Grenache: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
Grenache  Image source: bkwine.com The grape is championed by the French in the Southern Rhône Valley, Its original home is Spain, where the cultivar is known as Garnacha! It is perhaps best-known as the grape that leads the blends in Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wines. Burgundians blended it from its neighboring Rhône region in the 17th century to improve the flavour of Pinot Noir red wines – then, adding wine from a different region was not considered improper. Languedoc has long practised blending it with Carignan, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah. |
Image: Taste/smell: Described with anise, black cherry, blood orange, cinammon, dried herbs, fig, leather, plum and strawberry notes.  Image source: virginwines.co.uk Varieties/Mutations It has a number of mutations: Garnacha Roja, Grenache blanc, Grenache Gris, Hairy Grenache…  Image source: UC Davis | Description: Image source: UC Davis Green and shiny young shoots have a low density of prostrate hairs, the adult leaves have teeth with straight sides. It has yellow woody shoots and produces round-shaped, small to medium berries. Clusters are medium to large. Grenache is highly susceptible to mildew and dead arm disease, and quite susceptible to bacterial necrosis, gray mold and grape berry moths.  Image source: UC Davis |
| Grenache producing countries: Big Five Producers: (overall 42% of vineyards, 64% of wine production and 41% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Spain: Aragon, Catalonia, Priorat France: Languedoc, Provence, Rhône Italy: Calabria, Marche, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria. USA: California, Oregon, Washington Chile: Maule Valley Next Ten Largest Producers: (with big five, responsible overall for 75% of vineyards, 88% of wine production, 64% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Argentina: Calingasta, Calchaqui Valleys, Mendoza, Quebrada de Humahuaca, Uco Valley. Australia: Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, New South Wales. China: Hebei, Shandong. Germany: Not found. India: Not found. New Zealand: some but limited Portugal: Not found, Romania: Banat, Crișana, Dragasani, Moldovan Hills, Transylvania. South Africa: Paarl, Stellenbosch, Swartland. Turkey: Aegean, Anatolia, Thrace. | Grape is also known as: Aragonesa, Aragones Macho, Bernacha Negra, Bois Jaune, Bordò, Cananazo, Cannonao, Cannonaddu, (Sicily), Cannonadu Nieddu, Cannonau (Sicily), Cannonau Selvaggio, Carignane Rosso, Elegante, Francese, Gamay del Trasimeno, Gamay Perugino, Garnaccho Negro, Garnaccia, Garnacha (Spain), Garnacha Comun, Garnacha Negra, Garnacho Negro, Garnacha Pais, Garnacha roja, Garnacha tinta, Garnacha Tintorera, Garnatxa, Garnatxa negra, Garnatxa Pais, Garnatxa Peluda, Garnatxa Tinta, Garnaxa, Gironet, Granaccia (S Italy), Granacha, Granacha Fina, Granache, Granaxia, Granaxo, Granaxa, Grenache, Grenache noir (France), Grenache rouge, Guarnaccia, Kek Grenache, Lladoner, Aragonase, Lladoner Negre/Negro, Licante, Lladoner, Mencida, Navaro, Navarra, Navarra, Tinta, Navarre de la Dordogne, Navarro, Negru Calvese, Ranconnat, Red Grenache, Redondal, Retagliadu Nieddu, Rivesaltes, Rousillon Tinto, Roussillon, Rouvaillard, Sans Pareil, Santa Maria de Alcantara, Tai rosso, Tentillo, Tintella, Tintilla, Tinta Menuda, Tintella, Tintilla, Tinto Aragones, Tinto Basto, Tinto de Navalcarnero, Tintore di Spagna, Tinto Menudo, Tinto Navalcarnero, Tocai Rosso, Toledana, Uva di Spagna, Vernatxa, Vidueño Negro. |
Image source: tablascreek.com
Grenache: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
