Is Grenache the new Pinot Noir?

Both Pinot Noir & Grenache grapes share in common their thin skins and immediate red fruit aromas and flavours making them a perfect transition from the lighter Summer drinking of mostly white & rose wines.

Like Pinot Noir, Grenache is highly sensitive to soil and winemaking techniques, as well as climate and altitude. Both grapes planted on sandy soils give fresher, lighter wines with more aromas, while red clay ones have longer flavors and more structure. In the case of older vines, reds get more intense in flavor. In fact Grenache is sometimes referred to as the warm climate Pinot

Grenache, or as it’s known by its Spanish name, Garnacha, is one of the most widely planted red grapes in the world; it’s also one of the key ingredients in some of the world’s most famous wines, one of them being the famous French Rhone blend Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

If you’re testing your palate with a blind tasting, the telltale signs of grenache are the candied fruit roll-up and cinnamon hit. Medium- to full-bodied but bright in colour, grenache is packed with aromas of orange rind, raspberry, plum and tobacco. Your typical grenache boasts balanced tannins, medium acidity and plush berries, making it a crowd-pleasing wine.

Styles do vary depending on where the grapes are grown. For example, the Spanish garnacha expression that’s produced in the warm regions of the north are normally high in alcohol (around 15 per cent) and filled with ruby-red grapefruit, cherry and liquorice characters. On the other hand, French grenache from the cooler southern Rhone produces wines with more finesse and less alcohol, highlighting herbal notes such as oregano and lavender.

The two world regions most famous for grenache can be found in France: Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Cotes du Rhone. According to James Halliday, the Chateau Rayas – made from 100 per cent grenache – is the ultimate achievement and expression of the variety. The wine has exotic aromas and flavours and is sweetly spiced, featuring forest berry, tobacco and liquorice.

Cotes du Rhone is a vast appellation with a viticultural history stretching over 1000 years, of which grenache is the dominant variety. The hallmark of all Cotes du Rhone wines is sheer drinkability. While the fruit is there in abundance, the tannins are soft. James says: “This is a wine which Australians instinctively understand… and the overwhelming majority of the Cotes du Rhone wines brought into this country are from the top echelon of producers.” The wines of the Rhone Valley are what set the stage for grenache in the New World, where it was first embraced by California and South Australia, and by the warmest, driest wine regions of those states.

There are approximately 500,000 hectares of grenache planted worldwide, making it one of the most commonly planted varieties, and Australia is home to the oldest producing vines in the world dating back to 1850. Initially used for fortified wines, grenache is finally getting the attention it deserves, and South Australia is leading the charge when it comes to producing grenache that is plush and fragrant, while earthy and savoury.

As one of the first people to recognise the value and tradition of old-vine Grenache blends, Charlie Melton is part of a group of winemakers responsible for retaining the viticultural heritage of the Barossa Valley. He has long been considered the original Champion for Australian Grenache.

Notable Barossa Valley Grenache producers include:
– Cirillo Estate Wines: ‘The Vincent’ and ‘1850s’ – quite possibly the oldest Grenache vines in the world
– Charles Melton: ‘Nine Popes’ – benchmark and historic blend
– Yalumba: ‘The Tri-Centenary’ and ‘Old Bush Vine’
– John Duval: ‘Annexus

In McLaren Vale you will not only find a landscape of beauty nestled in between rolling mountains and white sandy beaches, Grenache here is at it's creative best. Although the region has thousands of hectares under vine and the demand for its wines at an all-time global high, McLaren Vale retains the innovative spirit it was born with. Much of that spirit stems from the fact that “the Vale” still has many boutique wineries that continue to push the boundaries in search of perfection. It’s a classic region that’s determined to stay contemporary.

Notable McLaren Vale Grenache producers include:
- S.C. Pannell ‘Old McDonald’
- Thistledown ‘Sands of Time’ winner of James Halliday 2022 Best Varietal award.
- D’Arenberg ‘The Blewitt Sands Grenache’ and ‘The Derelict Vineyard’
- Longline ‘Albright’
- Angove ‘Warboys Vineyard’

Halliday Wine Companion announces the Best Varietal Winner for 2022 - Thistledown Wines

Thistledown Wines named producer of Best Grenache in Australia

To show you how wonderful Grenache can be, The Reserve Cellar is celebrating all things Thistledown with a Grenache & Graze Wine Tasting on Thursday 5th May 6:30pm Grenache & Graze Wine Tasting (myguestlist.com)