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What is Grenache?

Brendan McGuigan
Brendan McGuigan

Grenache is a red grape used widely in producing red wine throughout Spain and France, as well as in other parts of the world. It is somewhat sweet, and its primary use in wine is as a blending grape, rather than being used on its own. In Spain, Grenache is known as Garnacha, where it is the single-most planted grape in the country. There are two varieties, known as Garnacha Tinta and Garnacha Blanca, with the red variety Tinta being 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 we see as an import in the rest of the world is the Rioja wine, which combines the Grenache grape with a number of other grapes, particularly the variety known as Tempranillo. In recent years, the Spanish wine industry has undergone something of a reform, with wine makers experimenting with bigger, bolder wines and a slew of new grapes, including Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. In France, Grenache is one of the two major grape varieties – alongside Syrah – used in red Rhone Valley wines. The most famous region to use a great deal of Grenache grape is the Chateauneuf-du-Pape, though a number of other areas in the southern Rhone also use this grape extensively.

Grenache is known as Garnacha in Spain.
Grenache is known as Garnacha in Spain.

Grenache is a light red in color, with a great deal of alcohol. It has a considerable amount of fruit in it, and many people compare it favorably with Pinot Noir – albeit with dashes of flavors like thyme and sage. One of the main uses of the Grenache grape is as an ingredient in the popular 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 paler wines. Indeed, often a good Tavel has as much body as a more powerful red wine.

Grenache grapes are commonly used in a red wine blend.
Grenache grapes are commonly used in a red wine blend.

In recent years, Grenache has seen an increase in popularity in both California and Australian wines. 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 Californian rosé wines also make use of Grenache, though in general they contain much less of the herbiness that make their French counterparts so popular.

Discussion Comments

skinnylove

The Grenache vine grows upright on a strong wood canopy. This red grape variety has good wind tolerance and grows well in dry climates. However, the wood canopy the vine twines around makes it difficult to harvest with mechanical harvesters and pruning equipment. This causes the grape to be more labor intensive which may be the reason for its decline in popularity in highly-mechanized growth regions like Australia and California.

tmacsgirl

The red grape Granache is related to white wine grape known as Granache Blanc. Granache Blanc has been the fifth most widely planted white grape since 1980. Granache Blanc grapes are used in Rhone wine blends and in northeast Spain. These wines have high alcohol content and low acidity.

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    • Grenache is known as Garnacha in Spain.
      By: believeinme33
      Grenache is known as Garnacha in Spain.
    • Grenache grapes are commonly used in a red wine blend.
      By: Artem Furman
      Grenache grapes are commonly used in a red wine blend.
    • Grenache wines are light red in color and have a fairly high alcohol content.
      By: Irina Redko
      Grenache wines are light red in color and have a fairly high alcohol content.
    • Grenache is a red grape used widely in producing red wine throughout Spain and France.
      By: Ekler
      Grenache is a red grape used widely in producing red wine throughout Spain and France.
    • Grenache is said to have notes of sage.
      By: marilyn barbone
      Grenache is said to have notes of sage.
    • In France, Grenache is one of the two major grape varieties – alongside Syrah – used in red Rhone Valley wines, which are produced in southeastern France.
      By: polesnoy
      In France, Grenache is one of the two major grape varieties – alongside Syrah – used in red Rhone Valley wines, which are produced in southeastern France.
    • Grenache is sometimes blended with Syrah or Shiraz to give the wine more body.
      By: V&P Photo Studio
      Grenache is sometimes blended with Syrah or Shiraz to give the wine more body.