Uncommon Red Wines; A Quick Glimpse At Grenache (Gruh-naash)

Grenache, also known as Garnacha (Spain) and Cannonau (Italy) is one of the world’s most widely planted red wine grape, yet it’s unknown as it’s commonly used in blended wines like Tempranillo, Cinsaut and Cabernet Sauvignon where it adds body and sweet fruitiness to the wine. This grape is a dominant variety in most Southern Rhône wines, one famous blend being Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where it typically comprises over 75% of the blend. Grenache is however slowly gaining recognition as a varietal wine i.e. unblended (or made with a principal grape).

How it’s made

Grenache can be made into dry, semi-sweet or sweet wine depending on the vintner (the person who makes the wine). Once the grapes are ripened and picked, they’re pressed and fermented in steel vats or oak barrels (which will determine how the final product tastes)

If the vintner wants to produce a dry wine, they’ll let the fermentation process run its course so that there’s little residual sugar left. On the other hand, if the goal is to produce a sweet wine, the fermentation process will be interrupted to leave higher sugar levels in the wine.

Characteristic flavour profiles

What does it taste like? It has a medium-bodied taste due to its higher alcohol content, with juicy, ripe red fruit and rich, spicy, berry flavours of;

• Raspberry
• Strawberry
• White pepper
• Black and red cherry
• Leather and toffee notes (with age)
• Spices: Cinnamon, star anise and black pepper (particularly if aged in oak)
• Other notes: Licorice, tobacco, dried herbs, red grapefruit, and orange rind 

Just how delicious does it sound?

Personally, I’ve been enjoying it quite a lot as I love to explore food, and wine is no exception. I love that its beautifully balanced and very easy on the palate if you’re just starting out on your wine discovery journey. If you haven’t already, please do yourself a delicious favour and try this amazing wine called Grenache. I hope you enjoy it as much- if not more than I do!

Remember that good manners and good wine are timeless. Cheers to a life well-lived,

Makgoadi Ngoasheng