine in Spain and France as well as other parts of the world. It is somewhat sweet, and its primary use in wine is as a blending grape, rather than used on its own. In Spain, Grenache is known as Garnacha, where it is the most single planted grape in the country. There are two varieties, known as Garnacha Tinta and Garnacha Blanca, with the red Tinta variety by far the more popular.
Spain produces an incredible amount of wine – behind only Italy and France – and has more of its land growing vines than any other country on earth. The most popular style of Spanish wine that we see as an import to the rest of the world is Rioja wine, which combines the Grenache grape with a number of other grapes, most notably the variety known as Tempranillo. In recent years, Spain’s wine industry has undergone something of a reform, with winemakers experimenting with bigger, bolder wines and a range of new grapes, including Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. In France, Grenache is one of the two main grape varieties – together with Syrah – used in the red wines of the Rhône valley. The region most famous for using a large amount of the Grenache grape is Chateauneuf-du-Pape, although many other areas in the southern Rhône use this grape extensively.
Grenache is light red in color, with a large amount of alcohol. It has a significant amount of fruit, and many people compare it favorably to Pinot Noir, albeit with hints of flavors like thyme and sage. One of the main uses of the Grenache grape is as an ingredient in the famous rosé wines of the Lirac and Tavel regions of France. These wines are very powerful for a rosé, with high alcohol and a richness of character not often seen in lighter wines. Indeed, a good Tavel often has as much body as a more powerful red wine.
In recent years, Grenache has seen a surge in popularity in both California and Australia. In these countries, Grenache is still often blended with other wines, such as Syrah or Shiraz, to help give it a fuller sense of character. Some California rosé wines also make use of Grenache, though in general they contain far less of the herbal medicine that makes their French counterparts so popular.
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