Did you know? Garnacha is one of the oldest grapes still around, having first been grown for wines in the 12th century. While it isn’t planted quite as much as Cabernet Sauvignon, its equally important, as it is found in some of the most expensive wines of the world.
Garnacha was born in the northern region of Spain known as Aragon. Because the grape thrives in a warm, dry Mediterranean climate, the vines spread south and east, first to Catalonia, then to Corsica, Sardinia, southern Italy, Sicily, Croatia, Greece, and at the same time, north over the Pyrenees mountains to the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France. Because of the language difference, here the grape began to be called Grenache, which is the name this grape is most known by now. From Languedoc, the vines made their way to Southern Rhone, and it is this region that has made the grape famous for blending.
Of the most famous French wine blends is known as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which literally translates to “The Pope’s new castle.” The name refers to Pope John XXII who erected the famous castle just north of Avignon on the banks of the Rhone. During his time, the grapes in this region gained popularity and Grenache began to be blending with Burgundy grapes to add body, alcohol and juicy fruit flavors. While current wine laws no longer allow this blending, it was during this time the region gained notoriety. Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines typically have Grenache as the main grape and are some of the most expensive wines in the world. Bottles of Château Rayasand Domaine du Pegauin Châteauneuf-du-Pape go for close to $600. In Priorat, Clos Erasmusand Alvara Palacio’s ‘Ermita Velle Vinyes‘are two Spanish cult Grenache-based wines nearing the $300 mark. Finally, Sine Qua Nonin Santa Barbara run upwards of $500 per bottle.
Grenache wines tend to be soft on the palate with bright fruit flavors of raspberry and strawberry, lingering with a subtle white pepper spice note. Because of the origins of the vines, these wines pair very well with dishes featuring Mediterranean spices including red pepper, sage, rosemary, and olives. Consider meaty meals with small game like rabbit or game bird such as quail. The fresh fruit flavors blend well with Spanish or Portuguese style dishes, so consider tapas or a flavorful paella.
The winery Tablas Creek in Paso Robles, California is solely responsible for the arrival and thriving of Grenache in the U.S. Working with Château de Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the cuttings of Rhône Valley wine grapes were brought to America in 1989. The nursery at Tablas Creek continues its relationship with the French winery and can also be credited with the plantings of the Viognier grape in our country.
Becker Vineyards 2016 Reserve Grenache – Texas Hill Country ($30 bottle). Becker is one of our first wineries to plant vines in Central Texas back in the early 1990s. Dr. Becker is a personal fan of this particular grape; however, it was not one of the varietals planted on the estate when they established the vineyards. He now and works in close partnership with other growers to obtain the best quality Grenache for this Reserve wine. The 2016 harvest comes from the Tallent Vineyards in Mason County and yields a wine that drinks well today and will easily cellar for 5 to 7 years.
Lightning Wines 2015 California Grenache– Northern California ($32 bottle) Texan Randy Hester and his wife Brooke left for Napa in 2006 to pursue wine making. The Lightning Wines label was established in 2009 and Randy vowed to focus solely on the Rhone varietals for this label. He is proud of his single vineyard Grenache bottlings, but with limited production, these are only available to his wine club members. With slightly greater production, this bottle is a blend of his favorite sources in California, and an excellent example of the grape quality on the west coast.
Bodegas Ateca Honoro Vera 2016 Granacha – Calatayud, Spain ($20 bottle). Established in 1916, this winery has only exported its wines to the U.S. for about 4 years. The vineyards offer untrelised vines on steep hillsides at an elevation of at least 2,000 feet. There is poor soil quality of decomposed slate and clay with chunks of limestone gravel, which provides a low yield of grapes. Because the vines are stressed in these conditions, the end product is a rich, flavorful wine. For folks who find points helpful in wine purchases, this wine received 91 points by James Suckling and the Best Buy label from Wine Spectator magazine.