Grenache: 7 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know
Happy International #GrenacheDay! I hope you’ve got a nice bottle lined up to celebrate. This annual celebration happens on the third Friday in September every year. To help celebrate this year, the team from Cellarmasters are sharing with us some of their Grenache-y knowledge. Enjoy!
September 15 is International Grenache Day, so why not treat yourself to a glass of this plush, fruity wine varietal to celebrate?
Sometimes called a “warm climate Pinot Noir”, Grenache is a more medium-bodied wine that can be slightly deceptive as it is often not as dark in colour as other red wines such as Shiraz or Cabernet but still can be rich in flavour.
Grenache was often thought of as the work horse of grapes, and has been long overlooked and underestimated. But it is having a moment with more Australians falling in love with this flavoursome grape with this varietal winning awards not just locally but also in international wine shows,” says Blood Brother Republic winemaker Mark Jamieson, who makes a Grenache from McLaren Vale’s Blewitt Springs that was recently awarded a gold medal in the San Francisco International Wine Competition, America’s largest and most prestigious wine award.
So let’s get stuck in, here are 7 things you might not know about Grenache yet…
1. South Australia makes awesome Grenache
The grape varietal may have been first planted in The Hunter Valley but South Australia is where it has really thrived. In South Australia, Grenache grows really well in McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley, due to the regions’ warm climates and some of the world’s oldest surviving vines.
2. It tends to be a favourite among male wine drinkers
According to stats from Cellarmasters, more than 70% of customers who buy Grenache are men.
“This red wine has a more robust flavour and lifted aromatics, which interestingly seems to appeal to more male wine drinkers,” Mark Jamieson explains.
3. It’s a fruity wine
The palate of a typical Grenache wine is fruit driven, often very plush and shows sweet red berries, spice and wild raspberry notes. Grenache aromas include those of spice, red plum, raspberry, cherry elixir and, when developed, meaty or gamey notes.
4. Grenache is best enjoyed with food
Grenache is a more medium-bodied wine and can have higher alcohol than your standard red wine. It is best enjoyed with food, preferably protein, such as a slow-roast lamb or any barbequed meat, complete with a sauce made from the Grenache. It also works well with meaty fish like a grilled tuna steak or game such as duck or goose.
5. Beautiful cheese match
Grenache is a beautiful wine to enjoy with cheese, and the perfect pairing leans toward softer, washed-rind varieties. Less crumbly feta goes well with a Grenache wine, as does most creamy cheese. Fresh goat’s milk cheese will work together with the red fruits present in Grenache.
6. It’s one of the world’s most grown grape varietals
Aragon in Northern Spain is believed to be where Grenache originated and the region grows the varietal in abundance, but the Spaniards are far from the only ones growing the grape. Grenache is one of the most grown grape varietals worldwide and is grown in warmer climates such as in the South of France, and it often gets blended with Shiraz or Mourvedre (Mataro) to make a GSM.
7. Grenache is often used in fortified wine
The beauty of the ripe, spicy, cherry and raspberry-scented characters have led to Grenache often being used in fortified wines, such as port or tawny.
To shop the award-winning Blood Brother Republic Blewitt Springs Grenache 2015, head to Cellarmasters.
