Grenache: Difference between revisions

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The grape typically produces large, thin-skinned berries. Wines often show elevated alcohol, moderate acidity, and relatively soft tannins, with flavours of red berries, plum, herbs, and spice. Its susceptibility to oxidation requires careful handling during winemaking and ageing.<ref>Goode, ''The Science of Wine: From Vine to Glass'', University of California Press, 2014, p. 99.</ref>

== Varieties ==

Grenache ~~exists in several colour mutations~~:

=== Grenache Noir ===

* ''Grenache ~~Noir~~'' – the ~~most widespread form~~, ~~central~~ to ~~red blends~~ and ~~varietal wines~~.

* ''Grenache Blanc'' – a white mutation ~~used~~ in Rhône ~~white~~ wines and ~~some Spanish appellations~~.

Grenache Noir (Spanish: '''Garnacha Tinta'''; Sardinian: '''Cannonau''') is the red-berried form and the most widely planted member of the Grenache family. It is late-ripening, vigorous and drought-tolerant, thriving in warm, dry climates and producing wines with high potential alcohol, modest acidity and supple tannins.<ref>Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, ''Wine Grapes'', HarperCollins, 2012.</ref> In France it is a cornerstone of the southern Rhône and neighbouring areas, notably in blends of [[Châteauneuf-du-Pape]] and [[Côtes du Rhône]], and also underpins fortified vins doux naturels in Roussillon.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 2015.</ref><ref>Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR), roussillon.wine.</ref> In Spain (as Garnacha), important concentrations occur in Aragón (e.g. [[Campo de Borja]] and Calatayud) and Priorat, while old-vine plantings are significant in South Australia and parts of California.<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 8th ed., 2019.</ref>

* ''~~Grenache Gris~~'' – a grey-~~pink~~ mutation, ~~valued for rosés~~ and ~~fortified wines~~ in ~~Roussillon~~.

=== Grenache Blanc ===

Grenache Blanc (Spanish: '''Garnacha Blanca''') is a white-berried colour mutation of Grenache. It is prevalent in the southern Rhône, Roussillon and parts of Languedoc, where it yields full-bodied whites with moderate acidity, a tendency to higher alcohol and sensitivity to oxidation if not handled reductively.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', 2015.</ref> In Spain, Garnacha Blanca is especially associated with Terra Alta in Catalonia and appears in both varietal wines and blends.<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 8th ed., 2019.</ref><ref>Consejo Regulador DO Terra Alta, “Garnatxa Blanca”, doterraalta.com.</ref> As a blending component it contributes weight and texture alongside grapes such as [[Roussanne]] and [[Marsanne]].<ref>Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, ''Wine Grapes'', 2012.</ref>

=== Grenache Gris ===

Grenache Gris is the grey-pink–skinned mutation of Grenache, grown in small quantities, most notably in Roussillon and pockets of Languedoc. It typically delivers low-colour musts with elevated sugar and can add body and phenolic grip to white and rosé blends; varietal examples are rare but exist in coastal Mediterranean zones.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', 2015.</ref><ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 8th ed., 2019.</ref> Like the other colour forms, it is a late-ripening, warm-site variety, and its three mutations (noir, blanc, gris) are understood to be closely related selections within the same Grenache family.<ref>Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, ''Wine Grapes'', 2012.</ref>

== Global Distribution ==

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 The grape typically produces large, thin-skinned berries. Wines often show elevated alcohol, moderate acidity, and relatively soft tannins, with flavours of red berries, plum, herbs, and spice. Its susceptibility to oxidation requires careful handling during winemaking and ageing.<ref>Goode, ''The Science of Wine: From Vine to Glass'', University of California Press, 2014, p. 99.</ref>
 == Varieties ==
-{{Main|Grenache Noir|Grenache Blanc|Grenache Gris}}
-Grenache exists in several colour mutations:
+=== Grenache Noir ===
-* ''Grenache Noir'' – the most widespread form, central to red blends and varietal wines.
+{{Main|Grenache Noir}}
-* ''Grenache Blanc'' – a white mutation used in Rhône white wines and some Spanish appellations.
+Grenache Noir (Spanish: '''Garnacha Tinta'''; Sardinian: '''Cannonau''') is the red-berried form and the most widely planted member of the Grenache family. It is late-ripening, vigorous and drought-tolerant, thriving in warm, dry climates and producing wines with high potential alcohol, modest acidity and supple tannins.<ref>Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, ''Wine Grapes'', HarperCollins, 2012.</ref> In France it is a cornerstone of the southern Rhône and neighbouring areas, notably in blends of [[Châteauneuf-du-Pape]] and [[Côtes du Rhône]], and also underpins fortified vins doux naturels in Roussillon.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', Oxford University Press, 2015.</ref><ref>Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR), roussillon.wine.</ref> In Spain (as Garnacha), important concentrations occur in Aragón (e.g. [[Campo de Borja]] and Calatayud) and Priorat, while old-vine plantings are significant in South Australia and parts of California.<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 8th ed., 2019.</ref>
-* ''Grenache Gris'' – a grey-pink mutation, valued for rosés and fortified wines in Roussillon.
+=== Grenache Blanc ===
+{{Main|Grenache Blanc}}
+Grenache Blanc (Spanish: '''Garnacha Blanca''') is a white-berried colour mutation of Grenache. It is prevalent in the southern Rhône, Roussillon and parts of Languedoc, where it yields full-bodied whites with moderate acidity, a tendency to higher alcohol and sensitivity to oxidation if not handled reductively.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', 2015.</ref> In Spain, Garnacha Blanca is especially associated with Terra Alta in Catalonia and appears in both varietal wines and blends.<ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 8th ed., 2019.</ref><ref>Consejo Regulador DO Terra Alta, “Garnatxa Blanca”, doterraalta.com.</ref> As a blending component it contributes weight and texture alongside grapes such as [[Roussanne]] and [[Marsanne]].<ref>Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, ''Wine Grapes'', 2012.</ref>
+=== Grenache Gris ===
+{{Main|Grenache Gris}}
+Grenache Gris is the grey-pink–skinned mutation of Grenache, grown in small quantities, most notably in Roussillon and pockets of Languedoc. It typically delivers low-colour musts with elevated sugar and can add body and phenolic grip to white and rosé blends; varietal examples are rare but exist in coastal Mediterranean zones.<ref>Robinson (ed.), ''The Oxford Companion to Wine'', 2015.</ref><ref>Johnson & Robinson, ''The World Atlas of Wine'', 8th ed., 2019.</ref> Like the other colour forms, it is a late-ripening, warm-site variety, and its three mutations (noir, blanc, gris) are understood to be closely related selections within the same Grenache family.<ref>Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, ''Wine Grapes'', 2012.</ref>
 == Global Distribution ==