One of the most widely planted red grapes in the world somehow still manages to fly under the radar. Garnacha is also known as Grenache, Alicante,Cannonau, along with several other synonyms, but we are going to focus on the grape’s role in Spanish wine, where it is almost always referred to as Garnacha.
Most wine drinkers familiar with the grape know it better as the predominant component in France’s legendary Chateauneuf-du-Pape (where it is known as Grenache) wines, but the grape very likely originated in northern Spain, and Garnacha was most likely its original name.
Today, the grape grows most widely in the southern Spanish regions of Aragon, Calatayud, Carinena and Campo de Borja, all hot and dry regions where the grape thrives. Long considered a “workhorse” grape and used mostly in red blends, it’s only the past twenty years or so that the wine has been truly recognized and realized.
From the inexpensive wines of Campo to Borja, to the structured, high end wines of Priorat, winemakers have learned to appreciate the grape’s unique character; spicy and savory with bright red fruits and a backbone of acid.
Marketview Liquor stocks dozens of Garnacha wines covering the scale of price ranges and styles. It’s a new year, why not introduce yourself to a new grape!