| Grape that comes in both red-wine and white-wine varieties. When used by itself, the word "Grenache" refers to the red version Grenache Noir, one of the world's most widely cultivated red grapes. The Grenache grape does well in hot, dry regions, and its strong stalk makes it well suited for windy conditions. It ripens with very high sugar levels and can produce wines with 15 to 16 percent ALCOHOL. Grenache wines are sweet, fruity, and very low in TANNINS. They're usually lacking in color, except in growing areas where YIELDS are low. The vine originated in Spain where it's called Garnacha; Garnacha Tinta (or Garnacho Tinto) and is the most widely cultivated red-wine grape in Spain. In southern France not far from the Spanish border, Grenache is widely cultivated in the areas around LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON, PROVENCE, and the southern RHÔNE. It's also extensively grown in Algeria, Australia, Corsica, Israel, Morocco, Sardinia (where it's called Cannonau), and California's CENTRAL VALLEY. Red Grenache wines are usually BLENDED with those made from other varieties; 100 percent Grenache wines are rarely found. In Spain Grenache is blended with TEMPRANILLO, and in most of France it's blended with CINSAUT and CARIGNAN. In CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE it's used as the primary grape, although it is blended with as many as twelve other VARIETALS including CLAIRETTE, MOURVÈDRE, MUSCADINE, and SYRAH. In ROSÉ wines-particularly those from CÔTES DU RHÔNE, CÔTES DU VENTOUX, LIRAC, and TAVEL-Grenache is often the dominant grape used. |
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