GRENACHE
Grenache noir is the world's most widely planted grape used to make red wine, sometimes made into a stand-alone varietal, frequently as a rosé, but most often as a backbone of red blends.
Wine historians believe that Grenache, which translates to Garnacha in Spanish and Garnatxa in Catalan, originated in the province of Aragon in northern Spain.
Characteristics of wines made from Grenache grapes include weak colors, soft tannins, and high alcohol content. Grenache tends to be most closely associated with the southern French region of Rhone where it is grown widely.
On its own, grenache can make fleshy, heady wines with lots of fruit appeal in their youth. They tend to age rapidly, however, showing tawny colors and prone to oxidation or maderization after only a relatively short time in bottle. The general character and mouthfeel of Grenache wines are more distinctive and identifyable than any particular aromas or flavors.
Grape Variety
Grenache
Use in Old World
Rhone and Southern France. Rioja, Spain.
Use in New World
Some US
Color
Light red to orange.
Aroma
Spicy black pepper. Light red fruits
Body
Light to heavy
Wine Making Flavors
CM style in Southern France and Cote du Rhone. Much blended in the rest of the Rhone. Often oxidized with a strong vanilla aroma (from American Oak) in the wines of the Rioja.
Blended with
Extensively with Syrah in the Rhone and a zillion other grapes in the south of France. In Rioja it is blended with Tempranillo.
Other
Also used to make the excellent roses of Tavel and Lirac.
Categories:
Red Wine Grapes