Grenache noir is a red grape variety of Spanish origin, in the province of Aragon, which then developed in France from the 18th century. It is now one of the most cultivated grape varieties in the world with 185,000 ha, France representing 50% of this area and Spain about 40%. It is also somewhat planted in the United States and Australia as well as Italy.
On the best terroirs, it offers wines that can be kept for a long time and can easily be kept for more than 20 years. In France, it is the grape variety of Roussillon red wines, natural sweet wines (Banyuls, Collioure, Maury, Rivesaltes) and dry wines (Côtes-du-Roussillon), red and rosé wines of Provence and great red wines of the southern Rhône Valley in the appellation Côtes-du-Rhône, Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages, Tavel, Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is mainly used as a single varietal in Roussillon and is most often blended with other grape varieties (Syrah, Mourvèdre) in the other regions.
Grenache noir naturally produces wines rich in sugar and alcohol with low acidity, low tannins and a rather pale colour, due to the thin skin of the grapes. On the best terroirs, winemakers manage to produce wines that are more aromatic, more tannic and with a deeper red colour, with limited yields and old vines. If you like aromas of ripe fruit (blackcurrant, prune, sour cherry, fig, etc.), spices (pepper) and notes of liquorice, cocoa, coffee, or even smoke, look for Grenache noir wines, vinified alone or in a blend with 2 other great grape varieties from the South: Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Other names: Alicante, Aragonese, Garnacha (Spain); Cannonau, Guarnaccia (Italy).
Dry red wines from the Rhône: patience is required with Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, at least 5 years and more than 40 years for the greatest vintages. The Côtes-du-Rhône can be enjoyed from 2 to 3 years and up to 10 years for the best terroirs (Plan de Dieu, etc.).
Red wines from Provence: 2 to 7 years old in general.
Dry red wines from Roussillon: 2 to 15 years for cuvées made from very old hundred-year-old vines and very low yields.
Natural sweet red wines from Roussillon: here we are dealing with red wines whose life expectancy is certainly one of the highest in the world;
Dry red wines:
Classic: Roasted or grilled red meats, duck breasts.
Trendy: Lamb tagine with apricots, roast pork with curry.
Soil: Pyrenean lamb, roast guinea fowl, duck with blood, roasted woodcock, wild boar terrine.
Natural sweet red wines:
Trendy: Pata Negra Ham.
Soil: Hare à la Royale.
Cheese: Roquefort, Stilton and walnut bread, Extra-old Mimolette.
Desserts: Chocolate and coffee macaroons, chocolate-coffee mascarpone, praline desserts and dried fruit.
Go directly to our catalogue of Rhône and Roussillon wines in the Côtes-du-Roussillon, Maury, Rivesaltes, Côtes-du-Rhône, Lirac and Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellations or take advantage of reduced shipping costs on our "discovery" boxes of 3 or 6 bottles: La Bouteille Dorée allows you to discover and taste before buying.
Find all the Grenache wines in our catalogue below and buy them individually or compose your own box.
Buy a discovery box of 6 bottles: 2 wines, 2 producers, 3 bottles of each wine and 7 euros shipping costs.
All our wines and "discovery" boxes are presented below. For an express purchase, simply click on the "Add to my hood" button and the wines you have chosen will then be added to your shopping cart, accessible at the top right of this page.
