Cheers to International Grenache Day!

Cheers to International Grenache Day!

With around 456,000 acres grown worldwide, Grenache (also known as Garnacha in Spain, Grenache Noir in France, and Cannonau in Italy) produces some of the most expensive and highly acclaimed wines in the world. If you haven’t already heard, today is International Grenache Day, so let’s celebrate by highlighting why this grape is so iconic!

You may have heard of GSM, or even Whispering Angel wines, or what about Châteauneuf-du-Pape? Although one is a blend, one is a global wine brand, and the other is a famous French appellation, they all have one thing in common; an emphasis on Grenache. Before we dive into each element, let’s start with the basics. There are various expressions of this grape, depending on the region, but generally speaking, Grenache can be described as juicy, round and bright. More specifically, Grenache is associated with flavours of red berries, cherries, tobacco, anise, and cinnamon paired with medium tannins, acidity, and alcohol. When it comes to recognizing a glass of Grenache, the wine should be semi-translucent and the shade should fall between Pinot Noir (a light ruby colour) and Syrah (a deep red to purple hue).

As previously mentioned, GSM stands for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, a Côtes du Rhône classic. This blend is known for it’s juicy red fruit flavours and age-worthiness, and is very versatile when it comes to food pairing. The complexity created when blending the various flavours, structures and elements of each varietal into one is what makes this wine special. The Grenache is the lightest and most fruit-forward varietal out of the three, while Syrah is known for having peppery notes and darker fruit notes, and the Mourvèdre is the deepest of them all, contributing tannins and floral aromas. 

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a French appellation that is famous for it’s Grenache-based wines, and it is one of the 19 official crus of the Côtes du Rhône region. In fact, it was the very first French wine appellation, with it’s creation dating all the way back to 1936. About 75% of all vineyards in Châteauneuf-du-Pape are dedicated to growing Grenache, meaning some of the best (and most expensive) Grenache-based blends are produced in this appellation.

Grenache is one of the primary varietals used to produce the popular Provence Rosé blend. These blends are known for being very dry with a full, lush palate, and a smooth finish. The brand Whispering Angel is a famous example of this blend, which can be easily recognized by the light pink hue of the wine. Other regions such as Northern Spain also incorporate Grenache into their Rosés, creating what is known as Garnacha Rosado.

Recommendations:

Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020

Although the average Châteauneuf-du-Pape is definitely on the expensive side, this blend is well-priced and combines some of the appellation’s most notorious varietals, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and of course, Grenache.

Road 13 Select Harvest 2020 GSM

This 2023 WineAlign and Decanter World Wine Awards winner is packed with bright flavours of blackberries and strawberries and is a great example of a Canadian GSM. 

E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

This GSM is a well-priced intro into France’s Rhône region. Enjoy flavours of fig, licorice, and tobacco paired with chocolate and floral notes.

Miraval Rosé

A dry Rosé from Provence with notes of berry, fresh pastry, red plum, nuts and mushroom. This blend consists of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah and Rolle.