| Grenache noir is the world's most widely planted | | | | red blends. Until surpassed by plantings of merlot |
| grape used to make red wine, sometimes made | | | | in the past decade, Grenache was the third most |
| into a stand-alone varietal, frequently as a | | | | planted red variety in California after Zinfandel and |
| rosé, but most often as a backbone of | | | | Cabernet Sauvignon. Most of this acreage is in the |
| red blends. | | | | Central Valley and used to produce bulk rather |
| Used as a component in some Northern | | | | than premium wine. |
| Rhône reds, nearly exclusively for | | | | An abundant producer of fruit, grenache habitually |
| Rhône rosés and as the primary | | | | will "alternate" a crop of 8 to 10 tons |
| component in nearly all Southern Rhône red | | | | per acre one year and 14 to 16 tons the next. |
| blends, Grenache is probably most notable as the | | | | The vine is very sturdy and woody, lends itself |
| base varietal for Chateauneuf du Pape, Cotes du | | | | well to head or spur pruning, and survives arid and |
| Rhône and Gigondas. In spite of its fame | | | | drought conditions better than less vigorous vines. |
| coming from French wines, Spain is most likely | | | | Cool and damp conditions can cause |
| this grape's origin | | | | "deadarm" disease in grenache, |
| Grenache is known by local names (alicante, | | | | however, and its compact and well-filled clusters |
| carignane rousse) in the Mediterranean regions of | | | | are quite prone to rot. The grenache grape is |
| France. Particularly important in the areas of the | | | | relatively low in both pigment and malic acid, and |
| Languedoc and Rousillon, there are also variants | | | | oxidizes readily. Although some 100% varietal |
| with different colored berries: white grenache | | | | wines are produced from grenache, particularly in |
| blanc, and pink grenache rose or grenache gris. | | | | Spain's Rioja and from some "other |
| Nearly three times as much grenache is planted in | | | | countries grenache is noted as a filler |
| Spain as in France. The spanish know this grape | | | | On its own, grenache makes fleshy, heady, very |
| and wine as garnacha or garnacha tinta, where it | | | | fruity wines in their youth. They tend to age |
| is the dominant red wine variety in Catalonia and | | | | quickly, showing tawny colors and prone to |
| prominent in Rioja. The grape is known in Italy as | | | | oxidation or maderization after only a relatively |
| cannonau. | | | | short time in bottle. The general character and |
| In the New World, Australia has extensive | | | | mouthfeel of Grenache wines are more distinctive |
| plantings of Grenache and has been very | | | | and identifyable than any particular aromas or |
| successful making full-bodied Grenache-dominated | | | | flavors. |