Grenache (France)
Grenache is a French grape variety often blended to make GSM and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Typical Flavors
 Raspberry |
 Strawberry |
 Black Cherry |
 Blackberry |
 Herbs |
 Spices |
 Anise |
 Orange Zest |
Oak Added Flavors:
 Barrel |
 Cinnamon |
 Coffee |
 Tobacco |
Raspberry, Strawberry, and Cherry are typical Grenache flavors.
Hints of Herbs, Spices, and Orange Zest.
Oak added Flavors: Cinnamon. Coffee. Tobacco.
Profile
Grenache has medium acidity and smooth tannins:
| BODY | Medium Minus | ||
| TANNINS | Medium | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Tapas |
 Salami |
 Ham |
 Rich Pizza |
 Cassoulets |
 Chicken |
 Duck |
 Rabbit |
 Pork |
 Lamb |
 Veal |
 Game |
Grenache wines should be paired with rich flavors.
They pair perfectly with rich Stews, Cassoulets and Marinated Asian.
They also love BBQ and Grilled Meat (Veal. Pork. Chicken. Game).
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Tapas. Cured Meat.
Pizza. Hamburger.
Stews. Cassoulets. Goulash.
Sausages. Pepper Sauce.
Asian Marinated Dishes.
Lamb. Lamb Shanks.
Game in Cherry Sauce.
Roast. BBQ. Pork. Rabbit. Game.
Poultry. Rich Chicken. Turkey.
Duck. Roasted Duck with Plum.
Cheese:
Manchego. Cheddar. Gouda (Smoked). Pecorino. Asiago.
French Specialities:
Oxtail Bourguignonne.
Confit de Canard (Duck Confit).
If You Like Grenache
You Might Also Like:
| Barbera (Italy) |
| Cabernet Franc (France) |
| Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo (Italy) |
| Chianti (Italy) |
| Dolcetto (Italy) |
| Frappato (Italy) |
| Garnacha (Spain) |
| GSM Wines (France) |
| Rioja Crianza (Spain) |
| Teroldego (Italy) |
The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for medium to full bodied red wines.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the fruit bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
Grenache / Garnacha / Cannonau
Grenache is one of the most widely planted red wine grapes in the world.
Grenache is called Garnacha in Spain and Cannonau in Italy.
The grape is said to be native of Aragón in Spain (near Navarra and Rioja).
From Spain it travelled to Languedoc-Roussillon in France, then to the Rhône Valley, and finally to Sardinia in Italy.
However, recent DNA analysis indicates that Grenache is native to Sardinia.
Today the grape is most famous for its importand role in the GSM wines from the Rhône Valley (Côtes du Rhône Villages and Châteauneuf-du-Pape).
Grenache in France
In France, Grenache is the key ingredient in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and GSM blends.
It is also the most planted grape variety in Languedoc-Roussillon.
Côtes du Rhône
Côtes du Rhône is an AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) wine region in the Rhône Valley of France. There are two main regions:
- Côtes du Rhône South (Méridional)
- Côtes du Rhône North (Septentrional)
Côtes du Rhône North
In the North, the main grape is Syrah.
The grapes grows on very steep slopes, and are manually picked in hillside trolleys, wich adds to the price.
Côtes du Rhône South
In the South, the main grape is Grenache.
The area is famous for its GSM wines: A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.