Wine Grape: Grenache Noir (Cannonau)
Grenache Noir is one of the most planted grapes in the world. It almost certainly comes from Spain's Aragon region and was spread throughout the Mediterranean during that kingdom's long occupation of Southern France and Italy from the 13th to 17th centuries.
As Garnacha in Spain, it is often blended with Tempranillo and most notably plays a role in Priorat and Rioja. In Rioja it's grown in the relatively warm Rioja Baja and plays a secondary role, blended with Tempranillo. In Priorat, Grenache can be blended with Merlot, Cabernet, and Syrah.
Today, France is the number one producer of Grenache, where it is often blended with more colorful, structured wine grapes. It's an important grape in France's Languedoc-Roussillon, where it's the 2nd most planted grape variety, after Carignan. It is usually blended with Carignan, Cinsaut, Syrah and Mourvèdre and is a big component of Cotes du Rhône, Châteauneuf du Pape, and Gigondas. It also goes into many of Southern France's delicious rosés, including Tavel and Lirac. In Roussillon, it makes Vins Doux Naturels such as Banyuls and Maury.
Synonyms
Also known as Alicante, Alicante di Spagna, Alicantina, Cannonadu, Canonao, Cannonao, Carignane Rousse, Garnacha, Garnacha Negra, Garnacha Tinta, Granaccia, Granacha, Grenache Noir, Roussillon, Tocai Rosso, Vernaccia di Serrapetrona, Vernaccia Nera
Where
France: Corsica, Languedoc, Provence, Rhône, Roussillon
Spain: Aragon, Basque Country, Castilla-León, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Estremadura, Madrid, Navarra, Región de la Murcia, Rioja, Valencia
Italy: Calabria, Sardinia, Sicily, Veneto (as Tocai Rosso)
Also: Algeria, Australia, Israel, Morocco, South Africa, USA (California)
Principal Wines
France: Corsica: Ajaccio AOC, Patrimonio AOC, Corse AOC; Languedoc: Cabardès AOC, Corbières AOC, Costières-de-Nîmes AOC, Languedoc or Coteaux-du-Languedoc AOC, Fitou AOC, Minervois AOC, Saint-Chinian AOC; Provence: Bandol AOC, Baux-de-Provence AOC, Bellet AOC, Cassis AOC, Coteaux-d'Aix-en-Provence AOC, Coteaux-Varois-en-Provence AOC, Côtes-de-Provence AOC, Palette AOC; Rhône: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, Coteaux-de-Pierrevert AOC, Coteaux-du-Tricastin AOC, Côtes-du-Luberon AOC, Côtes-du-Rhone AOC, Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages AOC, Côtes-du-Ventoux, Côtes-du-Vivarais AOC, Gigondas AOC, Lirac AOC, Rasteau AOC, Tavel AOC, Vacqueyras AOC; Roussillon: Banyuls AOC, Banyuls Grand Cru AOC, Collioure AOC, Côtes-du-Roussillon AOC, Rivesaltes AOC
Italy: Sardinia: Cannonau di Sardegna DOC, Mandrolisai DOC; Veneto: Colli Berici DOC
Spain: Aragon: Somontano DO, Campo de Boria DO, Cariñena DO, Calatayud DO; Catalonia: Penedès DO, Priorat DOC; Navarra: Navarra DO; Rioja: Rioja DOC
Characteristics
Color: Ruby red. Brick hues after aging
Nose: Fruity (black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, red currant, roasted almond), Floral (honey), Spicy (ginger bread, black pepper), Vegetal (black olive), Animal (leather)
Palate: Medium body, high in alcohol. Medium tannin and acid
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