While Grenache has a long history in Australia, it is only over the past decade or so that the variety has received the recognition that it deserves. While it is regarded as a classic variety by many writers I believe it is an 'alternative varietal' in Australia, not least because few wine drinkers know much about it, especially in states other than South Australia.
This grape variety is widely planted in South Australia, particularly in the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale wine regions. It is a versatile variety which can be used as a straight varietal wine, it makes very good rose and is used as blending material, particularly with Shiraz and Mourvedre. In fact the so called GSM blends are becoming a signature Barossa/McLaren Vale style, challenging the dominance of straight Shiraz.
There is some contention among wine writers as to whether this variety should be regarded as French, or as a Spanish variety. In Spain it is known as Garnacha, and is grown extensively throughout the North and East of the country.
Other synonyms include Granaccia, Lladoner, Tinto, Tinta, Carignan rosso, Carignane rousse, Tinto arogonese, Uva di Spagna, Sans Pariel, Tinto Menudo, Tinta Mencida, Tintilo de Rota, Rousillon, Rousillon Tinto Rouvaillard, Cannonau, Alicante, Rivesaltes, Redondal (and probably lots more...)
In France this variety is grown in the Southern Rhone region as well as in Languedoc-Roussillon. In the Rhone it is a key ingredient of the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. In fact Grenache is a principal variety in all of the major Appellations in the Southern Rhone. Grenache is also the major variety in Tavel Rose. It plays no part in the Northern Rhone where the only red grape variety is Shiraz (Syrah).
Other major Grenache plantings are in Italy and California
Fortunately a few growers and winemakers recognised the virtues of Grenache and it now is nudging along nicely in the wine fashion stakes. In fact it is now among the most popular alternative variety being planted by newcomers to the wine industry. A few remaining paddocks of old vines have suddenly been elevated to the status of viticultural gold mines. The passion and perseverance of the Grenache producers have been harvested by the marketers and the future of the variety seems assured.
The Taste of Grenache
...these are some of the adjectives used to describe Grenache on
De Long's Wine Grape Varietal Table.
The wines reflect the conditions under which the grapes were grown. When grown under tough conditions or from old vines varietal Grenache wines can be rich and complex, with
flavours of roasted nuts, blackberries spices and above all earthiness. By contrast young Grenache vines can produce wines redolent of raspberries and strawberries.
In blends
I have often detected just a hint of crushed ants in the nose.
As young wines Grenaches are firm and sometimes rough textured. I suspect that getting the tannin balance right is a major factor in making a good Grenache.
The colour often does not adequately prepare you for the depth of flavour.
GSM wines are firm, well flavoured and coloured. They go well with barbecues, but are certainly not out of place with the best cuts of meat, roast beef or lamb perhaps. Or you could think Provencal foods, tomatoes courgettes, aubergines and herbs.
Grenache also makes well flavoured rose wines. Here you might need something as simple as a few olives, some tapenade and goats cheese or smoked almonds, but a plate of freshly grilled sardines also come to mind.
Grenache and Food
While the lighter styles are versatile as accompaniments to food, bigger styles demand a hearty meaty dish to really show their stuff.
Grenache Wines in Australia
I may have missed some. If you know of any that are missing perhaps you can add a comment below.
Adelina Wines Clare Valley
Amadio Adelaide Hills
Amarillo Wines Peel
Ambrook Wines Swan Valley
Andrew Peace Wines Swan Hill
Angoves Winery Riverland
Arakoon McLaren Vale
Arimia Margaret River Margaret River
Artwine Clare Valley
Atse's Corner Wines Barossa Valley
Australian Domaine Wines Clare Valley
B3 Wines Barossa Valley
Ballast Stone Estate Currency Creek
Balthazar Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley Estate Barossa Valley
Barristers Block Adelaide Hills
Basedow Barossa Valley
Bell River Estate Central Ranges Zone
Bella Ridge Estate Swan District
Beltana Springs Perth Hills
Bent Creek Vineyards McLaren Vale
Bethany Barossa Valley
Biscay Wines Barossa Valley
Blackbilly McLaren Vale
Blown Away McLaren Vale
Boireann Granite Belt
Briery Estate Perth Hills
Brini Estate McLaren Vale
Broken River Vineyards Goulburn Valley
Brookhampton Estate Geographe
Bullers Beverford Swan Hill
Burge Family Winemakers Barossa Valley
Byramgou Park Geographe
Callipari Wine Murray Darling
Canonbah Bridge Western Plains
Cape Barren Wines McLaren Vale
Cape Bouvard Peel
Cape Mentelle Margaret River
Carilley Estate Swan Valley
Carpenteri Vineyards Swan Hill
Cascabel McLaren Vale
Chain of Ponds Adelaide Hills
Chaperon Wines Bendigo
Charles Melton Barossa Valley
Chateau Dorrien Barossa Valley
Chittering Valley Winery Perth Hills
Cirillo Barossa Valley
Clancy Fuller Barossa Valley
Clarence Hill McLaren Vale
Clarendon Hills McLaren Vale
Classic McLaren Wines McLaren Vale
Claymore Wines Clare Valley
Cobbitty Wines South Coast Zone
Colonial Estate Barossa Valley
Conte Estate Wines McLaren Vale
Contessa Estate McLaren Vale
Coriole McLaren Vale
Craneford Barossa Valley
Currans Family Wines Murray Darling
Currency Creek Currency Creek
D'Arenberg McLaren Vale
Darlington Estate Perth Hills
De Lisio Wines McLaren Vale
Deisen Barossa Valley
Di Fabio Estate McLaren Vale
Diggers Bluff Barossa Valley
Diloreto Wines Adelaide Plains
Doctors Nose Wines New England
DogRidge McLaren Vale
Dogrock Winery Pyrenees
Domain Barossa Barossa Valley
Dominic Versace Wines Adelaide Plains
Donnybrook Estate Geographe
Drakesbrook Wines Peel
Eden Road Wines Eden Valley
Eperosa Barossa Valley
Eyre Creek Clare Valley
Faranda Wines Swan District
Fireblock Clare Valley
Five Geese Hillgrove Wines McLaren Vale
Flat View Vineyard Clare Valley
Foggo Wines McLaren Vale
Fonthill Wine McLaren Vale
Fox Creek Wines McLaren Vale
Franand Wines Swan District
Galli Estate Sunbury
Gapsted Alpine Valleys
Gawler River Grove Adelaide Plains
Geddes Wines McLaren Vale
Gemtree Vineyards McLaren Vale
Geoff Hardy McLaren Vale
Geoff Merrill McLaren Vale
Gibson Barossavale Barossa Valley
Gilligan McLaren Vale
Gin Gin Wines Queensland Coastal
Glaetzer Wines Barossa Valley
Glaymond Wines Barossa Valley
Gnadenfrei Estate Barossa Valley
Golden Ball Beechworth
Gomersal Wines Barossa Valley
Gomersal Wines Barossa Valley
Grancari Estate McLaren Vale
Grant Burge Barossa Valley
Greenock Creek Wines Barossa Valley
Halina Brook Central Western Australian Zone
Hamiltons Ewell Vineyards Barossa Valley
Hanging Rock Winery Macedon Ranges
Harman's Ridge Estate Margaret River
Haselgrove McLaren Vale
Hawkers Gate McLaren Vale
Heathcote Estate Heathcote
Henry Holmes Wines Barossa Valley
Henschke Eden Valley
Hently Farm Wines Barossa Valley
Hewitson Barossa Valley
Hickinbotham Mornington Peninsula
Hobbs of Barossa Ranges Barossa Valley
Hutton Vale Eden Valley
Izway Wines Barossa Valley
Jamabro Wines Barossa Valley
Jasper Hill Heathcote
Jeanneret Wines Clare Valley
Jenke Vineyards Barossa Valley
Jimbour Wines Queensland Zone
John Duval Wines Barossa Valley
Jupiter Creek Winery Adelaide Hills
Kabminye Wines Barossa Valley
Kaesler Barossa Valley
Kalleske Wines Barossa Valley
Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale
Kay Bros Amery McLaren Vale
Kellermeister Wines Barossa Valley
Kilikanoon Clare Valley
Kirrihill Estates Clare Valley
Kirrihill Adelaide Hills
Kitty Crawford Estate New England
Kladis Estate Shoalhaven Coast
Koltz McLaren Vale
Kyotmunga Estate Perth Hills
La Curio McLaren Vale
Lake Breeze Langhorne Creek
Landhaus Estate Barossa Valley
Langmeil Barossa Valley
Lanzthomson Wines Barossa Valley
Laughing Jack Barossa Valley
Linda Domas Wines McLaren Vale
Linfield Road Wines Barossa Valley
Little Bridge Canberra
Lou Miranda Estate Barossa Valley
Macaw Creek Wine Mount Lofty Ranges Zone
Magpie Estate Barossa Valley
Mansfield Wines Mudgee
Marienberg McLaren Vale
Mary Byrnes Wines Granite Belt
Marybrook Vineyards & Winery Margaret River
mas serrat Yarra Valley
Massena Wines Barossa Valley
Maverick Wines Barossa Valley
Mawson Ridge Adelaide Hills
Maxwell Wines McLaren Vale
McHenry Hohnen Margaret River
McLaren Ridge Estate McLaren Vale
McLaren Wines McLaren Vale
McWilliams Riverina
Middlebrook Estate McLaren Vale
Mitchell Clare Valley
Mitchelton Nagambie Lakes
Moppa Wilton Vineyards Barossa Valley
Morrisons Riverview Winery Perricoota
Moss Brothers Margaret River
Mount Appallan Vineyards South Burnett
Mount Trafford Southern Fleurieu
Mt Billy Southern Fleurieu
Murdock Barossa Valley
Murray Street Vineyard Barossa Valley
Muster Wine Company Barossa Valley
Naked Run Wines Clare Valley
Neagles Rock Vineyards Clare Valley
Noon Winery McLaren Vale
Normanby Wines Queensland Zone
Old Plains Adelaide Plains
Old Station Clare Valley
Olive Farm Swan District
Oliverhill McLaren Vale
Olivers Taranga McLaren Vale
Organic Vignerons Australia Riverland
Orlando Barossa Valley
Parkerville Ponds Vineyard Perth Hills
Parri Estate Southern Fleurieu
Paul Conti Wines Greater Perth Zone
Paxton McLaren Vale
Pende Valde McLaren Vale
Penny's Hill McLaren Vale
Pepperilly Estate Wines Geographe
Pertaringa McLaren Vale
Peter Lehmann Barossa Valley
Phoenix Estate Clare Valley
Pikes Clare Valley
Pirramimma McLaren Vale
Plantagenet Mount Barker
Possums Vineyard McLaren Vale
RBJ Barossa Valley
Red Earth Estate Western Plains
Redbox Perricoota Perricoota
Redheads Studio McLaren Vale
Reilly's Wines Clare Valley
Remarkable View Winery Southern Flinders Region
Richard Hamilton Wines McLaren Vale
Riseborough Estate Swan District
Riverbank Estate Swan Valley
Rockford Barossa Valley
Roehr Barossa Valley
Roennfeldt Wines Barossa Valley
Rolf Binder Barossa Valley
Rosenvale Wines Barossa Valley
Ross Estate Wines Barossa Valley
Rudderless Wines McLaren Vale
Rusden Wines Barossa Valley
Rutherglen Estates Rutherglen
Saltram Barossa Valley
Samuels Gorge McLaren Vale
SC Pannell McLaren Vale
Scarpatoni Estate McLaren Vale
Schild Estate Wines Barossa Valley
Schiller Vineyards Barossa Valley
Schulz Vignerons Barossa Valley
Schwarz Wine Company Barossa Valley
Scion Vineyard Rutherglen
Scorpiiion Barossa Valley
Serafino Wines McLaren Vale
Seraph's Crossing Clare Valley
Sevenhill Wines Clare Valley
Shingleback McLaren Vale
Sieber Road Wines Barossa Valley
Simon Hackett McLaren Vale
Skillogalee Clare Valley
Smallfry Wines Barossa Valley
Sons of Eden Barossa Valley
Soul Growers Barossa Valley
Spinifex Barossa Valley
Spook Hill Wines Riverland
Springs Hill Vineyard Fleurieu Zone
St Annes Vineyards Perricoota
St Hallett Barossa Valley
Stakehill Estate Peel
Stonewell Vineyards Barossa Valley
Sutherlands Creek Vineyard Geelong
Swan Valley Wines Swan Valley
Swings & Roundabouts Margaret River
Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes
Tait Wines Barossa Valley
Talijancich Swan Valley
Talunga Adelaide Hills
Tapestry McLaren Vale
Tatachilla McLaren Vale
Te-Aro Barossa Valley
Tellurian Heathcote
Temple Bruer Langhorne Creek
Tenafeate Creek Wines Adelaide Plains
Teusner Barossa Valley
The Gap Grampians
The Grapes of Ross Barossa Valley
The Islander Estate Vineyards Kangaroo Island
The Lily Stirling Range Great Southern
The Minya Winery Geelong
The Old Faithful Estate McLaren Vale
The Ritual Peel
Tim Adams Clare Valley
Tim Smith Wines Barossa Valley
Tin Shed Wines Eden Valley
Tintara McLaren Vale
Torbreck Vintners Barossa Valley
Trentham Estate Murray Darling
Tulley Wells Upper Goulburn
Turkey Flat Vineyards Barossa Valley
Twelve Staves Wine Company McLaren Vale
Uleybury Wines Adelaide Zone
Valhalla Wines Rutherglen
Valley Wines Swan District
Varrenti Wines Grampians
Veronique Barossa Valley
Vinaceous Various
Vinifera Wines Mudgee
Vino Italia Swan Valley
Vinrock McLaren Vale
Vintara Rutherglen
Virgara Wines Adelaide Plains
Wallington Wines Cowra
Western Range Wines Perth Hills
White's Vineyard Swan Valley
Willunga 100 Wines McLaren Vale
Windy Creek Estate Swan Valley
Winter Creek Wine Barossa Valley
Wirra Wirra McLaren Vale
Witches Falls Winery Granite Belt
Woodstock McLaren Vale
Yaldara Barossa Valley
Yalumba Wine Company Barossa Valley
Yangarra Estate McLaren Vale
Yelland and Papps Barossa Valley
Zitta Wines Barossa Valley
Zonte's Footstep Langhorne Creek
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