Grenache / Garnacha

According to VIVC, the prime name of this variety is Garnacha Tinta (VIVC variety number 4461) and its country or region of origin is Spain. VIVC records no known parents: the pedigree and parent fields of its passport are blank and its full pedigree entry reads "NO", so the parentage of Grenache is unknown. VIVC does record offspring. Its passport for Alicante Henri Bouschet (VIVC 304) names Bouschet Petit as parent 1 and Garnacha Tinta as parent 2, and gives the pedigree confirmed by markers as "PETIT BOUSCHET X GRENACHE". WineWiki's VIVC-derived lineage data lists that variety, Garnacha Tintorera, as the one child of Grenache.

• VIVC prime name: Garnacha Tinta (variety number 4461), berry skin colour noir
• Country of origin according to VIVC: Spain
• Parents: unknown; VIVC records no known parents
• Offspring recorded by VIVC: Alicante Henri Bouschet (VIVC 304), from Bouschet Petit x Garnacha Tinta

OIV's Focus OIV 2017 report describes Garnacha Tinta, or Grenache Noir, as "an ancient black grape variety from Spain, thought to have been introduced to France during the Middle Ages". Jancis Robinson reports a competing local claim: in Sardinia, where the variety is known as Cannonau, locals claim it had its roots on the island before being exported to Spain and France when the island was part of the kingdom of Aragon. Jancis Robinson also writes that at the end of the last century Grenache was planted on more land than any other grape in the world apart from La Mancha's white Airén, because as Garnacha it was Spain's most common red wine grape, and that in this century much of it has been uprooted as part of the EU vine pull scheme.

• OIV gives Garnacha Tinta's world vineyard area as 163,000 ha in 2015, with France and Spain accounting for 87% of it
• Jancis Robinson describes a variant with particularly hairy leaves planted in Spain as Garnacha Peluda and in Roussillon and western Languedoc as Lledoner Pelut, and says it is customary to blend the hairy-leaved and regular versions
• Jancis Robinson describes Garnacha Tintorera, the 'dyer' version of Garnacha, as Spain's name for Alicante Bouschet, which is widely planted, notably in Almansa

OIV describes Garnacha Tinta as a highly vigorous, upright variety that is extremely drought resistant and adapts easily to different soil types, while noting that it is sensitive to autumn frosts. Jancis Robinson writes that its upright growth and strong, sturdy trunk make it ideally suited to being grown as a water-seeking bush vine in hot, windy areas, and that it is relatively late ripening, so it can be grown successfully only in quite warm regions. In Spain she reports that Garnacha is widely planted all over the northern half of the country; in Rioja and Navarra it is regarded as playing second fiddle to Tempranillo, although she singles out pockets in Rioja Alta upriver of Nájera and in Rioja Baja in the high vineyards of Tudelilla where Garnacha vines are renowned for the voluptuous flesh they can bring to a Rioja. As Grenache, she writes, the vine is planted all over southern France, and Grenache Noir is one of the most important red wine grapes of the Languedoc.

• Priorat: Jancis Robinson writes that what has most dramatically revived Garnacha's reputation in Spain is the intense, minerally top wines grown on the schists of Priorat, where ancient Garnacha bush vines provide the backbone of many of the top wines
• Roussillon: Jancis Robinson calls Grenache the chief ingredient in the sweet, strong vins doux naturels of Banyuls, with similar wines such as Maury and Rivesaltes made further north
• Southern Rhône: WSET notes that southern Rhône blends often include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and other local varieties such as Cinsault and Carignan
• Sardinia: Jancis Robinson calls the variety particularly important there as Cannonau, and notes that Calabria and Sicily also grow some
• Australia: Jancis Robinson reports that more and more bottlings from the Barossa Valley carry the name Grenache, either alone or as an acknowledged ingredient in a blend with Syrah and Mourvèdre
• Elsewhere: Jancis Robinson writes that in California it is widely planted but chiefly associated with the Central Valley, that old vine Grenache bottlings are emerging from South Africa, and that the variety is also grown in Israel and North Africa

Jancis Robinson writes that if there is one single characteristic of Grenache-based wines "it is a sweet ripeness, coupled with quite tough tannins if yields are low", and that the variety can reach extraordinary ripeness levels, which she calls a general characteristic of Grenache everywhere. OIV describes Garnacha Tinta as producing nervous wines with a high alcohol content. Decanter's WSET Level 2 series refers to "the red berry notes of Grenache". Jancis Robinson notes that the relatively thin skins of Grenache have persuaded many winemakers, most notably in Provence, to make rosé from it, and that in Navarra Garnacha has traditionally been used for pale wines labelled rosado or, slightly darker, clarete. In northern Spain, she writes, provided yields are restricted, and particularly if vines are relatively mature, Garnacha can produce "some alluring rich, spicy reds", although the wine can also be much softer and jammier than Tempranillo.

• Jancis Robinson: a sweet ripeness, with quite tough tannins if yields are low
• OIV: nervous wines with a high alcohol content
• Decanter (WSET Level 2 series): red berry notes
• Jancis Robinson: relatively thin skins make Grenache a frequent rosé grape, most notably in Provence

OIV notes that Garnacha Tinta is often blended with other varieties to achieve a better balance. Jancis Robinson writes that Grenache/Syrah/Mourvèdre, or GSM, is the classic blend for the southern Rhône's best red wines, naming Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac, Tavel and bottlings from Rasteau and Cairanne; in her account Syrah adds structure and longevity and Mourvèdre can add an exotic gamey, almost animal note. Decanter's WSET Level 2 series says Syrah is regularly blended with Grenache to give it structure, boosting colour, tannin and acidity and adding dark fruit character. In the Languedoc, Jancis Robinson writes, Grenache Noir has long been blended with Carignan, Syrah, Mourvèdre and, sometimes, a bit of Cinsault. WSET lists Garnacha among the primary grapes of red Rioja blends, alongside Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan), and notes that Rhône-inspired GSM blends are thriving in Australia, South Africa and the United States.

• Southern Rhône GSM (Jancis Robinson): Syrah adds structure and longevity; Mourvèdre can add a gamey, almost animal note
• Rioja (WSET): Garnacha is one of the primary red grapes, with Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo
• Château de Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Jancis Robinson writes that Grenache and Mourvèdre each constitute about a third of most blends
• OIV gives Garnacha Tinta's yield as between 2 and 8 t/ha

Jancis Robinson writes that the Châteauneuf-du-Pape of Château Rayas is made from Grenache Noir alone, and cites Álvaro Palacios's L'Ermita as a case of ancient Garnacha bush vines providing the backbone of top Priorat wines. She also notes that the Roda bodega values top quality Garnacha as highly as fine Tempranillo. Her suggested Grenache-dominated wines include Château Rayas and Château de Beaucastel Hommage à Jacques Perrin, both red Châteauneuf-du-Pape; Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas; Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls hors d'age de Solera; L'Ermita from Álvaro Palacios in Priorat; Greenock Creek Grenache from the Barossa Valley; and David Grenache from Swartland.

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Château Rayas (Grenache Noir alone); Château de Beaucastel, Hommage à Jacques Perrin
• Gigondas: Domaine Santa Duc
• Banyuls: Domaine du Mas Blanc, hors d'age de Solera
• Priorat: Álvaro Palacios, L'Ermita
• Barossa Valley: Greenock Creek Grenache; Swartland: David Grenache

Primary sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=4461, https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=304, https://www.oiv.int/public/medias/5888/en-distribution-of-the-worlds-grapevine-varieties.pdf, https://www.wsetglobal.com/knowledge-centre/blog/2024/why-do-we-blend-wine. Secondary sources: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/red/grenache, https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/red/garnacha, https://www.decanter.com/learn/wset/syrah-and-shiraz-grapes-climatic-winery-influence-most-important-regions-wset-level-2-285043/. Last verified 2026-09-29