Puts the “G” in “Grape”!

The Grenache grape is one of the most widely distributed grapes in the world. Besides being grown extensively in France and Spain, it’s also grown significantly in the United States and Australia. On top of that, you can find Grenache in the Mediterranean, throughout South America, in South Africa — it’s one of the world’s wine grapes. It’s called “Garnacha” in Spain, “Garnatxa” in Basque Country, “Tinto Aragones” in Portugal, “Grenache Noir” in France, “Cannonau Di Sardgena” in Sicily, and other names in other places.

Originating in Spain’s Aragón region, it creeped up from there into southeastern France, becoming a staple, especially, of the southern Rhône Valley. As the Kingdom of Aragón’s influence spread through the centuries, they took Garnacha into the Mediterranean.

It’s a very popular red grape for blending, but it also works well standing alone as a single variety wine. You’ll find it in reds (of course) and rosés, but there’s also a white mutation of the grape called Grenache Blanc. So you can find Grenache in whites as well!

Most importantly, you can find Grenache wines here, especially this Wine Wednesday as we devote our tasting to Grenache and its compatriots. Please join us for this free walk-up tasting any time between 5:00 and 6:30 PM. (If you don’t come, our next Grenache tasting will have really bad puns like “Grenache and Bear It!” Now, who wants that?)