Grenache

Grenache is a dry, medium to full-bodied red grape originally from Spain but now a star across southern France and beyond. Expect ripe strawberry, raspberry and cherry with herbs, pepper and warming spice. Juicy, generous and often high in alcohol, it’s brilliant with roast lamb, BBQ food, sausages, burgers, pizza and Mediterranean dishes.

Taste:

Ripe fruit, warming spice and plenty of sunshine in the glass.

Grenache is typically dry and medium to full-bodied, with relatively soft tannins and flavours of strawberry, raspberry, red cherry and sometimes plum. In warmer regions, the fruit can become particularly ripe and concentrated, occasionally moving towards dried-fruit flavours.

Expect black pepper, liquorice and warming spice alongside the fruit, often with fragrant Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and thyme. Older or oak-aged examples can develop notes of leather, tobacco and earth.

Grenache naturally builds plenty of sugar as it ripens, which means the finished wines can be fairly high in alcohol.

Soft tannins, ripe fruit, warming alcohol. Grenache clearly wasn't designed for doing things by halves.

Food Pairings:

Grenache loves herbs, spice and smoky, roasted flavours.

Lamb is one of its best matches, so try roast lamb, lamb chops, lamb shank, lamb kebabs or slow-cooked lamb shoulder with rosemary, thyme or garlic.

It’s also brilliant at a BBQ. Pair it with burgers, BBQ ribs, grilled sausages, pulled pork, barbecued chicken or grilled lamb.

Mediterranean dishes are another easy win. Try moussaka, grilled aubergine, roasted peppers, tomato and lentil stew, herb-roasted vegetables or a lamb tagine.

Grenache can work brilliantly with pizza too, particularly pepperoni, sausage, spicy salami, roasted vegetable or meat feast.

For cheese, try Manchego, mature Cheddar, Gouda or other flavourful hard cheeses.

Similar Wines:

First things first, Garnacha is the Spanish name for Grenache, so it’s the obvious place to explore how the grape behaves in its original homeland.

Grenache also plays a starring role in many Southern Rhône blends, including Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras.

Priorat is another great choice if you enjoy Grenache’s ripe fruit but want more concentration and structure.

For something similarly generous and spicy, try Zinfandel.

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More About Grenache:

Grenache is believed to have originated in Spain, where it’s known as Garnacha, before spreading across the Mediterranean and becoming particularly important in southern France.

It thrives in hot, dry conditions and is now planted across Spain, France, Australia, the United States and many other warm wine regions.

Grenache is also a bit of a team player. It’s frequently blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre – the famous GSM combination – where its ripe fruit and body balance the structure and spice of the other grapes.

It can even produce rosé and white wine through related grape varieties such as Grenache Blanc.

Red, rosé, white, solo act, group project. Grenache likes to keep its options open.