Grenache: a grape variety that embodies gluttony
The grape variety is the type of vine plant that has been used in winemaking since the Middle Ages.
These grapes from this culture are a little particular: the shapes of the leaves and the bunches are in another shape, the color of the grapes when ripe is darker and their tastes are different. In the field of oenology, certain grape varieties stand out and among others, we can mention pinot noir , merlot, Trousseau, chardonnay and grenache. For this file, we will focus more on the latter.
Grenache: a black grape variety for red wines
It is often referred to as Grenache Noir , but the latter also has other variants. This black grape variety is of Spanish origin.
It comes from the province of Aragon and it extends beyond this border in the 15th century with the expansion of the Aragonese kingdom. It is then found in Sardinia, Corsica and Roussillon.
To the great surprise of winegrowers, the Provençal coast contributes effectively to the development of this grape variety. Currently, it is the most cultivated grape variety, and this, throughout the whole world. It is widely used in the production of great red wines and this is what gives the power, color and generosity of these red wines.
It can also be used for rosé wines and natural sweet wines and for these drinks, we feel more the a little particular aromas, the sweetness as well as the sweet notes.
The particularities of Grenache
In the fields, it is very easy to spot. It is characterized by an upright habit and vigorous branches. It is also distinguished by its hard, thick and bluish skin.
The clusters are larger in size compared to other clusters. They are weighted with large grains, round and juicy. Its foliage tends more towards a light green and it is more glabrous and shiny. As for the shape of the leaves, they are more rounded and the lobes are less marked.
You will easily recognize the bottles that have been made from this grape variety. The wines made mainly from this grape variety have a more accentuated red and bronze robe.
In the mouth, it also has surprises in store for you. If you take a bottle of rosé wine made from this variety, it will offer a silky touch to your palate and its pale tint will have no effect on the taste. For a bottle of red wine , you will have an explosion of flavors in the mouth ranging from aromas of blackcurrant and spicy blackberries to a note of cocoa, coffee.
If the bottle in question is older, you will feel more the notes of dried fruits and fragrant spicy flavors. Even though they are so tasty, alcohol abuse is dangerous.
Three variants of Grenache
If we often encounter Grenache Noir , know that we can also find this variety in other colors, including white and gray.
These two variants are used in the production of white wines. The white needs more freshness to avoid heaviness in taste and to improve the quality. You will also have all the indulgence and smoothness with this variant if it is perfectly balanced in freshness.
Gray is not often encountered, but there are a few vines of it in the Roussillon vineyards. It is used to make white wines from Collioure and local wines from the Côtes Catalanes and it is this grape variety that explains the complexity of the flavors. The bottles that are produced from this variety can have a more or less greyish color.
A grape variety with two facets: resistant and sensitive
It is a very vigorous and productive variety. It is not as complex, but for optimal development, it requires more gravelly and stony soil with low acidity. A winegrower can have nearly 20 hl of natural sweet wines on one hectare and this production rises to 100 hl per hectare if the grape variety is grown in a lowland area. As resistant as it appears, this variety is very sensitive to excoriosis, gray rot and grape worms. Precautions should also be taken to protect it from bacterial necrosis. This variety is also sensitive to mildew and powdery mildew. In all this panoply of weakness, Grenache will have no problem with meloidogyne rootworms if it is grown in sandy coastal areas. It is perfectly resistant to drought, but it is sometimes afraid of coulure, especially at the time of flowering.
Grenache viticulture in France
This grape variety is grown in the south, especially in the Rhône valley, in Languedoc-Roussillon and in Provence. It represents more than 100,000 hectares of vines in France. The wines of great appellations use Grenache: we can mention among many others Châteauneuf-du-Pape , Tavel, Côtes de Provence, Costières de Nîmes and Côtes du Rhône. For the production of dry red and full-bodied wines, it is often associated with Mourvèdre and Syrah and this is what gives its best results.
Wines from the Rhône Valley and Languedoc Roussillon
The great wines of the Rhône Valley are made mainly from Grenache Noir and this is the case with Côtes-du-Rhône . These bottles of wine are distinguished by their aromas of ripe red and black fruits and by their soft tannins and this is obviously explained by the grape variety. The wines of Languedoc Roussillon are very similar to those of the Rhone Valley, but like the land where these grape varieties are grown are not the same. Languedoc Roussillon wines are stronger in taste and more generous. They are also often blended with Syrahs. Remember that alcohol consumption is dangerous for your health.
