Grenache (red) is a widely planted grape which grows in dry, hot climates such as Spain, South of France and California. It comes also as a white grape.

Grenache produces medium body wines, often with high alcohol content which are not acidic and are low on the tannin scale. This is why it is often blended with other grapes like Syrah (the Rhône blend) which intensifies the wine and makes it more suitable for aging. Grenache wine is lighter in color despite its higher alcohol levels and can develop a brick like, orange tint due to oxidation when exposed to air.

Grenache will be mostly found as part of a blend in regions like Rhône where it is part of the classic GSM blend – Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, or in the Spanish Priorat and Rioja where it is blended with Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Varietal wines made from 100% Grenache are more common in regions like Languedoc-Roussillon in France, Navarra in Spain and Barossa in Australia.

Grenache around the world

France

• Rhône regions split into:
  • Côtes-du-Rhône AOC – the generic Grenache wine
  • Côtes-du-Rhône Villages AOC – better quality, lower yields, 12.5% alcohol, of which 21 villages are allowed to add their name on the label after the words “Côtes-du-Rhône Villages”
  • The Crus (some of which are Cairanne, Condrieu, Cornas, Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage, Gigondas, Hermitage, Lirac, Rasteau, Saint-Joseph, Tavel) – are at the top of the pyramid and produce the best wines that champion the terroir with Châteauneuf-du-Pape being the most famous one. Being promoted to a Cru, also means that the producers do not have to have the “Côtes-du-Rhône” name on the label.
  • Tavel and Lirac also produce rosé using Grenache in their blend
• Languedoc-Rousillon region: Corbières, St. Chinian, Faugères, La Clape
• The French wines usually use a blend called GSM – Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre but in the Languedoc-Rousillon region, Carignan is also used often