A popular and versatile red grape, Grenache is predominantly found in southern France as well as Spain, where it also goes by the name Garnacha. This vine grape is often characterized as being versatile and inexpensive, but can also be found in select batches of barrel-aged wine at a higher price point. Grenache grapes range between light and fruity, to deep and intense in flavor – it usually depends where it is grown!

This variety of grape does best when growing in hot and dry regions – especially the warm and arid conditions that Spain provides and it is thought that this grape originated from Spain. The Grenache grape also ripens later than other varieties, which is why it does so well in hot and dry conditions compared to other more delicate vines. Grenache grapes contain high concentrations of acid, tannin and flavor — the most common flavor characteristics include cherry, raisin and currents – but there are also hints of licorice and black pepper present in some varieties. Depending on where Grenache grapes are grown, they can vary in color. For example, California Grenache grapes are often paler in color, while Spanish and French varieties are deeper in color and produce a more intense flavor and texture. For this reason, many wine connoisseurs suggest pairing Grenache with fattier cuts of meat such as Lamb or pork roast – it also pairs very well with braised and stewed dishes.

Variations of Grenache wine – known as Grenache blends – feature lower tannins, which make it a suitable choice for components such as vegetables, cheese and even some pasta dishes. Connoisseurs of Grenache wine recommendto avoidpairing this variety with dishes incorporating steamed or raw ingredients, as well as citrus fruits, as the high alcohol content isn’t complementary to the flavors and texture. This grape varietydates back to the 14^th and 15^th centuries, coming to the United States during the 20^th century – these vines can now be found throughout the Central San Joaquin Valley, which provides the appropriate dry and arid growing conditions.

The expansion of Grenache grapevines – specifically outside of Spain— was at first concentrated mostly throughout California and Australia, but continually grows more popular and finds itself in newer locations, such as Mexico, South Africa and Argentina, annually.