Grenache

ABOUT GRENACHE

This highly versatile variety is heavily championed in France, where it is widely grown throughout Provence, Languedoc-Rousillon and, most famously, the Rhône Valley. Its origins, however, lie in Spain, where it is known as Garnacha (or Garnatxa). Grenache often produces wines with a heady perfume of juicy raspberries and cherries, along with spicy hints of anise, cinnamon and sometimes even chocolate. When made as a red wine, it generally has a medium body with soft tannins and moderate acidity.

Grenache is often used as a blending component in French appellations such as Côtes du Rhône, where it is blended with other varieties such as Shiraz/Syrah and Mourvèdre to produce a more robust and rounded wine. It is also frequently used in the region of Provence to make rosé, where it is similarly blended with other varieties to enhance its perfume and texture. Grenache is more commonly found as a single-varietal wine in younger wine-producing countries such as America and, yes, Australia! McLaren Vale has long been a stronghold region for Grenache in Australia, though it is also widely grown throughout the Barossa Valley.