Grape Varietal: Grenache
Grenache
is a red wine grape that originated in Spain and is the most widely planted red
wine grape varieties in the world. It’s a very pesky grape because it ripens
late so it needs hot, dry conditions like the ones found in Spain, the south of
France, and California’s San Joaquin Valley. The grape is known to be spicy and
fruity in flavor along with relatively high alcohol content. The grape is very
demanding and need great care for it to yield the best grape.
The
history of Grenache is still up for debate through most wine-history buffs.
Grenache most likely originated in the region of Aragon in northern Spain
according ampelographical evidence. Plants may have been spread from Aragon to
Catalonia and other lands under the Crown of Aragon which included some lands
in southern France. Despite not knowing
the vine came from, it did make its presence know through Spain and
France. It eventually was taken to
Australia in the 18th century and became very popular before the
introduction of Shiraz which replaced it. California wine growers marbled at
Grenache high yields and ability to withstand heat and dry climates. This made
the plant be planted heavily throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Grenache was
mostly used as a blending component for jug wines. In France, it was used in
Rhone style blends. Grenache was also a
huge cornerstone in the development of the Washington Wine industry.
What
makes Grenache unique is its ability to grow upright and be supported by a
strong wood canopy. It is tolerant to the wind and has shown that it is suited
for the dry, warm windy climates around the Mediterranean. The vine buds early and requires a long
growing season to fully ripen. Grenache is often one of the last grapes to
harvest. This long ripening is a
positive because by the time the grape is ready to be harvested it has high
levels of sugars making it capable of substantial alcohol levels, typically
around an average of 15%. Grenache grows better in hot, dry soils that are well
drained but it adapts easily to all vineyard soil types. The soil in southern France which is made of
schist and granite soils has allowed Grenache to thrive on. The skin of
Grenache is pale and lightly pigmented, which results in wine having pale color
and low tannins. Yield control is that results in quality wine are below 35
hectoliters/hectare.
France
and Spain are Grenache largest principal wine regions. There is about 203,370
acres in Spain growing Grenache and in France there is about 236,500 acres. The
Grenache from France is mostly widely associated with the wines of the Rhone
and southern France. It is mostly
blended with Carignan, Cinsaut, Syrah and Mouvedre. Grenache produces a sweet
juice that can have almost a jam-like consistency when very ripe. Grenache is great for rose wines because of
its think skin and pale coloring. The Provence region does full bodied rose
wines. French Grenache based wines depend largely on what other grape varieties
it is blended with and care range from spicy to chewy fruitiness.
In Spain, Grenache is known
as Garnacha. It is widely planted in northeastern and central Spain; Garnacha
was long considered a “workhorse” grape of low quality suitable for blending. Today
it is the third most widely planted red grape variety in Spain and it is seen
in now both varietal wines and blends. When blended with Tempranillo, Garnacha
provides juicy fruitiness and added body. Modern producers have been increasing
the amount of Garnacha used in the blend in order to produce earlier maturing
and more approachable Riojas in their youth. The vine has a long history in the
Navarra region where it has been the dominant red grape variety with nearly 54%
of the region’s vineyard planted with Garnacha.
While
Grenache is most often found in blended wines, varietal examples do exist.
Grenache is valued for its added body and fruitiness that it brings.
Grenache-based wines tend to be made for early consumption with its tendency for
oxidation which makes it a poor choice for long-term aging. The prime
characteristics notes for Grenache include, berry fruits such as raspberries
strawberries. Grenache can also develop complex and intense flavors of blackcurrants,
black cherries, black olives, coffee, gingerbread, honey, leather, black
pepper, tar, spices and roasted nuts.
Overall
Grenache is the most known unknown grape in the wine industry as its emergence
early in the wine-making business was used to make other grapes shine while
Grenache did all the work. Now Grenache is starting to make a comeback by
becoming more involved in varietal wines than blended.
Sources:
Wine Literature of the World:
Gran Clos:
