Grenache – Grape Variety
Grenache is a black grape variety that needs a lot of warmth in order to ripen successfully so that it can produce grapes that have relatively high levels of sugar and low levels of acidity. While the grape variety doesn’t enjoy as much popularity as a Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, it is the force behind some of the most celebrated red wines in the world like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Priorat.
Characteristics
Grenache is a thin-skinned variety with low to medium tannins. It has red fruit flavours such as raspberry, red plum and red cherry, along with notes of liquorice and warm spices like white pepper. The alcohol levels can range from 13.5 percent to 16 percent. It also shows moderate affinity to oak ageing.
Winemaking
Grenache is used to make rosé wines using short maceration- where the grape skins are in contact with the juice for a very short period of time. These juicy wines are pale in colour and made in varied styles from dry to medium sweet, intended to be had young.
Grenache is often blended with other black varieties such as Syrah & Mourvèdre in France and Tempranillo in Spain. Premium quality wines are aged in old oak barrels to add flavour complexity.
Lighter Wines
i. Southern Rhone
Grenache is the most widely planted grape variety in the Southern Rhône wine region of France. Here, the Rhône Valley flattens out and the climate is warm due to the southern latitudes, creating perfect conditions for the grape to ripen. The wines from this region are soft, easy drinking and fruit-forward. It is here that Grenache is blended with Syrah and Mourvedre to produce GSM Blend. These wines are rich and full-bodied, with concentrated flavours of spices and red fruits.
A wine labelled as Cotes du Rhone is a simple, light to medium-bodied wine meant for everyday drinking, with red fruit and spice flavours. However, wines labelled as Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) are better in quality and offer a higher level of concentration, complexity, ripeness and balance.
An important appellation worth mentioning is Chateauneuf du Pape AOC. It produces intense expressions of the grape variety that are full-bodied and have high alcohol levels. Here, Grenache is blended with multiple other grape varieties (sometimes as high as 13) to produce age-worthy wines with aromas of spices and notes of caramel, leather and toastiness.
ii. South of France
Grenache is an important variety for both red and rosé wines here. Minervois AOC in the South of France is an appellation where Grenache ripens well and provides red fruit flavour and body to the blends produced here.
Higher Alcohol Fruit Forward style
i. Spain
The grape variety is known as Garnacha in Spain and is used in the blends for wines like Priorat and Rioja. In Priorat, it is blended with Carigan to produce deeply coloured wines that have high levels of tannins with fresh black fruit flavours and notes of toasty oak. These blended wines mature for extended periods developing tertiary flavours in the bottle. Whereas in Rioja, Garnacha is blended with another popular Spanish variety called Tempranillo to make the wine more perfumy and add alcohol and body. In Rioja DOCa (Denominación de Origen Calificada) and Navarra DO (Denominación de Origen) it is used to make dry rosé wines and brings fresh fruit and body to the blend.
ii. Australia
South Australia’s Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale regions are home to old Grenache vines. These vines produce a low yield that results in premium full-bodied expressions with high alcohol, intensely concentrated red-fruit and spice flavours, and long ageing potential.
Serving
Serving temperature – Rose: 7 – 9 °C
Red Wine: 13-15 °C
Glass type – A typical red wine glass with narrow bowls
Food Pairing
The spice in Grenache makes it perfect for pairing with delicately spiced and herb-heavy dishes including roasted meats, vegetables, and stews. The wine also works beautifully with charcuterie boards with cured deli meats and cheeses. If you are planning to pair the wine with Indian cuisine then go for dishes that are lightly spiced.
