Grenache
Species:	Vitis vinifera
Also called:	Alicante, Cannonau, Garnacha (more)
Origin:	Spain
Notable regions:	Rhône, Sardinia, Spain

Grenache (pronounced gren-ash) (in Spanish, Garnacha) is probably the most widely planted variety of red wine grape in the world. It ripens late, so needs hot, dry conditions such as those found in Spain and in the south of France.^[1] It is generally spicy, berry-flavoured and soft on the palate with a relatively high alcohol content, but it needs careful control of yields for best results. It tends to lack acid, tannin and colour, and is usually blended with other varieties such as Syrah, Carignan and Cinsaut. Binomial name Vitis vinifera L. For thousands of years, the fruit and plant of Vitis vinifera, the European grapevine, have been harvested for both medicinal and nutritional value; its history is intimately entwined with the history of wine. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... This list of wine-producing regions catalogues significant growing regions where vineyards are planted. ... This article is about the fruits of the genus Vitis. ... Shiraz is one name, equivalent to Syrah, for a noble grape variety widely used to make dry red table wine. ... Carignan (in French; Spanish Cariñena, Italian Carignano, Spanish variety of grape that originated in Cariñena, Aragon and was later transplanted to Italy, Algeria, and much of the New World. ... Cinsaut or Cinsault is a red wine grape, whose heat tolerance and productivity make it the fourth most widely-planted grape variety in France. ...

Grenache is the dominant variety in most Southern Rhône wines, especially in Châteauneuf-du-Pape where it is typically over 80% of the blend. In Australia it is typically blended in "GSM" blends with Syrah and Mourvèdre. The Rhône wine region is first divided into north and south. ... Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a town and commune in the Vaucluse département in Provence, in southern France. ... Mourvèdre is a variety of wine grape grown around the world, and is Spains second-most important red wine grape after Garnacha, and was once Provences most popular grape. ...

Grenache is also used to make rosé wines in France and Spain, notably those of the Tavel district in the Côtes du Rhône. And the high sugar levels of Grenache have led to extensive use in fortified wines, including the red vins doux naturels of Roussillon such as Banyuls, and as the basis of most Australian 'port'. Vins doux naturels are lightly fortified wines typically made from white Muscat grapes or red grenache grapes in the south of France. ...

History

Grenache may have originated in Spain, probably in Aragon, but has since spread over the Pyrenees into southern France and the rest of the Mediterranean.^[1] It is the same grape variety as Cannonau which is claimed to originate in Sardinia. This might imply that it is really from Sardinia, and was imported to Spain when Sardinia was under Aragón rule.^[1] For the place in the United States, see Sardinia, Ohio. ... For the place in the United States, see Sardinia, Ohio. ... Capital Zaragoza Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 4th  47 719 km²  9,4% Population  â€“ Total (2003)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked 11th  1 217 514  2,9%  25,51/km² Demonym  â€“ English  â€“ Spanish  Aragonese  aragonés Statute of Autonomy August 16, 1982 ISO 3166-2 AR Parliamentary representation  â€“ Congress seats  â€“ Senate...

Clones, mutants and crosses

Like the Pinot family, Grenache comes in 'black', 'grey' and 'white' versions, plus a mutant with an altered epidermis. Pinot noir (pi no nwar) is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. ...

The standard "black Grenache" is known as "Garnatxa Fina" in Catalan, and is the most common version.

The "hairy Grenache" is also known by names such as Lladoner Pelud (see below). The leaves look similar to Macabeo, but with fine little hairs. Recent research in Spain into this bizarre clone indicates that is produces smaller berries with a thicker skin, which suggests a greater potential than the original for making fine wine. This is an active area of investigation. Macabeo (Maccabeo or Viura in parts of Spain) is a variety of wine grape. ...

Grenache Gris is widely planted in France in particular, but is declining under the current vine pull schemes. Vine pull schemes are programs whereby grape growers receive a financial incentive to pull up their grape vines, a process known as arrachage in French. ...

Grenache blanc is a major variety in its own right, particularly in France, where it is an important component of many white wines from the Rhône. It is often blended with Roussanne. Grenache (pronounced gren-aash or gren-ash), also known as Garnatxa negre, Grenache noir, Garnacha, or Cannonau, is a red grape variety grown primarily for winemaking. ... Roussanne is a relatively rare variety of grape grown originally in the Rhône River Valley in France, and used in some white wines there and in the Tuscany region of Italy. ...

Grenache Noir was crossed with Petit Bouschet to give Alicante Bouschet, sometimes called Garnacha Tintorera. It was an important grape during Prohibition, as its thick skins survived being transported from Californian vineyards to consumers, who were allowed to make small amounts of wine at home. Alicante Bouschet is a wine grape variety that has been widely cultivated since 1886. ... The term Prohibition, also known as A Dry Law, refers to a law in a certain country by which the manufacture, transportation, import, export, and sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted or illegal. ...

In 1961, a cross between Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon produced the French wine grape Marselan.^[2] Old vine Cabernet Sauvignon at Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley. ... Marselan is a French wine grape that is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. ...

Distribution and Wines

Australia

A clone from Perpignan arrived in Australia with James Busby in 1832 collection. More significant was the introduction into South Australia of new cuttings from the South of France, by Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold in 1844. Plantings in South Australia boomed, particularly in McLaren Vale, the Barossa Valley and Clare Valley.^[3] Traditionally much of the production went into a fortified wine sold as 'port', but recently interest has turned to unfortified wines either as a single varietal or in "GSM" blends with Shiraz (Syrah) and Mataro (Mourvèdre). These wines are often the product of old vines grown in excellent conditions, and can be very successful. Mourvèdre is a variety of wine grape grown around the world, and is Spains second-most important red wine grape after Garnacha, and was once Provences most popular grape. ...

France

Grenache Rosé

Grenache can make three very different styles of wine in France, where it is planted on nearly 100,000 hectares in the Rhône valley and across the huge vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon, where it may be known as Alicante or Carignane Rousse. As a single varietal it makes rosé wines throughout the region, although the most famous are from the Tavel district of the Côtes du Rhône. Grenache is best known for making dry red wines, sometimes as a single varietal but more commonly blended with more chewy grapes such as Cinsault and Mourvèdre. It forms the basis of the red wines of Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where 12 other grapes can be included in the blend. Emmanuel Reynaud of Château Rayas in Chateauneuf du Pape, and Philippe Laurent of Domaine du Gramenon are notable proponents of Grenache as a single varietal. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,280 × 960 pixels, file size: 214 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo by Zimpenfish File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,280 × 960 pixels, file size: 214 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo by Zimpenfish File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Gigondas is a wine-growing AOC in the southern Rhône wine region of France. ... Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a town and commune in the Vaucluse département in Provence, in southern France. ...

Grenache is also used in vins doux naturels, sweet fortified wines from French Catalonia. Banyuls is the best known of the red vins doux naturels, but they are also made in Maury and Rivesaltes.

Italy

Grenache is known as Cannonau in Sardinia, where it may have originated and is still common.

Spain

"Garnacha" (or Garnatxa in Catalan) used to be the most widely planted variety in its homeland of Spain, but has now been surpassed by the fast-expanding Tempranillo.^[1] It is still the dominant variety in southern Aragón, particularly in the Cariñena, Calatayud and Campo de Borja appellations. In the famous Catalan wine producing region of Priorat it is traditionally blended with the dominant Carignan. In Terra Alta, just southwest of the Priorat, the blend is often the same but many wineries have been begun to blend it with Cabernet and Syrah. Catalan IPA: (català IPA: or []) is a Romance language, the national language of Andorra, and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia, and in the city of LAlguer in the Italian island of Sardinia. ... Priorat is a comarca (county) in Catalonia. ... Carignan (in French; Spanish Cariñena, Italian Carignano, Spanish variety of grape that originated in Cariñena, Aragon and was later transplanted to Italy, Algeria, and much of the New World. ... Terra Alta is a sparsely populated inland comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. ... Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety of red grape mainly used for wine production, and is, along with Chardonnay, one of the most widely-planted of the worlds noble grape varieties. ...

USA

There's quite a lot of Grenache grown in California's Central Valley, mostly for 'jug wine'. This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about Californias Central Valley. ...

Vine and Viticulture

The vine is upright, with good wind tolerance. Its natural vigour must be controlled for best results. The three-lobed leaves are yellowy-green, with no hairs on the undersurface unless it's the 'hairy' clone mentioned above. The medium-sized bunches are conical and winged, with blue-black berries.

In commercial production, the vine tends to alternate, with one 'good' year of production, followed by a 'lighter' year whilst it recuperates.

Synonyms

Abundante, Aleante, Aleantedi Rivalto, Aleante Poggiarelli, Alicant Blau, Alicante, Alicante Grenache, Aragones, Bois Jaune, Cannonaddu, Cannonadu Nieddu, Cannonau, Cannonau Selvaggio, Canonazo, Carignane Rosso, Elegante, Francese, Garnaccho Negro, Garnacha Comun, Garnacha Negra, Garnacha Roja, Garnacha Tinta, Garnatxa Negra, Garnatxa Pais, Gironet, Granaccia, Granaxa, Grenache Noir, Grenache Rouge, Kek Grenache, Lladoner, Mencida, Navaro, Navarra, Navarre de la Dordogne, Navarro, Negru Calvese, Ranconnat, Red Grenache, Redondal, Retagliadu Nieddu, Rivesaltes, Rousillon Tinto, Roussillon, Rouvaillard, Sans Pareil, Santa Maria de Alcantara, Tentillo, Tintella, Tintilla, Tinto Aragones, Tinto Menudo, Tinto Navalcarnero, Tocai Rosso, Toledana and Uva di Spagna.^[4]

Synonyms for the hairy Grenache include Garnatca Peluda, Garnatxa Pelud, Lladoner Gris, Lladoner Pelud and Lledoner Pelut.^[4]

See also

• Grenache blanc

Grenache (pronounced gren-aash or gren-ash), also known as Garnatxa negre, Grenache noir, Garnacha, or Cannonau, is a red grape variety grown primarily for winemaking. ...

Notes and references

Jancis Mary Robinson (born in Cumbria on April 22, 1950) is a British wine writer and journalist. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Further reading

• Robinson, Jancis Vines, Grapes & Wines Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1857329996