🍇 Grenache
A red grape from Spain, where it is called Garnacha; the base of many wines in southern France.
Grenache is a dark-skinned wine grape from Spain, where it is called Garnacha (Garnacha Tinta). According to the OIV, in 2015 it covered 163,000 ha worldwide, and almost all of those vineyards, 87%, were in France and Spain.
It is a very old variety. The VIVC catalogue considers Spain its homeland and lists 154 synonyms; in Sardinia it goes by the name Cannonau. Grenache probably reached France as early as the Middle Ages. Today it is the third most planted variety there, with 81,000 ha, or 10% of the country's vineyards, while in Spain it covers 62,000 ha.
Grenache is a very vigorous vine with large bunches and medium to high yields, from 2 to 8 t/ha. It is exceptionally drought-tolerant and adapts easily to different soils. At the same time it is susceptible to downy mildew, botrytis (bunch rot) and poor fruit set, as well as to autumn frosts.
Grenache wines have deep colour, liveliness and high alcohol. That is why, according to the OIV, they are often blended with other varieties for better balance. In Sardinia the variety is the basis of Cannonau di Sardegna: under the rules of this appellation, Cannonau has to make up at least 85%.
Why it matters to you. High alcohol is a trait of the variety, so check the strength stated on the label. “Grenache”, “Garnacha” or “Cannonau” on a wine from the EU means at least 85% of this variety, and if several varieties are named, the wine is made from them alone. These wines are served at 15–18 °C.
How it connects to Wine
🍇 Grenache → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- What is made from it
- 🥃 Marc des Côtes-du-Rhône, 🥃 Eau-de-vie de Faugères
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ Spanish wine
- Where it grows
- 📍 Southern Rhône, 📍 Aragon, 📍 Priorat, 📍 Sardinia, 📍 Rhône Valley, 📍 Languedoc-Roussillon, 📍 Languedoc, 📍 Roussillon, 📍 Provence, 📍 Rioja
- Main grape in
- France: 📜 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 📜 Côtes de Provence, 📜 Côtes du Rhône, 📜 Bandol, 📜 Côtes du Rhône Villages, 📜 Luberon, 📜 Rasteau, 📜 Tavel, 📜 Ventoux, 📜 Ajaccio
and 33 more
📜 Collioure, 📜 Côtes du Roussillon, 📜 Fitou, 📜 Gigondas, 📜 Minervois, 📜 Saint-Chinian, 📜 Terrasses du Larzac, 📜 Banyuls grand cru, 📜 Corbières, 📍 Languedoc, 📜 Pays d'Oc, 📜 Pic Saint-Loup, 📜 Vacqueyras, 📜 Cabardès, 📜 Coteaux Varois en Provence, 📜 Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, 📜 Duché d'Uzès, 📜 Grand Roussillon, 📜 La Clape, 📜 Les Baux-de-Provence, 📜 Boutenac, 📜 Côtes du Vivarais, 📜 Palette, 📜 Pierrevert, 📜 Vinsobres, 📜 Beaumes de Venise, 📜 Cairanne, 📜 Costières de Nîmes, 📜 Côtes du Roussillon Villages, 📜 Faugères, 📜 Grignan-les-Adhémar, 📜 La Livinière, 📜 Lirac
Italy: 📜 Cannonau di Sardegna, 📜 Barbagia, 📜 Province of Nuoro, 📜 Mandrolisai, 📜 Alghero
Spain: 📍 Navarre - Wines made from it
- 🍷 Rivesaltes, 🍷 Banyuls, 🍷 Maury, 🍷 Vin doux naturel, 🍷 Rosé
- Related to
- 🍷 Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, 🍷 Guigal Gigondas, 🍷 Guigal Tavel, 🍷 Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rouge, 🍷 Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rosé, 🍷 Château de Nalys Rouge, 🍷 Saintes Pierres de Nalys Rouge, 🍷 Vin gris, 🍷 Banyuls, 🍷 Maury
- Offspring
- 🍇 Alicante Bouschet, 🍇 Marselan, 🍇 Monerac, 🍇 Greco Nero, 🍇 Plant de Brunel, 🍇 Portan, 🍇 Emerald Riesling, 🍇 Chenanson, 🍇 Carnelian, 🍇 Ganson
- Similar and different
- 🍇 Mourvèdre, 🍇 Carignan, 🍇 Cinsaut
Frequently asked questions
Are Grenache and Garnacha the same variety?
Yes. The main name in the VIVC catalogue is Garnacha Tinta, while Grenache Noir and the Sardinian Cannonau are its synonyms.
Where is most Grenache grown?
According to the OIV, in France (81,000 ha) and Spain (62,000 ha); these two countries account for 87% of the variety's world area.
Is it true that Grenache is a French variety?
No. The VIVC and the OIV name Spain as its homeland. It probably reached France in the Middle Ages, although today there is even more of it there.
Why is Grenache blended with other varieties?
Its wines are high in alcohol, so, according to the OIV, they are often combined with other varieties to achieve better balance.
Is Grenache sensitive to drought?
No, it is exceptionally drought-tolerant. Its weak spots are downy mildew, botrytis, poor fruit set and autumn frosts.
What to read next
- 🗺️ Spanish wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
- 📜 Châteauneuf-du-Pape — French PDO for still white and red wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and four other communes of the Vaucluse.
- 🍷 Rivesaltes — Vin doux naturel from Roussillon: ambré, grenat, rosé or tuilé.
- 🍷 Guigal Tavel — Guigal Tavel: rosé wine by Guigal from the southern Rhône; Tavel.
- 🍇 Mourvèdre — A red grape from Spain, where it is called Monastrell; the backbone of red Bandol in France.
Similar
🍇 Mourvèdre · 🍇 Syrah · 🍇 Cinsaut · 🍇 Carignan · 🍇 Clairette · 🍇 Grenache Blanc
Sources
- VIVC (Vitis International Variety Catalogue): passport Garnacha Tinta
- OIV Focus 2017: Distribution of the world's grapevine varieties
- MASAF: disciplinari di produzione vini DOP — «Cannonau di Sardegna», art. 2
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33, Art. 49–50 (vintage year, wine grape varieties on the label)
- Simons C.T. Left out in the cold: Serving wines chilled. Temperature, 2019