Grenache Wine

A Fruity Type That Is Perfect for Everyday

Grenache wine is currently one of my favorites. This little-known, yet widely grown red, originates from Spain.

This is a great option if you are just starting to drink red wines. It has hints of red berry fruits including cherries, strawberries and raspberries. You will also taste hints of spices, black pepper, coffee, honey and leather.

With low tannins, it's easy to drink. You can also typically find it at a decent price point. Some of my favorite come from the Cotes du Rhone region in France.

grenache wine

How do you pronounce Grenache? Click the play button below to listen to an English pronunciation.

Brief History of This Red

As I mentioned above, this red grape variety was originally found in Spain. On Spanish wines, you'll see it called by it's original Spanish name - Garnacha.

How do you pronounce Garnacha? Click the play button below to listen to an English pronunciation.

It was one of the most popular and planted grapes around the world until the late 1800s. Around this time, it was surpassed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot plantings.

It was also one of the most popular and grown red wines in Australia for a number of years. In the 1960s, Shiraz became more popular and overtook the plantings of this in Australian vineyards.

It is not as well known as so many other reds since it was only used as a blending grape for many years. Today, many producers are using it as a single variety and red drinkers around the world are starting to notice it.

Popular Wine Regions for This Varietal

It is one of the most grown red wines in Spain. It is also one of the four red varieties that is allowed to be grown in the popular Rioja region. In this region, they frequently use it as a blending grape to soften Tempranillo.

Even though its origins are in Spain, France is the country with the most grapes growing. Here they often blended it with Syrah and Mourvedre. This is common in the southern part of the Rhone Valley in France including the popular Cotes du Rhone and Chateauneuf-du-Pape regions.

french grenache wine

As I mentioned above, some of my favorites are from the Cotes du Rhone area. I also love those from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. These are fuller bodied than the wines from the Cotes du Rhone, since the blend has a higher concentration of Syrah.

You can also find some great Grenache wines from the Languedoc region in the southern part of France.

Recently, I'm also finding more of this wine in California. Many producers have used it as a blend for a while, but are now creating single variety wines from it. It will be exciting to see how their wines match up to the ones from France.

Since this grows well in hot, dry climates, you can also sometimes find it from the countries along the Mediterranean Sea. Spain and France are listed above. It's also grown in Italy, some parts of Greece and Israel.

Storing, Serving & Food Pairing Tips

These wines tend to age rapidly, so you want to only store them for a couple of years. I typically buy and then drink my Grenache wine right away. When I do this, I try to find one that is at least two or three years old.

Another great thing about this type is that its very versatile. It pairs well with almost everything. I recommend trying it with grilled meats, stews or similar dishes.

Since they are medium bodied wines, you should serve them just a little cooler than room temperature - around 60 to 62°F (15 to 17°C).

You can also serve them in a standard red wine glass. Here is an example of a typical wine glass I use to serve Grenache Wine.

Rose of Grenache Wine

Another type of Grenache wine that I'm starting to see more and more on the market is rose of Grenache. Rose wines are typically created from the grapes of newly planted vines. It's a great way to use the grapes from these younger vines until they mature enough for really solid wines.

The thing that I like about the ones I've tried is that they are still full of the great fruit flavors of a typical Grenache. Even though these wines are much lighter than a medium bodied red, I love being able to still get that great red berry taste.

The rose of Grenache is perfect for summer or warmer weather climates. If you're looking for something a little bit lighter but still want the aromas and flavors of a great red, than the rose is the perfect choice.

For me, Grenache wine is the perfect everyday wine. As I mentioned above, it's a nice versatile wine that is easy to drink and friendly to your pocketbook.

Discover the best Grenache wines available online today!