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Garnacha/Grenache pairing is “infinite,” say US sommeliers and experts

© Bodegas San Alejandro

Wines made from European Garnacha/Grenache are very diverse and can be paired with a wide range of dishes. According to James Emminger of Cork Wines & Spirits, “Garnacha grapes have a very wide range of aromas, flavors and textures”.

For example, fruity Grenaches and light-bodied reds can be served with Indian curries, burgers, and chorizo in wine. A full-bodied red wine is ideal to pair with meat. For American sommeliers, “the pairing is perfect with this food”: from grilled lamb, white meats with strong sauces, to simple stews or braises with aromatic pork, chops, sausages, duck, or poultry.

For many professionals, such as Eric Foret of the French Wine Shop, one of the most repeated qualities of Grenache is “its versatility and affordability.” An example, for celebrations, Garnacha/Grenache wine is ideal for pairing with turkey or barbecued red meats. If, in addition, different sauces such as Mango Chutney are used, the mixture is very tasty. But these are just a few examples; there are thousands of possibilities to pair the best culinary creations with Garnacha/Grenache from PDOs in the North-East of Spain: Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, Terra Alta and the South of France: Banyuls, Banyuls Grand Cru, Collioure, Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Caramany, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, Côtes du Roussillon Villages les Aspres, Maury Sec and Doux, Rivesaltes and 2 IGP (Côtes Catalanes and de la Côte Vermeille).

Well-known among restaurant customers

Garnacha/Grenache grapes have become one of the ultimate pairing staples: “They have become very well known among our clientele and have taken hold in the marketplace,” says Nancy Selzer, managing partner of Tarry Lodge and Michelin-starred Casa Mono/Bar Jamón in New York. “I think they’ve had a remarkable rise in public awareness because of the many affordable options and elaborations available,” she adds.

The light whites are perfect with summer salads or scallop risotto while the fuller-bodied whites, pair well with fried chicken, pork, fresh seafood, rice, or pasta salads.

As for the Garnacha rosés, they are excellent with grilled tuna, chicken salad or all kinds of cold meats. “We are facing a great opportunity for Garnacha Blanca and rosé wines”, says Juan Gómez Master Sommelier and wine director of the Breakers Hotel, FL.  While sparkling wines from the Cariñena, Cava and Campo de Borja appellations combine deliciously with sushi, desserts, and fresh fruit.

Fortified wines made from European Grenache put the finishing touch to any meal. These unique wines can be red, white, rosé or Ambré (amber) and Tuilé (tawny colored), and range from young, dense and unctuous versions to spicy and nutty wines bottled after long oxidative ageing. Whether sweet and candied or refined, with coffee, toffee, and cocoa flavors, they are delicious on their own or can accompany wonderful recipes for sweet & salted or sweet & sour association, a majority of cheese, delicious desserts, playing on the colors and tastes (sweet creams, chocolate, caramel, candied tropical fruits…).Those wines can be also a good alternative to the spirits, for instance, at the end of the meal or in front the fire-place…

In conclusion, Grenache has innumerable culinary possibilities because “it has many incredible expressions,” according to Betsy Andrews of Food & Wine.

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European Garnacha/Grenache looks to the future

Known as Garnacha in Spain and Grenache in the south of France, this versatile grape is set to be a key player in the wines of the future. Although most people know it for its role in blends, a new generation of European winemakers, specifically those based in eastern Spain and Roussillon in France, are making innovative wines that will be the talk of the town in the near future.

© Bodegas San Alejandro

Just one sip of these wines is enough to understand the capacity of Garnacha/Grenache and to be a trend in markets such as the United States. And it’s causing a sensation because the public has realized that they are complex, high quality, structured and balanced wines. These wines belong to the Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Terra Alta and Somontano appellations in northeastern Spain, and to the Roussillon appellation in southern France.

Viticulture experts believe it is a wine with a future for several reasons:

  1. Old vines that used to be discarded for their low yields are now a cause for celebration for their rich expressions. The properties of this type of old vines are indisputable; they offer better grape quality, and have a greater capacity to self-regulate, manage their forces, and adapt to the environment in terms of water and nutrients. In the past, young vines were valued for the production they provided, but today quality is closely linked to low yields per vine, which is ensured by these old vines. They favor obtaining better fruit, with greater concentration, and subsequently supreme wines, because careful attention in the field is fundamental for these results. This change of concept means that Garnacha/Grenache is better considered in the market and has better prospects in terms of demand for the future.
  1. Growing conditions at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,950 feet are now better understood.
  2. The grape’s varied expressions make it a good match for a wide variety of dishes, and it served at diners’ tables because of its great food pairing capabilities.
  3. Its production is artisanal, but the producers of these appellations invest in technology, which allows them to experiment and offer a wide range of styles and wines that reveal a surprising diversity.
  4. Careful harvests are carried out and experiments are made with various fermentation vessels in addition to better selection of barrels to preserve the wines and improve them.
© Grandes Vinos
  1. 27% of regular wine consumers in the United States can recognize the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) and PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) logos of ‘European Garnacha/Grenache quality wines’, compared to 16% the previous year. This is explained by a better understanding of the meaning of these identifications; moreover, 3 out of 4 consumers consider these logos to be a guarantee of the geographical origin of the wine and its traceability, and more than 60% of those surveyed consider them a guarantee of quality, according to a Vinitrac® study conducted by Wine Intelligence.

For all these reasons, Grenache is proving to be a competitive and attractive variety and its consumption is on the rise. The American public in general is constantly looking for novelty and authenticity, and Garnacha/Grenache has an excellent image in this regard.

Moreover, this variety is currently the tenth most consumed red grape variety in the United States, tied with Tempranillo and Pinotage. And it is undoubtedly a dynamic rival to the top three, which are the classic Merlot, Cabernet and Pinot Noir.

The US market is the world’s leading consumer of rosé wines, and everything suggests that it will soon open to these alternatives in other colors such as whites, in which Garnacha/Grenache excel.

In the U.S., 22% of regular wine consumers. tasted Grenache in the last six months of 2022, six points more than in the same period of the previous year, according to the study. What’s more, Garnacha/Grenache sales in this country reached 30,544 hectoliters worth $55.6 million in 2021, 4.1% more than in 2019 (according to Nielsen).

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European Garnacha/Grenache makes a strong showing at the TexSom fair (USA)

The European variety Garnacha/Grenache has achieved a great reception among the best prescribers and professionals in the US during the celebration of one of the most relevant events in Texas: the TEXSOM Conference. Beverage professionals, wine industry experts and sommeliers gathered here to see first-hand the different benefits of European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines.

The event took place August 27-29, 2023, at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas in Dallas, Texas, where the European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines program had a formidable presence, bringing the grape to the forefront through countless promotional actions and exhibitions.

In addition to a sponsored lunch, Garnacha/Grenache was present at a tasting that took place with three tables attended by a significant number of people. A selection of US imported wines of this European variety was presented and were well received by professionals.

On August 28, a lunch with wine pairing was organized in which the attendees of the Texsom Conference (about 40 people) were given the opportunity to taste several wines from the ‘European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines’ program, so they could confirm their quality, delicious taste and high pairing capacity.

Carolina de Funes, manager of the program “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines”, from Garnacha Origin Association showed attendees the wide variety of wines made from Grenache, as well as their history and growing areas (mainly in southern France and northeastern Spain).

She also explained that Garnacha originated in northeastern Spain around 150 B.C. and expanded under the crown of Aragon to incorporate Roussillon, which is now located in France.

The area represented by the “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines”, approximately 54% of the wine-growing area, is in France, and 46% in Spain.

Carolina de Funes pointed out that “Garnacha is so versatile that it can be used, and in fact is used, to make all kinds of wines, from sparkling, to whites, rosés and reds, to fortified wines”. In addition, within these categories are light and full-bodied red and white wines.

TEXSOM was founded in 2005 as the Texas Conference of Sommeliers to deepen beverage certification and Garnacha/Grenache was one of the great protagonists of this meeting precisely because of its appellation of origin and its outstanding European quality parameters.

 

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Garnacha/Grenache showcases its quality and European origin at SommCon in San Diego

The Garnacha/Grenache is an international symbol of quality with European origin that is creating a trend in the USA. These unique wines have once again been the protagonists of one of the most awaited meetings of the wine sector: SommCon. It was held on September 10 through 12, in Town and Country Resort, San Diego (USA).

During the two days of Expo Hall, attended by wine and trade professionals and influential experts in the beverage industry, European Garnacha Grenache Quality Wines offered a tasting of Grenache wines – a selection of wines belonging to the “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines” program – was organized at a dedicated booth. There, attendees were able to taste first-hand the quality and flavor of these European wines.

At this event, the attendees were shown how Garnacha/Grenache wines have the guarantee of being a European quality product with all the advantages that this entails, for example, they comply with European standards of sustainability, animal welfare, food safety, traceability, labeling, nutritional and health aspects and respect for the environment. And they are covered by EU quality schemes: Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).

In addition on Monday, September 11, a pairing dinner was held to taste different grenache wines. Here the public had the opportunity to see all its expressions: from whites to reds, including sparkling, sweet, or fortified wines and its great pairing capacity.

A seminar during the dinner, led by one of the world’s leading experts Eric Aracil, Associate Manager of this European program, allowed the attendees to learn about the seventh most world planted grape variety and its European quality standards.

A 92.8% of the world’s Garnacha grapes are planted in Europe, with Spain and France leading the way in terms of concentration of Grenache and old vines. Garnacha wines are elegant, balanced, and fruity wines and thanks to that they win numerous international awards.

 

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New York pays tribute to Garnacha /Grenache at a memorable international reception

On September 14, 2023, a magnificent international reception was held in honor of the European Garnacha/Grenache grape. It was held at the exclusive and emblematic City Winery event venue in the heart of New York City, that was transformed into a vineyard where 200+ guest linked to the world of wine gathered to pay tribute to one of the most unique and booming variety in the USA: Garnacha/Grenache.

The event was attended by wine connoisseurs, professionals and opinion leaders, representatives of the trade, the hotel and catering industry, wine associations, producers of “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines”, journalists, influencers, members of the jury and winners of the International Competitions Grenaches du Monde (organized in June).

The reception turned out to be a perfect tribute to those who work this trending variety, to the best wines made with this grape -rewarded with a prize-, but also to the Garnacha/Grenache variety itself, unique in the world, which celebrated its festival (Garnacha Day) the following day, September 15. The cherry on the cake was Mayor Eric Adams’ Proclamation declaring “International Garnacha Grenache Day 2023 in the City of New York”.

Then, in the main hall, the master of ceremonies, Christy Canterbury, and the presidents of the associations that are part of the Program, José Antonio Briz of the Asociación de Garnacha Origen, Stéphane Zanella of the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR) and the president of the “Grenaches du Monde” competition, Fabrice Rieu, welcomed the attendees.

The master of ceremonies presented the European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines program, as a very ambitious project co-financed with the European Commission whose objective is to improve the competitiveness of Garnacha/Grenache, so that it continues to grow worldwide. She also spoke about the two associations that promote this program both in Spain and France, and all their activities to promote this quality variety.

All this information was completed with the intervention of the two presidents of the Spanish and French associations -José Antonio Briz of the Asociación de Garnacha Origen and Stéphane Zanella of the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR) – with the projection of a video on the three years of the Garnacha/Grenache Program in the USA, a priority market for growth and where this variety is being very well received by the public due to its attractive price, its special characteristics and its guarantee of origin.

Around 7:00 p.m. in the evening, a grand tasting of wines that were awarded during the International Competition Grenaches du Monde was held. Through this great tasting, the attendees were able to taste ones of the best wines made from Garnacha/Grenache in the world. For memory, those wines had been tasted, evaluated and awarded by the jury of the competition which was composed by personalities and professionals from the American wine industry and press.

All in all, the evening in the heart of New York City became a magical, festive, and memorable gathering around the fascinating Grenache universe.

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The different harvests of European Garnacha/Grenache

The harvesting of European Garnacha/Grenache grapes is a key moment in the winemaking process. It’s done according to certain factors that influence the result, mainly those related to climate, soil composition and the topography of the terroirs where the grapes grow. In the areas where it is grown (northeastern Spain and southern France) the grapes are normally harvested in the summer, beginning in August, and ending almost in autumn, beginning of October for some fortified sweet wines or mid November for big altitude vineyards.

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However, in recent years, the increase in temperatures has accelerated the development stages of the crop, which is why the grape harvest has been early by about 10 days compared to previous seasons.

As a rule, the date is established by controlling the percentage of sugar and the evolving of acids present in the fruit, thus choosing the best time to harvest the grapes depending on the type of wine to be made. The control of the lost of weight for the bunches, the sanitary stage and quality of the berries are also very important to decide the moment to harvest. Nowadays, thanks to a good knowhow, the starting of the crop is also mainly launched according the general taste of the fruit.

For example, in the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Calatayud, in the most southwestern area of the province of Zaragoza, the harvest begins at the end of September and can last until mid-November, since the altitude of the vineyards delays the ripening of the grapes. The vineyards descend the slopes of the sierras, with altitudes ranging from 550 to 1,040 meters. Under these climatic conditions, slow ripening of the berries is favored, which reach perfect phenolic ripeness. Although if the vines are planted at higher altitudes (1,500 meters), it is very likely that growers prefer to harvest the grapes earlier.

In the PDO Campo de Borja, the altitude of the vineyards varies between 350 and 700 meters above sea level. The soils are chalky and rich in nutrients and extend between the regions of Campo de Borja, Tarazona and Moncayo. In the 6,270 hectares (16 municipalities), the harvest generally begins in late September or early October.

Also, in the PDO Cariñena, grapes are harvested in early September. The vines here are deployed in the province of Zaragoza, whose center is the town of Cariñena, one of the oldest production areas in Spain. When the grapes are located at higher altitudes the grapes are picked earlier to balance the acidity and flavors of the berries in whites, rosés and sparkling wines.

In the PDO Somontano. Harvest can begin in mid-August with the harvest of the first bunches of white grapes and can conclude in October with the red Garnacha Tinta grapes in one of the highest altitude areas of Somontano.

In the PDO Terra Alta, a Spanish appellation of origin located in the west of the province of Tarragona, between the Ebro River and the border with Aragon, where the vineyards are between 350 and 550 meters above sea level and are located on terraces due to the orographic characteristics of the terrain. In general, the peculiarities of the terroir make them of medium and late ripening that allow the development of the specific viticulture of the production area.

In the Roussillon wine region of France, the most frequent harvesting period is mainly during the month of September, although each of the country’s wine-growing regions has different times.

For example, within this French area, we can highlight the PDO Banyuls and Banyuls Grand Cru, whose schist soils house the vines on terraces overlooking the Mediterranean Sea or inland valleys. Because of their conditions (narrow terraces on slopes and the influence of the sea), the grapes are harvested only by hand, usually in August-beginning of September. The bunches are transported to the cellars, which are usually located in the middle of the vineyards.

In the PDO Collioure or In the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Côte Vermeille, the vines also grow on a balcony of gray shale overlooking the Mediterranean. Ravines and hills alternate, and the vines are established on very narrow terraces. The combination of these unique soils, the intense sunlight, and the sea results in a very special microclimate for this appellation. Harvesting of these vines usually takes place between August and beginning of September as well.

In Mediterranean terroir, ancestral techniques are applied to separate the vines by means of stone walls, thus limiting soil erosion. Because of the high altitude and inclinaison of the slope, harvesting in these vineyards is heroic as it is a precise job that requires a lot of effort and time, thus vine-grape production costs but also guaranteeing excellent results.

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In other hands, the majority of the Roussillon production, with PDO Côtes du Roussillon, PDO Rivesaltes and PGI Côtes Catalanes, which are from the Mediterranean sea to 250 meters high average slopes, on different terroirs, are harvested in September.

More in the north of this Roussillon wine region of France, PDO Maury, Côtes du Roussillon Villages & Communal PDO can be harvested until mid-October.

In general, in each one of the PDOs and PGIs where European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines is grown, to respect the quality of the fruit from the first cut to the cellar vinification, the harvests are : early in the day, late in the day or even at night.

Climbing harvest. It is carried out at different times depending on the degree of ripeness of the fruit.

Late harvest. When there is an interest in producing wines with a high alcohol content, late harvesting is used. In this case, harvesting is delayed, which increases the amount of sugar contained in the fruit.

Night harvesting. During the night hours, enzymatic activity is low and helps the grapes not to lose their aroma and avoiding oxidation. It is ideal for obtaining very fruity wines with good acidity.

Grape harvesting will also vary depending on the method used. The two types that exist are manual and mechanized harvesting.

Manual harvesting. This method is carried out by selecting and picking the bunches of grapes by hand. It is a costly and time-consuming technique. In addition, the workers must have a certain amount of training to do it correctly. There is also the selective method, in which grapes from the same vineyard are picked and selected according to their quality.

Mechanized harvesting. In this case, in a flat land or with low and regular slope inclinaison, harvesting is done with agricultural machinery. The vineyard must have a trellis, which is a structure formed with wires and posts that allow the vine to grow around it.

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The price of European Garnacha/Grenache surprises in the US

European Garnacha/Grenache wines are recognized for their prestige. But, in addition to their excellence, these remarkable wines, full of personality, have another great advantage for the American public: the good value for money.

© J. Muñoz

An adult consumer can buy a bottle of Garnacha/Grenache wine for $12.8 in the US, which is below the average price of these quality wines. According to a study prepared by the Instituto de Comercio Exterior (ICEX) in 2020, a bottle of wine from Spain sold in a specialty store, in Manhattan, can cost between 14.85 $ to 23.39 $.

The affordable price of Garnacha/Grenache makes it very attractive to the general public and to young consumers in particular. Carolina de Funes, manager of the program ‘European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines’ considers that this variety “deserves a good position especially among millennials, a wine that can be a trend-setter for its blend of authenticity and powerful fruity aromas”.

In other hand, it is also possible to find bottles of Grenache from France in relative “high price”, between 45 and more than 200 $. In those cases, the consumer will be very surprised by the high-level quality and he will appreciate the price for this quintessence.

In addition to the attractive or very good quality/ price, this European wine conquers the American public for more reasons, among them, its taste, its guarantee of traceability, food safety and identification in the labeling through two regimes: ‘IGP’, or ‘Protected Geographical Indication’, and ‘DOP’ or ‘Protected Designation of Origin’. In fact, these regimes guarantee that wines with this indication originate from the region, which protects their reputation in the market, and explains why European Garnacha/Grenache production has such a demanding process.

According to a recent Wine Intelligence survey of 21+ year old’s – between January 2022 and January 2023- the perception of Grenache quality has increased among the US public. 80% of consumers of Red and White Grenache consider the wine to be of high quality and rate it 8.3 out of 10 for wines from Garnacha/Grenache-producing countries in Europe (northeastern Spain and southern France).

“Our goal for the three years of the “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines” program is to increase the share of Garnacha/Grenache by 15% in volume and 20% in value. In terms of consumption Garnacha/Grenache continues to grow; last year it increased by five points, while the rating maintains high quality points for 80% of consumers”, according to Eric Aracil, associate manager of ‘European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wine’.

In the United States, more and more people are choosing what they consume based on what is in the product. In this way, European wines with PDO and PGI represent a high European standard of quality assurance from the ground to the table with all the requirements of authenticity, nutritional and health aspects, animal welfare, respect for the environment and sustainability, as well as the characteristics of diversity or tradition.

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European Garnacha/Grenache wines to accompany summer dishes

@Roussillonwines

With the arrival of summer, winter dishes give way to cooler and lighter meals. The same goes for wine. In summer we crave lighter and more refreshing drinks, and this means that white, rosé, or sparkling wines, and even some reds or light fortified sweet wines, gain presence. As in the rest of the year, European Garnacha/Grenache takes on great prominence during this time and, with its great versatility, accompanies the most appetizing summer recipes.

Salads, carpaccio, and sushi. If there is something that characterizes the summer is the intake of fruits and salads because, in addition to being light and hydrating, they become the most demanded food by our bodies to quench the thirst. In this sense, the most appropriate wine for these healthy dishes is the most refreshing and young: sparkling Garnacha/Grenache, from the Cariñena, Cava and Campo de Borja PDOs. This wine is a wild card as it also serves to accompany dishes as different as carpaccio or sushi, so appetizing at this time of the year. But a crispy and aromatic white wine will be also convenient.

Summer barbecue. Here the European Garnacha/Grenache wine is so versatile that it will play along at favorite barbecue parties with friends, as it has an innate affinity for grilled meats and vegetables. Aside from working especially well pork, lamb, veal, beef, chicken, or duck, it’s also very good to grill eggplants, peppers, onions, or zucchinis. Chicken, pork or veal meat with yellow/green peppers or zucchinis will be well paired with an enough powerful white, a fresh rosé or a fruity, spicy, and peppery red wine. Red meats with on the side roasted onions, red pepper, or eggplants, need a red wine with an equally robust flavor and more body. Wines aged in barrels could show a good power, length and often a nice smoky flavor that will complement the charred flavors of the food.

Anything spicy or gamey, such as lamb or dishes generously seasoned with exotic spices, will go well with a Garnacha/Grenache blended with Syrah or Carignan, grape that have clear black pepper tones.

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Simply seasoned grilled white meat is one of the most versatile and very summery foods that pairs well with a wide range of wines. If the meat has a lot of herbs -such as rosemary and thyme-, a chilled Garnacha/Grenache rosé with small red berries and citrus tones is a good bet. If the white meat is fried, a full-bodied, well-chilled Garnacha/Grenache white would go well. Whatever the case, all these versatile wines come from PDOs in Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, Terra Alta and in the Roussillon Geographical Indications.

Fish and vegetarian dishes. Elegant and with character, the light-bodied red Garnacha can accompany light grilled fish and vegetarian dishes, also very popular during these hot days. With aromas of strawberry, raspberry, cherry and pepper, these wines are found in northeastern Spain and southern France, especially were cool nights and regular breezes balance ripeness and acidity. The Campo de Borja and Cariñena PDOs offer very good expressions, as do the more prominent communes of the PDO Côtes du Roussillon Villages: Caramany, Latour de France, Lesquerde, Tautavel and les Aspres which can produce a range of “lighter” style Grenache/Garnacha, made sometimes with carbonic or short maceration and no oak to preserve the fresh fruit and terroir flavors.

Seafood. Another summertime pleasure is to taste seafood by the sea. A good plate of calamars, lobster, clams or crabs accompanied by a light and crispy Garnacha/Grenache white mineral wine from PDO Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, Terra Alta and Roussillon GIs is a great option for a delicious summer treat.

Dessert. To conclude the meal with a cheese course, light, less tannic reds, or whites will be exquisite. However, if the last course is sweet (fruits salad, cakes, tarts etc), a chilled fortified sweet wine from the Roussillon GIs such as a Maury (White or Grenat) or Banyuls (White, Rosé or Rimage) is ideal.

 

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Why European Garnacha/Grenache may be the most eco-friendly grape in the world?

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There are many experts who describe the European Garnacha/Grenache as possibly the most sustainable grape. And they are not wrong. From the beginning of its cycle, this variety requires relatively low maintenance, meaning, it doesn’t need much to grow, as it thrives in poor soils: slate, clay, pebbles and sand, which gets the best results out of the grape.

In addition, being very drought resistant, it works quite well in areas where water is limited, so it does not need irrigation and therefore uses less water, an increasingly precious commodity in the face of climate change.

On the other hand, European Garnacha/Grenache has proven resilient in increasingly acidic soils. The malleability of this vine in different soil pHs is useful because the acidity of all soils increases over time.

Due to its robust wood, European Garnacha/Grenache can withstand strong winds in Mediterranean areas.

@C Chris Martínez

Taking advantage of these ecological characteristics, winegrowers in the PDOs Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, Terra Alta and  Roussillon GIs have adopted some measures to produce quality Garnacha/Garnacha wine:

  • Respecting very low natural yields.
  • Taking advantage of old vines and their suitability to the unique terroir.
  • Combining modern techniques and ancient traditions.
  • Producing wines of exceptional character and concentration.

In addition, as organic cultivation in winemaking has been on the rise in recent years (less chemicals, environmentally friendly), Garnacha/Grenache has emerged as one of the leading grapes producing organic wines.

In short, the Garnacha/Grenache grape can be considered the most sustainable grape in the world which expert winemakers can use to make elegant, complex, and age-worthy wines.

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The International Competition Grenaches du Monde rewards the best wines in New York

The prestigious International Competition Grenaches du Monde, which for its 11 editions has been held for the first-time outside Europe -more specifically in New York City-, already has its winners. A total of 286 medals have been awarded in this eleventh edition, 11 double gold medals, 199 gold medals and 76 silver, among 800 Garnacha/Grenache wines.

Organized by the Asociación Garnacha Origen from Spain and the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon/ CIVR of France, this emblematic competition has become an unmissable event for wine and Garnacha/Grenache lovers over the years, as this special edition confirms it. In addition, the event is part of the “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines” campaign which is a program co-financed by the European Commission with the aim of improving the competitiveness of the EU’s quality agricultural products.

The jury was made up of 80 professionals – for the first time all North Americans- distributors, sommeliers, importers, but also journalists and wine influencers. These experts evaluated the wines from 4 different countries (France, Spain, Italy, United States) and selected the best for their best qualities. Each jury judged approximately a total of 80 wines.

233 wines of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and 35 wines from the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) medalled.

To view the 286 medalists, visit Garnacha/Grenache website.

The award-winning wines illustrate the quality of these wines and form a good representation of the terroirs in which Garnacha/Grenache grows. This extraordinary edition of the international competition was held during the month of June under the slogan “From Europe to the world”.

“Grenaches du Monde” is an annual competition and is open to all Garnacha/Grenache wines (pure or blended), without restriction of color, or country of origin. Therefore, the wines competing are mostly made from Garnacha/Grenache belonging to all categories of wines: sparkling, still, fortified, natural sweet, liquor wines, etc., and open to all producing countries.

The wines selected in this competition will be honored at a sensational night that will be held on 14 September in the heart of New York City, the day right before the International Garnacha/Grenache Day, which will bring together personalities from the North American wine world.

History of the competition

It was in 2013 that the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon/ CIVR (France) organized the first competition dedicated to this high-quality grape variety. The “Grenaches du Monde” event was born in Roussillon and quickly became itinerant. In 2016 it was held in Aragon (Campo de Borja), then in Sardinia (2017) and Catalonia (Terra Alta, 2018). The competition returned to Perpignan in 2019, and the following year headed for Montpellier in partnership with Vins de Pays d’Oc. In 2021, it was divided into 4 Garnacha/Grenache capitals: Cebreros in Spain, Châteauneuf du Pape and Perpignan in France, and Ascoli Piceno in Italy. In 2022, the competition took place in Navarra (Olite).

This year it was held in New York City and has been a resounding success.

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European Garnacha/Grenache, the grape of choice for great gurus

European Garnacha/Grenache is a highly valued variety among renowned wine experts. Its versatility, variety and denomination of origin (PDO and PGI), in addition to its flavor, aroma and history, are some of the reasons that give it this worldwide recognition.

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For example, one of the gurus and lovers of this variety, Nicole Rolet, assures that “Garnacha/Grenache is fascinating for its ability to adapt where and how it is grown, and to really reflect the sense of place. It is often used to enhance the best blends – it is the basis for most rosés – but it is also capable on its own of producing great wines that age beautifully. Today it is becoming a cult variety”.

In fact, “the next big thing could be Garnacha/Grenache”, predicts James Laube, a great American critic and writer of several books on wine.

The famous Robert Parker -from Wine Advocate- also praises the resurgence of this European grape and recognizes its quality: “Garnacha/Grenache has been basically despised in the last century, but I am buying more and more Grenache wines as I get older”, he says.

For California critic and winemaker Randall Grahm, “Garnacha has been a bit like the proverbial girl next door. It’s taken me years to realize how beautiful it is”.

In the same line, the prestigious Spanish critic José Peñín says that this variety is being rediscovered. “Who dared to bet on Garnacha/Grenache 25 years ago? Nobody (…) Fortunately, a Grenache wine region like Aragón has shaken off the label of rough and tannic wines that proudly display the name of the grape on some labels, a practice already common in California wines”.

Europe is home to a treasure trove of old Garnacha/Grenache vines. Not only because the low yields of these century-old vines produce a more concentrated flavor, but because their deep roots lead to better expression of the terroir – especially in terms of mineral characters – and better resist the increasingly hot climatic conditions.

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The center of world attention

The robust vines are found mainly in northeastern Spain and southern France. Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine, journalist, and editor of several books believes that “some of the best value wines in the world are made from old-vine Garnacha/Grenache grown in less famous regions, such as Calatayud, Campo de Borja or Roussillon”, and warns: “it is about time that Garnacha/Grenache enjoys sometime in the international spotlight”. The same is the opinion of Eric Asimov, from the New York Times, who claims this center of interest for Garnacha.

Precisely because very often it is grown in old vines and in a good terroir, and because it has moderate yields, it produces wines with more tannins, aromas, and unctuousness. Both rosés and reds have a great structure and richness in aromas. In this sense, in one of the most emblematic wine search engines, Snooth, it is being said that “Garnacha/Grenache is called to be the next big success. In general, it is fruity and smooth, and fun to drink (…)”.

James Suckling, internationally regarded as one of the world’s most influential wine critics, has rated some quality European Garnacha/Grenache wines with high scores (up to 92 points!). According to his tasting panel notes “This variety has become fashionable among winemakers who work in hot, dry climates and want to make wines with nuance, detail and precision”.

And on the flavor side, Dean Hewitson of Hewitson Wines in Australia adds, “With strawberry-like red fruit, tannins and spicy aromas, the wines are seductively charming and wonderfully appealing.”

“It’s all about red fruit, says Susy Atkins, The Telegraph: ripe, juicy, slightly sweet, and fresh red fruit. Grenache Negra (for the French), also known as Garnacha Tinta (Spain), can be smooth and easy-drinking or relatively rough and tannic, with white pepper, vanilla and even a hint of thyme, but you can always count on vivid red berries at its heart: strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and red plums”.

Another of Garnacha/Grenache’s strengths is its versatility. Expert Andy Abramson emphasizes: “The quality and diversity of the wines made from the three Grenache grapes demonstrate how amazing and versatile the grape is, in all the varieties of the world”.

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European Garnacha/Grenache, trending in 2023

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European Garnacha/Grenache has become a fashionable variety, highly valued by experts thanks to the work of winemakers and new approaches in the production of these varietal wines. During the last 20 years, experts of this grape have opted to yield control in the production process, taking advantage of old vines and applying modern techniques, which results in elegant, balanced wines of exceptional character and concentration.

Moreover, as a result of this different approach, and the great attention to terroir, European Garnacha/Grenache wines from northeastern Spain (Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano and Terra Alta) and Roussillon, France, are highly recognized today as representing the purest expression of high-quality grapes and wine in 2023.

European Garnacha/Grenache wines are seducing consumers and are trending for several reasons:

They offer a wide range of wines for any moment. It is the only majority varietal with red, gray, and white variants, producing a great diversity of styles, including dry red, white and rosé wines, sparkling wines and fortified sweet wines (such as the Vins Doux Naturels), thus offering a lot of possibilities for any time of consumption, at any time of the year. Because of its versatility, it can be consumed as a sweet wine in an aperitif, on its own in the cooler months or as a cocktail. It could be consumed as a dry wine for an aperitif or for special dishes (mushrooms, ham, smoked or salted fish). The whites, rosés and lighter reds are ideal for warm meals. The more daring reds are ideal to accompany hearty winter dishes. The sweet wines, and especially the Vins Doux naturels, are the perfect pairing for “exotic foods” (sweet and savory recipes, sweet and sour parings), cheeses, desserts, or to drink after dinner at any time.

A taste with personality. Its accentuated freshness and fruity expression captivate today’s modern consumer, who is looking for wines that speak of the place where they come from. For all these reasons, European Garnacha/Grenache wines have become fashionable. Garnacha/Grenache produces wines that meet the tastes of today’s public: fruitier, rounder, more enjoyable wines, with soft tannins and a pleasant taste in the mouth.

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Good quality/price ratio. Its good price makes it accessible to anyone. European Garnacha/Grenache is ideal both for the habitual drinker, as it can offer very complex aromas, and for the occasional drinker and young public, precisely because of its accessible prices.

Symbol of European quality. Garnacha/Grenache wines are closely linked to European quality parameters. From the cultivation and harvesting of the right grapes in the vineyards to ageing cellar, every care and attention is required. In addition, the producers included in the ‘European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines’ Program are committed to preserve, maintain and care for the wine with the highest quality and innovation. European Garnacha/Grenache wines are products registered as PDO and PGI. According to the European Commission, products registered as PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) are those with the closest link to the geographical place and habits from where they are produced, while PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) highlights the relationship between the specific geographical region and the name of the product.

 

 

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Who consumes European Garnacha/Grenache wine in the U.S.?

European Garnacha/Grenache wines are an international symbol of quality with European origins that are trending in the U.S. and growing in consumption. Some 22% of regular wine consumers in the U.S. tasted Garnacha/Grenache in the last six months of 2022, up six points from the same period last year, according to a Vinitrac® study by Wine Intelligence.

This increase is based on higher consumption of both red and white Garnacha/Grenache, whose market penetration in the U.S. has increased from 8% to 13% and from 11% to 14%, respectively. In relative terms, consumers who drink Garnacha Tinta in this market are the same as those who drink Tempranillo and Pinotage, while those who drink Grenache Blanc are of the profile of Gewürztraminer wine consumers.

©Turismo de Aragón

 

In the United States, a 23% of wine consumers are regular wine drinkers, that is, they drink wine once a month or more often, according to a study by Wine Opinions. Precisely, among these regular consumers, the knowledge of Garnacha/Grenache is increasing. More than half of them know Garnacha/Grenache as a grape grown in Europe, an improvement of 10 percentage points in January 2023 compared to January 2022. Consumption of this European variety has also advanced considerably, as a year ago it was consumed by 1 in 5 drinkers and now by more than a third.

The majority of Grenache drinkers, 80%, rate this wine as high quality, especially the European wine, which scored 8.3 out of 10, according to the Wine Intelligence study.

Grenache Identity

27% of regular wine consumers in the United States can recognize the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) and PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) logos of European Quality Garnacha/Grenache wines, up from 16% the previous year. This is explained by a better understanding of the meaning of these logos; moreover, 3 out of 4 consumers consider these logos to be a guarantee of the geographical origin of the wine and its traceability, and more than 60% of those surveyed consider them to be a guarantee of quality.

In addition, the EU co-financed promotional campaign “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines”, promoted by the Asociación Garnacha Origen from Spain and the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon /CIVR of France, which will run until February 2024, has greater visibility and consumers have better understood its message and origin. The link between European quality and wine is now understood by more than a third of the population.

 

In conclusion, the United States is the leading wine consuming country by volume. Sales of Garnacha/Grenache in this country reached 30,544 hectoliters worth $55.6 million in 2021, 4.1% more than in 2019 (according to Nielsen). This is due to some of its benefits such as taste and price ($12.8 per bottle) and because it is ideal for making rosé wine, very popular in the U.S. especially, for the new high-style rosés. This advance is also achieved because “there is great interest among the American public, mainly among millennials, for its unique characteristics,” says Carolina de Funes, Manager of European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines Program.

 

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European Garnacha/Grenache stops in Chicago and Los Angeles to showcase its versatile and sustainable side

European Garnacha/Grenache once again shone during the two walk-around tastings held in Chicago (April 24) and Los Angeles (April 26) in the U.S. In both events, trade (sommeliers, restaurants, and hospitality professionals, distributors, importers and the media…) were able to taste this unique variety that is all the rage in the U.S. In addition, they were able to taste the innumerable benefits of Garnacha/Grenache, which is used to produce high quality wine in a sustainable way. The Chicago walk-around tasting took place at Bar Avec at 640 N. La Salle Drive (8th floor), while the Los Angeles walk-around tasting was held at Girl & the Goat, at 555-Mateo St, both iconic places respectively.

At these two events, professionals were informed about the history of this grape and its pairing capability through a visit of the different producers of the European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines Program and through a seminar given by Carolina de Funes, Manager and Eric Aracil, Associate Manager of the “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines” project. This great expert with extensive experience in the world of Grenache explained to those present everything about its origin, cultivation, and production, as well as the different wines that result from its production (red, white, rosé, sparkling and sweet fortified wines).

According to Eric Aracil, “it was a unique occasion for our guests to taste first-hand the original and leading Garnacha/Grenache quality wines first hand introduced by their winemakers from Spain and France.. Meanwhile, attendees learned about European quality schemes, terroir, and the characteristics of this incredible grape, nowadays one of the most consumed varieties in Europe”.

Precisely the production of Garnacha/Grenache wine made from old vines and in a special geographical situation (northeastern Spain and southern France) surprises the American public increasingly interested in the care for the environment. In this regard, at the World Conference on Climate Change and Wine held in 2011 in Marbella (Spain) with Kofi Annan, Garnacha/Grenache earned its reputation as one of the most environmentally friendly varieties for its ability to withstand dry climatic conditions.

“The Garnacha/Grenache roadshow is having a great impact among media and professionals in the U.S., mainly because of the characteristics of this varietal and the history surrounding each grape, but our guests are also fascinated by the quality of the wines and their affordable value,” concludes Carolina de Funes.

 

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European Garnacha/Grenache, the variety of the ‘terroir’

The European Garnacha/Grenache grape adapts to the land where it is grown and is different in each of the regions, offering different qualities in its wines. In addition, it provides identification guarantees for the different PDO and PGI designations of origin where it is grown.

This variety is very sensitive to the variations of the terroir (soil, climate, among others) and adapts perfectly to its environment. And the best thing: depending on where this unique grape grows, different quality Garnacha/Grenache wines are produced. The robust wood especially of its old vines allows the variety to withstand strong winds, such as the cierzo in Spain and the tramontane in France, which help keep the grape clusters loose and free of illness and it to produce excellent fruit and wines in a wide range of sedimentary, igneous metamorphic or textured soils composed especially of gravel, boulders, pebbles, slate / schist, marblequartz, gneiss, granite, clay, or limestone.

European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines is planted especially in the production areas of north-eastern Spain and southern France, with warm climate and different soils that give rise to different qualities in the wine. Few examples bellow:

Gravel. This is a soil made up of pebbles and boulders, which come from alluvial deposits and are well drained. The vines grow very well in this type of soil, producing structured, complex, intense, and fleshy wines.

Slates / schists: There are different slates in terms of structure and color. From north-eastern Spain to southern France, Garnacha / Grenache can grow very well on Red, Grey, Black, Blue or White slates. The result of schist for wine is – in a word – complexity. Garnacha / Grenache reds, whites, roses, sparkling and vin doux naturels grown on schist soils display finesse and subtlety, undercut with hallmark minerality. Tannins in reds are firm but fine, while all wines possess a freshness (the fact that soils have a low pH).

Ferruginous-clay soils. In this case, the soils are mainly composed of clays with a high iron content and little rounded pebbles. The resulting wines have high power (structure and alcohol content) and a lot of color.

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Limestone / Chalkly soils: here the wines can be vinified to show concentration or lightness, but wines will always be pleasant, complex and with a greedy drinkability.

In general, in the soils of these regions where European Garnacha/Grenache grows, the roots are long and deep and adapt well to water stress. In fact, Garnacha/Grenache prefers dry, warm soils that are well drained, where it can concentrate flavors and aromas. In this sense, winegrowers in the PDO areas of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, Terra Alta and the PDOs and PGIs of Roussillon have given a new approach to Garnacha/Grenache production and have given the terroir the importance it deserves, as it is synonymous with origin and quality.

In most of these Geographical Indications their vineyards are planted with this grape that proves to be a ‘variety of terroir’ and whose old vines offer an extraordinary quality.

The cultivation of Garnacha/Grenache in these regions belongs to the European production system, one of the most demanding and guaranteeing. The EU’s Geographical Indications scheme protects the names of products that come from specific regions and have specific qualities and a reputation linked to the production territory, such as Grenache.

 

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The International Competition Grenaches du Monde is held in the USA (NY) for the first time

This year, lovers of the Garnacha/Grenache variety wines will have a great event to write down in their calendars. For the first time in its history, the International Competition Grenaches du Monde will take place in the US, in the heart of New York City under the slogan “From Europe to the World”. This news breaks the trend of holding the competition in Europe, which has been organized there since 2013.

And this 11th edition – part of the EU co-financed promotional campaign, European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines“- will host 80 professionals who will evaluate around 900 excellent wines from different Geographical Indications where this Garnacha/Grenache grape variety is produced (mainly in regions of Spain and France). It will also be the first time that it will be held digitally (online) and with a jury made up exclusively American professionals (importers, distributors, sommeliers, buyers, etc.) and influential people (media and specialized journalists). Only the best American palates in the wine industry will taste and award the best Garnacha/Grenache wines in the world in this tasting, which will take place in June.

On September 14th, the winners of the 11th edition of the International Competition Grenaches du Monde will be honored at a special gala event to be held in New York City. Garnacha/Grenache will be the star of this magical event where experts and personalities from the wine sector will live a unique experience and celebrate one day in advance the International Garnacha/Grenache Day.

The International Competition Grenaches du Monde is open to all wines produced in all categories of wines with geographical indication: sparkling, still, fortified, natural sweet wines, liquor wines, and from all countries producing this variety.

For the New York 2023 11th edition, around 900 wine samples are expected to be collected, of which the best will be awarded double gold, gold and silver medals. In last editions, medals awarded, helped the winning wineries to increase their trade expectations.

©Grenaches du Monde

In 2013, the Interprofessional Council of Roussillon Wines organized the first competition dedicated to this high-quality grape variety. With its roots in Roussillon, ‘Grenaches du Monde’ quickly became a travelling event, visiting Garnacha/Grenache-producing regions every year. Over time, more and more winemakers have participated in this event, which has become an unmissable annual meeting point for wine professionals from all over the world.

The objectives of this competition focus on promoting quality wines from all Garnacha/Grenache grape varieties, encouraging production and consumption, and promoting its benefits on an international scale.

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Garnacha/Grenache presents at Vinexpo New York its origin and evolution

The fifth edition of the Vinexpo Fair was held in New York City on March 8th and 9 th, 2023. It was a great opportunity for the professionals from the United States to discover everything related to the European Quality Systems surrounding Garnacha/Grenache and its upward evolution. It was also an opportunity for them to learn more about the delicious taste of these wines and the origin of the grapes from which they come. Garnacha/Grenache Wines were at the prominent Fair in the booth nº 208.

The Asociación Garnacha Origen of Spain and the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon /CIVR of France organized a masterclass on March 8 entitled: “Introduction to Quality Garnacha/Grenache Wines” with the participation of one of the greatest connoisseurs of Garnacha worldwide, Eric Aracil, Associated Manager and Carolina de Funes, Manager, both of them of European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines Program. Both brought a lot of data and knowledge about the seventh most planted grape variety, and all aspects related to the identity of these wines, geographical indications (PDO and PGI), traceability, labeling, nutrition, and close relationship with sustainability and environment.

The attendees, mostly professionals from the world of catering, retail, distributors, importers, and the media had the opportunity to taste all expressions of Garnacha/Grenache wines: reds to whites, rosés, sparkling and Fortified Sweet Wines. They were also able to talk with wine experts included in the European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines Program to learn about the entire winemaking process of this unique wine. The event was a success and welcomed a large number of people, which exceeded all expectations of attendance. The event was sold out.

The Garnacha/Grenache program also organized a walkaround tasting in Miami (Florida Avenue) on March 6, with the aim of bringing this variety closer to U.S. experts (sommeliers, distributors, importers and the sector’s media).

In addition, these events were ideal places to inform attendees and professionals of the wine sector about the latest news of the International Competition Grenaches du Monde leaves the Old World to land in the heart of New York under the slogan “From European to the World”. This time only the best American palates of the wine industry will taste and award the best Garnacha/Grenache wines of the world. In the same way, they were informed about the great event that will take place in New York in tribute to the Grenache. On September 14th as it is tradition, the pre-International Garnacha/Grenache day will be celebrated paying homage to the winners of the 11th edition of International Competition Grenaches du Monde at a gala in New York City.

These events are part of the EU co-financed program “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines” which aims to increase awareness of this unique variety in the US market.

The U.S. is the leading wine consuming country by volume. Garnacha/Grenache sales in this country reached 30,544 hectoliters worth $55.6 million in 2021, 4.1% more than in 2019 (according to Nielsen).

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Recommendations for an optimal consumption of European Garnacha/Grenache quality wines.

The European Garnacha/Grenache wines are of great quality and sometimes not tasting them in the right glass or with sufficient oxygenation can make you not perceive the high quality and care that G&G’s European wines have. Here are some recommendations for proper consumption:

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1. Decant the wine if necessary:

Although modern winemaking techniques make decanting dispensable for most Garnacha wines, either white or red, young or with a certain ageing time will improve with decanting. It is a convenient, fast and effective method to get oxygenation to wake up some wines.

To decant wine it is important to follow some basic rules:

  • You should know the real state of the wine to know if it needs to be decanted or not. To do this, first of all it is necessary to bring carefully the bottle in case of deposit, then it will be necessary to open the bottle slowly, smell and taste it.
  • You must slowly pour the wine from the bottle into the decanter, making sure that it slowly slides down the walls of the container. This must be done carefully as excessive oxygenation can have harmful effects, and using a candle or a light to check the arriving of eventual deposit. For this process the use of decanters, generally made of glass, with a long neck and a very wide and convex base, is necessary.
  • The time spent in the decanter will vary according to the age of the wine, but it is usually short. In this sense, there is no standard rule, the best thing to do is to taste the wine.
  • To facilitate and accelerate the oxygenation of a Grenache wine, you can rotate the decanter in concentric circles in a gentle and constant manner. This operation is not very advisable for very old because they could lose their qualities. This can be done to homogenate the wine temperature in a cooler bag full of fresh water.
  • Decanting is a good option to use a wine at the last moment.

 

2. A glass for each Grenache:

It seems superfluous, but the glass is a very important element when drinking a Grenache wine. In fact, if the glass is chosen incorrectly, it can greatly affect your perception when tasting a wine, and can even confuse its color, aromas or flavor.

There are as many glass shapes as there are varieties of European Grenache. For example, a Bordeaux glass (with a larger capacity than the rest) is ideal for red wines (Red Garnacha/ Grenache Noir or even Peluda or Tintorera); a Burgundy glass (its design is shorter but it has a larger bowl) is perfect for whites (Garnacha Blanca or even Grenache Gris). The universal glass is ideal for a rosé wine and sparkling wine, even slightly closed at the edges so that aromas are better perceived. While for fortified sweet wines it is better to choose a Port glass or a burgundy white glass, as the aromas are better perceived.

3. How to fill the glass:

It is advisable to pour the right amount of wine into the glass depending on the chosen wine. But in general, for all the wines, it is necessary to not fill more than the level at the biggest opening surface, while if it is a sparkling wine, it is a good idea to fill almost to the rim.

4. Hold the glass by the stem:

This is done to avoid heating the wine. It is advisable to tilt the glass (about 113º) on a white background to see its color. In this way we can have an idea of the evolving and even the age that the wine has.

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Old Garnacha/Grenache vines are under the spotlight thanks to quality wine

The search for unique, exclusive wines and sometimes the need to adapt old vineyards to new production systems has led to a trend in the winemaking industry of protecting, pampering or recovering ancestral vines established over the decades and sometimes centuries. In this regard, expert enologists and winemakers, who are very enthusiastic about this rebirth, have brought old Garnacha/Grenache vineyards back to life in northwestern Spain and southern France. Their efforts have resulted in excellent, high-quality European wines.

© BodegaSanValero

 

Known as Garnacha in Spain and Grenache in southern France, this versatile grape, once called “tinta de Aragón,” [red grape of Aragon] had a hard time surviving phylloxera, an insect in the aphid family that causes damage to the roots, preventing sap from circulating until it kills the plant. This insect wreaked havoc on vineyards across Europe at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries.

Because of this, and because Grenache was not a favorite at the time (it was hardly known or worked well due to the lack of means and methods that existed), very few old vines of this variety remained, except in Roussillon, where Grenaches were predominant in the production of Vins Doux Naturels. In recent years, the old Grenache vines have become very valuable due to their enormous winemaking potential. They are prized for their rich, concentrated expression, and because with new production methods they yield excellent wines of consistent quality.

© Vins du Roussillon

Today, these old Garnacha/Grenache vineyards are farmed naturally and organically, with vines that are 50-100 years old on average, and at different altitudes in exceptional surroundings. Viticulturists from the five Designations of Origin (DO) that primarily cultivate Garnacha in Spain (Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, and Tierra Alta) and the 14 in the French Roussillon region are reclaiming the history of this variety and producing wines with a strong sense of place.

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European Garnacha/Grenache, altitude wines

Of the geographical parameters that affect grape growing, altitude may be one of the most decisive when making quality wine. In this regard, many Garnacha/Grenache vines are found in altitude areas (the highest-altitude wine regions in Aragon and Catalonia in Spain, and Roussillon in France).

© J. Muñoz

These altitude to high-altitude regions share similar characteristics: land with steep slopes and altitudes between 300 to 1,100 meters. Here, Garnacha vineyards are grown with great care and no irrigation, resulting in excellent wines.

The higher the altitude, the lower the temperature. This cool climate makes the wines fresher, more acidic, and long-lasting. Additionally, the grapes enjoy this closer contact with the sun, which preserves their aromas, gives them character and ultimately influences the wine’s personality.

In high-altitude vineyards, lower temperatures mean the grapes ripen more slowly, while achieving good balance and highlighting thanks to the tangy freshness including color, aromas and flavors.

Higher altitudes for vineyards can also facilitate air circulation, which results in healthier vines.

But to understand the origin of these high-altitude wines, let’s take a look at the different areas where Grenache vines are grown:

PDO Calatayud. Located in the westernmost part of the province of Zaragoza, Garnacha has adapted perfectly to the highest regions of this part of Aragon, with altitudes that range from 550 to 1,040 meters. Here, grape growing at high altitudes coexists with almond, cherry, and olive farms.

The soil conditions, the altitude at which these vineyards are planted, and the prevailing climate in the region make this designation an exceptional location for growing grapes and producing wines with a unique personality.

PDO Campo de Borja. Here, Garnacha is grown in the foothills of Moncayo mountain, and in the highest areas (between 550 and 700 meters), its vines are of a certain age and height. These two factors are of vital importance to making good wine.

PDO Cariñena. In southern Aragon there are also areas with altitudes of 800 meters where Garnacha grows on old vines – many of which are over 50 years old – that are becoming increasingly valued, placing them on the international wine map.

PDO Terra Alta. Made up of a set of elevated land (between 300 and 550 meters high) located on the right bank of the Ebro River. It is a region consisting of 12 municipalities with a large variety of landscapes.

These high-altitude areas enjoy a dry Mediterranean climate, and the dominant winds – known as el Cierzo and la Garbinada – play an important role, providing optimal conditions for the vines to develop and to produce highly concentrated, quality grapes.

© Grandes Vinos

PDO Somontano. In this unique region in the foothills of the Pyrenees, Garnacha grapes give their best to create the excellent wines that have forged the path for this designation. Large vineyards (located at altitudes of up to 600 meters), nature, and ravines make up its personality.

French Roussillon. Here, altitude also contributes a lot. This region has one of the largest proportion of old vines in the world, in soils of the most varied at up to 750 meters, located for 80% of the vineyard throughout rough mountainous terrain. The warm, dry climate is well-suited to Grenache. Therefore, it offers the perfect conditions for making quality wine.

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Key steps in the production of quality European Garnacha/Grenache wines

Respect for the environment, culture and its people prevail throughout the production process of quality European Garnacha/Grenache wines. From the cultivation and harvesting of the appropriate grapes in the vineyards, to the storage, all care and attention are required. In addition, it is committed to preserving, maintaining and caring for wine with the highest quality and innovation. We comment here the different phases that take place during the Garnacha/Grenache wine production process:

©ElVinodelasPiedras

Cultivation of the vines. Vineyard care is everything when it comes to the process of making quality European Garnacha/Grenache wine. The decisions that are made in the vineyard throughout the year guarantee the best quality in the wines. Respect for the old vines and the strength of the roots in the vineyards are maintained to offer the best wines. The entire process is based on respect for the environment. There are several types of grape: Garnacha Tinta to produce red, rosé or sweet wines; Grenache Blanc and Grey to make white wines, and Garnacha Tintorera and Garnacha Peluda to make young, crianza and sweet wines.

Harvest. This step refers to the harvesting of the Garnacha grape clusters when they reach the desired ripeness. In the harvest, the bunches from the vineyard are collected, and when it’s necessary they are sorted to discard the grapes that are in poor condition. This way, only healthy fruits remain, that will pass to the next stage. In the case of a production of dry wines, for Garnacha Blanca, Grey and Tinta, the ripening period is medium, with an earlier ripening in the case of Grenache Tintorera. On the other hand, Garnacha Peluda ripens later. The harvest period is always choosen according the style desired for the final wine.

Destemmed. Depending the style of vindication, it’s necessary to destemmed. It consists of removing the stalk, but also in the case of a mechanical harvest, branches and leaves, leaving only the Grenache grapes. For the red wine production there is an alternative to destemming, doing a traditional vinification with the whole bunches or using more rarely carbonic maceration. Those two last methods allowed to make stronger wines for the first one or younger and fruitier wines for the second.

The treading. Here the skin of the Garnacha grapes, always for the case of red wine, can be broken and together with the pulp, a mixture called must is obtained. In this process, special care is taken to avoid crushing the seeds.

Maceration. This is very rare to obtain white or rosé wines, excepted in cold temperature before the pressing and the alcoholic fermentation. Winemaker is talking about skin contact which usually last between few hours and few days.
For a red, depending if a cold pre-fermenting maceration is done, and according to the style research, the maceration of the must can last for one or more than two weeks. During the time of maceration, the skin of the grape is responsible for giving the wine its hue, aromas and structure. The extraction during the maceration can be increased for a red by pump-over, punching down or delestage…, all those technics help to have all the liquid part full impregnated with the flavor, tannins and color of the skins.
With Garnacha Tintorera grapes, we obtain a wine with a more intense colour.
When the ripening processes are appropriate, and also on dark soils, the amount of anthocyanins is greater, and if we also carry out an intense maceration of the skins with the must or wine, the colour intensity of the wines will be high.
With Garnacha Tinta grapes, a lighter wine colour is obtained.
During maceration, alcoholic fermentation occurs by which the sugar in the fruit is converted into alcohol thanks to the presence of yeast on the grape.

Pressing. This stage can be made before, during or after the alcoholic fermentation.
The must is passed through a press that extracts the liquid that is still present, to obtain the so-called press wine. The residues that remain at the end of the pressing are known as pomace and are usually distilled. An important point is that the press wine and the wine obtained after devatting are very often not mixed.

Malolactic fermentation. It is a second fermentation to which the wine is subjected to transform malic acid into lactic acid. This way the wine acquires a more soft acidity which balance the wine.

Battonage. This technique consists of suspending the fine lees (dead yeasts that are deposited at the bottom) by stirring the wine with a stick (batôn in French) to benefit from all its properties. This method is used to make more special wines, to get rounder and fater wines.

©GrandesVinos

Devatting. It consists of transferring the liquid to another tank when all the fermentations are finished. 

Ageing, Crianza and bottling. The wines can be aged or no. If they are fresh and fruity, the target is to drink them young. If they are enough powerful, sometimes they need to be age to round and balance them. So, they can be matured in different way, and very often in wood containers. To be aged in barrels, the quality of these barrels, of the wood, the size and the type of barrel are crucial. To obtain an excellent result of Garnacha wine, French oak is used during ageing. In the wood, the wine becomes more complex; among others the wine can take delicate aromas, such as vanilla, sweet spices …. this kind of ageing help also to accelerate the clarification of the wine and to complex its tannins.
With young Garnacha red wines, the commercialization is carried out immediately, but the rest will still have a period of aging which can be from 6 to 24 months. In the case of white and rosé wines, since they are not usually subjected to excessively long aging times in barrels, the time that elapses from bottling to marketing is much less.

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The curiosities of the European grape Garnacha/Grenache add differential value

To understand the uniqueness of the vineyards and the excellence of European Garnacha/Grenache wines, it is necessary to consider several peculiarities that make them different. Here are some of them:

©BodegSanValero
  1. Garnacha/Grenache proves to be very sensitive to soil variations (geographical and geological). Therefore, it is convenient to take into account the land, the topography, altitude, the weather and even the biodiversity of the environment, that is, the terroir where this very special grape is grown. Because it requires specific conditions and care to produce its best wines.
  2. Another interesting fact: old vines, limited yields and terroir can produce top-quality single-varietal wines. The lower the yield is, the better is the flavor. Old vines produce less fruit but concentrated, that is, as there are fewer berries, the vine can allocate more resources to each of them, increasing the European Garnacha / Grenache
  3. At high altitude sites with cooler conditions that preserve acidity, elegant, complex, age-worthy wines are made. These are some of the characteristics of the old Garnacha/Garnacha vines, which illustrate why it produces such excellent wines:
    • Strong roots increase quality. Garnacha/Grenache grow in hot, dry regions. The strong and deep roots of the old vines allow the plant to resist excessive heat and produce high quality wines even in difficult harvests.
    • Deep roots increase the specific minerality of the terroir. As the roots grow over time, they have great flavor potential to translate to the terroir, resulting in some European Garnacha/Garnacha wines having many fruit flavors.
    • The robust wood of the vines allows the variety to withstand strong winds, such as the Cierzo in Spain and the Tramuntana in France, which help keep the grape clusters healthy.
©GrandesVinos
  1. Self-sufficient roots. Another peculiarity of this variety is that it tends to be resistant to disease and drought, thriving in areas with little access to water. Its long, deep roots easily search for water, especially in hot, dry, well-drained soils with low fertility. In fact, the vines produce excellent fruit on slate, clay, pebble, granite, and limestone soils. Known as “water stress” variety, is self-sufficient. In fact, in 2011 it was recognized at the World Conference on Climate Change and Wine that this variety is possibly the most ecological in the world, and it is ready for climate change.
  2. In some places this variety has historically been blended with other grapes to add, for white and rosé its minerality and fruitness to the wine, or for a red its ripe and fruity aromas or delicacy to other grapes with more color and tannins.

 

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Everything you need to know to choose a bottle of European Garnacha/Grenache is on the label

The label of each bottle of European Garnacha/Grenache becomes a great letter of presentation of the wine since it offers us many clues about it. In addition, it is a guarantee that it complies with the regulations and with all European quality parameters.

Below, we explain the most frequent indications that usually appear on the label of a Garnacha bottle so that the next time you have one in your hand you know all its details and characteristics. NB: some of them are compulsory (*):

  1. Origin * and provenance *. The label must include all the information of interest regarding the origin of the wine (example: “Product from Spain” or “Product from France”), and the different regions (through the appellation). It is a hallmark and guarantee of quality. In this sense, the wines of the program “European Garnacha/Garnacha Quality Wines” meet a high level of quality and respect for the traditions of the regions from which they come from. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) are always written in full letters on the labels; they are endorsed by the European Union and demonstrate this. This European program includes 5 PDOs from Spain that have Garnacha vineyards: Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano and Terra Alta, and 13 PDOs from the Roussillon areas in France: Collioure, Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Côtes du Roussillon Villages les Aspres, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Camarany, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, Maury Sec, Rivesaltes, Maury, Banyuls and Banyuls Grand Cru – as well as 2 Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) from the south of France Côtes Catalanes and Côte Vermeille.

  1. Vintage. The year when the grapes were harvested is another piece of information that provides a lot of information. It helps to remember the conditions in which the Grenache grape raised and when it has been collected. Most bottles indicate this on both the front and back. This way you can know if it is a crianza, young or reserve wine… etc. The vintage is compulsory for a PDO.
  2. Alcohol content *. One of the informations that appear on the labels is the degree of alcohol contained in the bottle. This value is indicated as a percentage of the volume (% vol.) in pure Ethanol. Garnacha wines are found between alcohol values between 11 to 18,9%Vol. Red wines are usually between 13,5 and 15,5%Vol and whites and rosés between 12,5 and 14,5, while fortified ones are around 16% Vol but can reach 18,9%Vol.
  3. Grape variety. This mention is particularly on the back label. It is the strain with which the wine was made, so it is useful to know if it is monovarietal (Garnacha only) or a blend (Garnacha with another variety); for example, the most famous coupage with Garnacha is the GSM (Garnacha, Syrah and Mourvèdre). There is also a great diversity of Red, White, Gray, Tintorera and Peluda Garnacha.
  4. Product category. The product class of wine as indicated in the regulations (wine, sparkling wine… etc) appears here.
  5. Tasting note. On the back label of the wine, we can find information about the tasting (color, aromas, flavor), description, production method and food pairing suggestions. Sometimes it also includes data on the optimal consumption temperature.
  6. Name of the product, details of the producer * and bottler *. To recognize the product, the name of the wine appears, as well as the address of the producer and bottler.
  7. Content volume in centiliters or milliliters. They are normally 75 cl or 750 ml bottles, although there are also half bottle for fortified sweet wine until Garnacha Magnum bottles with a 1.5-litre content.
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Curiosities about the cultivation of Garnacha / Grenache European wines

 

The European Garnacha/ Grenache has gained popularity for its quality and its excellent flavor. And the wines made with this variety have become authentic jewels that seduce consumers around the world. Behind that success is a new generation of European winegrowers from Spain and France making innovative wines featuring Grenache, a central point in the tapestry of quality European wine.

@BodegaSanValero

One sip of these wines is enough to understand the ability of this European quality variety to produce complex, structured or not but always balanced wines. But before reaching our palate, Garnacha has gone through a long production process and very careful cultivation. Here are some facts about the peculiarities of its plantation:

  1. First of all, Grenache is a varietal that sprouts very quickly and requires a long period of growth to mature. Unlike other varieties, it is one of the last grapes to harvest for red wines, and adapts very well to all vineyards.
  2. The robust wood of the upright vines allows the variety to withstand strong winds, such as the Cierzo in Spain, and the Tramuntana in France, which helps to keep the grape clusters free of diseases
  3. The variety also tends to be drought resistant, thriving in areas with little access to water. Its long, deep roots readily seek out water, especially in hot, dry, well-drained soils with low fertility.
  4. It adapts very well to high altitudes. The vines produce excellent fruit on a number of soils, especially those of slate, clay, pebbles, granite and limestone.
  5. The European Garnacha/Grenache vine is a vigorous plant with considerable growth. Its clusters are between medium and large. Its berry is round and medium in size. The skin is thin or less thick.
  6. Old vines, which are abundant in the vineyards of northeastern Spain and Roussillon in France, produce even more concentrated wines due to their lower yields and deep-rooted roots. Winegrowers are increasingly turning to these old vines, and handpicking harvest, especially in high-altitude locations with cooler conditions that preserve acidity, to make elegant, complex, age-worthy wines.
  7. For many years its production was dedicated almost exclusively to the production of table wines, until these winegrowers from Spain and France began to produce wines and to recognize the true potential of Grenache with traditional techniques but with maximum innovation.
  8. Currently, this grape is one of the most cultivated in the world. It has recovered the value of its origins, its status as a versatile variety full of nuances and its position as a full-bodied grape with a high alcohol content and a complexity of aromas and flavors that make it an exceptional variety

There are different varieties of Garnacha / Greanche : Garnacha Peluda, which is a mutation of Garnacha Tinta / Grenache noir, Grenache Blanc, Grey Grenache and Garnacha Tintorera. With them you can make red, white, rosé wines, as well as fortified sweet wines and sparkling. All these wines have great advantages as they are balanced, full-bodied, low to medium but sufficient acidity, low to concentrate color and with a high alcohol content. Its productions are low, but highly appreciated for its structural and the aromatic complexity of its wines.

 

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Why choose a European Garnacha/Grenache Wine? Here are the 5 main reasons

 

Some of the virtues of a quality European Garnacha/Grenache wines may be its fruity flavor, its soft tannins that usually define it, and its pleasant finish on the palate. But there are many more reasons behind this brilliant success. Here are the five great advantages of this magnificent wine:

@Turismo de Gobierno de Aragón
  1. Moderate acidity. The red wines made from Garnacha are of great quality due to their alcoholic potential, especially if the vines are tended in suitable soils and their yield and colour are taken into account. The result is a balanced wine, with low acidity, easy to drink and always very pleasant on the palate. Wines made from Tintorera and Peluda grapes have medium acidity, while wines made from Grey and White grapes can have medium to high acidity.
  2. Versatility. The Grenache grape is usually medium and early ripening and has great versatility. This is thanks to its great capacity to produce all kinds of wines with it: red, white, rosé, sparkling or fortified sweet wines. All of them are characterized by their great personality.In addition, this grape adapts to all kinds of environments and situations. It is resistant to the climate of the hot and windy Mediterranean valleys. It can also be planted in high altitude. Its strong wood canopy and upright growth help resist northerly winds in those valleys. By having long and deep roots, it allows it to adapt well to water stress. In fact, this variety does best in hot, dry soils that are well drained. Here the flavors and aromas are concentrated, especially if the grapes come from old vines.
@LydiaLeePhoto
  1. High aromatic intensity. In this sense, European Garnacha wines are round and friendly in their different varieties:
  • Garnacha Tinta / Grenache Noir. It is a variety considered one of the most planted in Spain and France. From it, highly aromatic red, rosé or Fortified Sweet Wines are produced. It is distinguished by aromas of strawberry, wild berries, black cherries, cassis or pepper and can evolves in a right way through tabaco, chocolate or leathery notes.
  • Garnacha Blanca/Grenache Blanc. Stands out for its aromatic intensity, with floral, aniseed and tropical fruit notes. We can also appreciate aromas of peach and melon. From this variety, white wines with a lot of aroma and fruity taste with a lot of body are also obtained.
  • We have Garnacha Tintorera with a bright purple hue. It has notes of black fruit (plum), fine herbaceous notes, fruit (orange peel), spices (green pepper) and balsamic notes (eucalyptus). The wines obtained from this grape are unique and surprising. By its colour, it is highly appreciated for
  • Grey Grenache/Garnacha Gris. Initial aromas are aniseed, minerality and citrus notes. There’s a bit more of the lighter red fruits as well like cranberry and raspberry. Florals are a constant steady background.
  • Garnacha Peluda. With a good colour and structure, the nose offers a high aromatic variety, fresh, fragrant, with aromas of red fruits and vegetal notes, prickly fig, yellow strawberry, conveying the aromas that surround the vineyard, such as thyme, rosemary, floral…
  1. Great implantation. Grenache is the seventh most planted grape variety in the world today (fifth for reds). It is also one of the oldest varieties and it’s planted on nearly 200,000 hectares, more than half of which are in Spain and France. Its implementation reaches also Italy, Portugal, Greece, South Africa, California, Chile and Australia, among other wine regions of the planet.
© Domaine Cazes – Port Vendres
  1. Expression of ‘terroir’. Through the Grenache, the winemakers can express a lot of things and generally the terroir, the way of work in the vine but also during the processes of vinification and ageing. The full family of Garnacha / Grenache demand a great attention from the vineyard to the cellar; those grapes are very sensitives to bad and wrong manipulations.
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European Garnacha/Grenache Quality wines seduce the North American palate at SommCon held in San Diego

Today Garnacha/Grenache is an international symbol of quality with European origin that is creating trends and who has triumphed with a sold out seminar at the SommCon, one of the gatherings of the wine sector held in San Diego (USA) on November 6th, 7th and 8th, 2022.

On the first day of the event, the attendees were welcomed with a reception that gave way to a networking session. During the days of SommCon San Diego, eight of the represented producers showcased their wines in a tasting of Garnacha, to the professionals who attended the event, especially sommeliers. This way, they were able to confirm the great quality of these European wines in all their expressions, from whites to reds, sparkling wines or Fortified Sweet Wines. In addition, the attendees were able to receive information about the advantages of European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines directly from its producers, which made it a unique experience.

The conference held about Garnacha explained that this is the seventh most planted grape variety in the world today (fifth for reds). It is also one of the oldest varieties and possibly the most ecological. Garnacha wines are elegant, balanced and fruity wines that have won many international awards.

It was also pointed out that 92.8% of the world’s Grenache grapes are planted in Europe, with Spain and France leading the way in terms of the concentration of Garnacha and old vines in the world. Special emphasis was placed on educating those present on European standards, especially on the importance of products under a certain quality scheme (PDO and PGI).

In addition, the history surrounding Garnacha/Grenache, the strength of this variety and its unique geolocation were also explained to the public. “These messages had a positive impact on US consumers,” says Carolina de Funes, International Manager of the Garnacha Origen Association.

Also, that Garnacha is on the rise and offers enormous value for the US market. In fact, sales in this market have advanced 47.2% in the last ten years as it is one of the most food-friendly grapes in the world and is widely available at less than $12.8 a bottle, making it ideal to satisfy the growing curiosity and appreciation of Americans.

“It is also gaining popularity in this country due to the diversity of its clones, from light-bodied whites to full-bodied reds and Fortified Sweet Wines”, notes Carolina de Funes.

 

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The American gastronomy that best pairs with a European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines

The wines elaborated with European Garnacha/Grenache are very versatile and diverse, so we can pair them with a large number of dishes typical of the United States cuisine. Pairing food with Garnacha wine elevates the gastronomic experience and surprises diners with its aroma and flavor.

Fruity Grenache and light bodied red wines can be served with pork, Indian curries o burgers. A full-bodied red wine is the perfect to combine with ribs, grilled sausages o lamb chops. These are just examples; there are thousands of possibilities to pair Garnacha with the best culinary creations.

In the United States, most of the frequent and popular dishes such as pizza and hot dogs don’t necessarily ask for an American wine; on the contrary, in many cases, what works best are the European Garnacha/ Grenache Quality Wines.

One of the most popular dishes in the country are hamburgers: they can be paired with any wine, therefore, we can opt for a full-bodied red wine if the hamburgers are meat dishes, while if they are vegan, we could opt for a rosé that enhances its flavor.

A full-bodied red Grenache is the perfect with meat: In general, with this food the perfect pairing is formed. From roasted or grilled lamb, white meats with strong sauces, to simple stews or stews with aromatic pork, duck or poultry meat. And for the holiday celebrations it is ideal to pair with turkey or red meat made on the barbecue. If, in addition, you use different sauces like a Mango Chutney to accompany it, you will pleasantly surprise your guests. If what you like most is diverse food, you can try a Garnacha medium bodied white or red with Indian food or even with a Tajine from Morocco; it’s a good combination.

@LydiaLee

Chic appetizer: If you want to give your holiday dinner a chic touch, a cheese board accompanied by a salad and a good Grenache wine will do the job for you. Let your guests be filled with the essence of “less is more.”

Garnacha with fish: If you opt for baked tuna or if what you have is a softer fish, one option is to resort to a Garnacha rosé wine. Fresh seafood pairs wonderfully with full white wine of this variety. And do not forget the wonderful opportunity to match a spicy fish stew with a gentle and mineral red Grenache.

Complex salads and vegetables: Garnacha light bodied white wine is ideal for salads in which you can incorporate nuts, chicken, sauces, etc. If you accompany it with vegetables, this variety combines better with pepper and eggplant. If what we are going to cook a rice or pasta, choose meat rice, risottos and pasta with some meat.

Garnacha (sparkling) with sushi, desserts o fresh fruits: be confident to taste a sparkling wine these succulent dishes; a good surprise for your family and friends at upcoming celebrations. For sweets and chocolates nothing better than a fortified sweet wine.

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Guide to store and consume a quality Garnacha/Grenache wine at home

Surely you have wondered if, after buying a bottle of European Garnacha/Grenache wine, you are storing it well so that it maintains its magnificent properties and to taste it in the best condition. Here are some practical tips for optimal conservation at home to respect and ensure the quality:

@Roussillonwines

Constant temperature. The right thing is for the wine to be at a constant temperature. This means that the bottle should be stored between 54º F (12º C) and 57º F (14º C) It is also recommended that Garnacha wine does not suffer sudden changes in temperature as this would alter its properties, the cork would change size and it would allow wine to leak. Meanwhile, the humidity, should be between 60% and 80%. These conditions usually occur in underground rooms, such as cellars or basements. If you do not have these spaces at home, you should find the spot with the most similar conditions (storage rooms, interior patios or even cabinets where the environment is protected from the outside and dedicated to wines).

Dark environment. Direct exposure to light, whether solar or artificial, accelerates the degradation of wine, which is why it is vitally important that the place where you store the wine is dark. Direct light would favor the “oxidation” of the wine, affecting its flavor and color.

The bottle in a horizontal position: This is important so that the Garnacha wine is in permanent contact with the cork, keeping it moist. However, once the bottle is opened, it is best to keep the bottle upright to minimize the surface area of the wine that is in contact with oxygen. Do not hesitate to use a “VacuVin” process mainly for red wines and for sure still wines. It creates an airtight vacuum that preserves the wine once the bottle has been opened, and prevents the oxidation process that is responsible for wine spoilage.

Controlled environment to prevent the flavor and aroma of the wine from being altered by external agents when the bottle is opened and is to be tasted. For example, strong odors are discouraged in these storage locations, so a kitchen is often a poor place to store wine. It is also convenient that the space is free of noise, movements or vibrations.

@DOSomontano

Wine at home. The ideal place to keep European Garnacha/Grenache wine in your home would be an underground space or brick walls, avoiding any leakage. The place has to be clean and well ventilated. But if you don’t have a basement in your house, you can store the wine in a closet or in a room protected from the sun; There are also wine artificial cellers that allow it to be stored in the most suitable conditions. As for the bottle racks and shelves, they must be rigid and stable. It is also possible to keep the wine in its own box, as long as it is made of wood (avoid to keep the carton box) and is not in contact with the ground.

Once you keep these tips in mind, all you have to do is enjoy European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines. Just one sip of these new wines is enough to understand their complexity, good balance and structure, and enjoy their authentic flavor.

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High reputation of Garnacha/Grenache wines, endorsed by the EU

@Ruta del Vino de la Garnacha

Garnacha/Grenache wines are recognized for being grown in a traditional way but also for their high quality and prestige. That’s why they have the quality certification established by the European Union in two regimes: “PGI“, or Protected Geographical Indication, and “PDO“, Protected Designation of Origin. These two quality schemes absolutely guarantee that the wines with this indication originate in the region, which protects their reputation in the market, and they also explain why the production of Garnacha/Grenache has such a demanding process.

The PDO and IGP labels allow the Garnacha/Grenache wineries to offer their customers transparent information on the origin of the wine.

The “farm-to-table” movement is on the rise around the world, particularly in the United States, as more and more people choose what they consume based on what is in the product. Thus, European PDO and PGI foods and wines not only inform consumers about the specific region where they originated, but also express a reputation for excellence by referring to that region. And this absolutely guarantees its quality.

@Les Clos de Paulilles vignoble

But let’s explain what exactly each one of these labels means. The Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) is granted to products originating from a region with great prestige in terms of its cultivation methods and processed products. Wines with this identification are considered to be of quality due to their good name, variety or other characteristics attributable to their place of cultivation. Here the emphasis is on the geographical origin of the product. For this reason, people who buy wine get a better idea of where it comes from and the background of the wineries that make it.

The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) refers to the name of a region whose geographical environment promotes products of quality and excellence. The wines with this indication are produced exclusively in a certain area, from the cultivation of the grapes to the manufacture of the bottle, which means that all the production and transformation is carried out in the region of origin. This seal of quality adds value to the product compared to its competitors: it offers the consumer a clear map of the entire process, from the vine to the table. There are five PDO vineyards in the northeast of Spain that are specialized in the Garnacha grape variety: Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano and Terra Alta.

There are also Grenache vineyards with 13 PDO in the Roussillon areas in France -Banyuls, Banyuls Grand Cru, Collioure, Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Caramany, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Les Aspres, Maury Sec, Maury, Rivesaltes, – and  2 PGI – Côtes Catalanes, and Côte Vermeille.

By understanding what the PGI and PDO labels mean, consumers can place Grenache wine varieties in their regions of origin, renowned for their traditional production methods and consistent quality.

The result is that specific flavor of the wine, unmatched, due to the geographical conditions. Grenache vineyards are internationally recognized for the sustainability of the production process (impeccable use of current resources) and for producing millions of hectoliters of delicious PDO and PGI wines each year.

 

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Journalists and professionals from the U.S. travel to the cradle of Garnacha/Grenache in Europe

The Garnacha Origen Association and Roussillon Wines (Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon) have launched a campaign, co-financed by the European Union, to promote quality Garnacha/Grenache wines in the United States. To this end, two trips were organized: one for prominent media outlets and another promotional one for trade professionals from this country. In both cases, the aim was to educate the American public on the European quality schemes on which Garnacha/Grenache wines are produced.

The two trips were also intended to bring these experts closer to the cradle of Garnacha, to the three Spanish PDOs –Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena– and the Roussillon areas in France: four PDO –Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Rivesaltes and Maury Sec– as well as one Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) in the south of France –Côtes Catalanes-.

The purpose of the trips for these professionals was to get to know first-hand and learn the exciting world surrounding Garnacha/Grenache (one of the oldest and most widely planted grapes in the world) in its different aspects, including the European production model, specifically the Quality Schemes. They were able to try innovative wines made with this variety. They also learned about the characteristics of this grape and its adaptation in the growing areas. In addition, they learned about the know-how of the producers in these areas and emerged themselves in the long tradition that are behind these wines.

They were also able to visit vineyards and producers in both countries and had a unique experience because, in all cases, European Garnacha/Grenache wines are kind to the American palate and offer incredible quality. In addition, they toured the area of Roussillon, a historic region of France where, thanks to its excellent climate and various “terroir” land, it has become an high-quality vineyard with vines grown often on narrow terraces.

In these places, the North American professionals learned that the cultivation of Garnacha is much more than a job: it’s a family and cultural legacy that is passed down from generation to generation. It is the heritage of a land and the result of the fusion between ancestral knowledge and new contributions in research and development (R&D).

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Old vines: a tribute to European origins

The winegrowers of the cradle of the European Garnacha/Grenache variety (PDOs of – France– have bet, during the last decades, for the quality and, character of monovarietal wines and the attachment to the land. In fact, Europe holds the highest concentration of old vines in the world, ranging from 40 to +120 years old. Although its history goes back much further in time, having carbon-dated seeds from 153 BCE.

© Elena

And that is the philosophy of the winemakers who work with Garnacha: to respect their natural environment, also the old vines and the fruit that comes from them as much as possible, integrating innovation while respecting the best winegrowing and winemaking traditions. The strong link to the land is due to the resilience of Grenache, which is able to take advantage of the passage of time to produce its best concentrated fruit, unlike other varieties. Quality of wines is determined by European Garnacha/Grenache intrinsic characteristics, expression of terroir and traditional know how mixed with innovative winemaking.

The quest for perfection has made the Garnacha variety widely acclaimed by wine lovers around the world. Almost 93% of the vines of this variety are planted in Europe, where France and Spain have the largest share (54.9% and 41%, respectively), and of these vines, many are decades old. Grenache prides itself on its European heritage and its ability to deliver complex, structured and well-balanced wines.

Oldvines, superior wine

Grapes from historic Garnacha/Grenache old vines in Europe offer amazing characteristics and result in the richest, most concentrated wines on the planet.

But why do these grapes from old vines produce such a magnificent treasured wines? Here are some of the reasons:

© Bodegas San Alejandro
  1. Low yields. Older vines produce fewer and smaller, but concentrated berries, which give a better result. With fewer berries, the vine can devote more resources to each berry, enhancing the rich concentrated flavors.
  2. Smaller berries provide more color and structure. Being a thin-skinned, pale and not very tannic variety, old vines produce smaller berries, which increases the wine’s color and tannins and creates a more harmonious wine.
  3. Strong roots increase quality and consistency. Grenache grows in warm, dry arid regions, but excessive heat and lack of water can threaten even the most resistant varieties. The strong, deep roots of old Garnacha vines make it possible to resist and produce high quality wines even in difficult vintages.
  4. Deep roots enhance terroir-specific minerality. European Garnacha wines are terroir-led, being able to express where they come from as the roots of the vines grow, they are able to imbue the wines with minerality.
  5. Sustainability. Old vines are survivors and make the best of a bad situation (poor soils and extremely arid climate). At the World Conference on Climate Change and Wine held in Marbella (Spain) in 2011, Garnacha was referred to as “arguably the most environmentally friendly grape in the world and prepared for climate change”.

Winemakers in the European appellations where it’s naturally adapted to explain that Grenache variety “adapts well to extremely dry climatic conditions and can be grown with environmentally friendly viticulture practices.”

Old vines, which are abundant in the European vineyards of northeastern Spain appellations and Roussillon Geographical Indications in France, produce even more concentrated and terroir-specific wines due to their low yields and deep, well-established roots. Increasingly, winemakers are turning to these old vines, especially in high-altitude sites to make elegant, complex and age-worthy wines. With yields ranging from 1 to 1,5 kilo per vine, making each bottle a European treasure.

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Terroir: The secrets of European Garnacha/Grenache out in the open

© Domaine Cazes – Clos de Paulilles

Soil characteristics, topography, altitude, climatology and even the biodiversity of the environment where the vineyards are grown. The “terroir” around European Garnacha/Grenache is so unique it holds the keys to understanding the excellence of the wines made with this variety.

Geological and geographical aspects, together with a clear cultural dimension, make these vineyards very special. In the European Geographical Indications, Garnacha/Grenache proves to be a terroir-led variety and that old vines offer extraordinary quality. Grenache/Grenache is very sensitive to terroir variations and requires specific conditions and care to produce its best wines.

European Garnacha/Grenache – whether red, white, rosé, sparkling or fortified – presents several advantages and challenges. Did you know that, in some places, this variety has historically been blended with other grapes to add its ripe, aromatic and fruity aromas or color to other grapes with more tannins?

© Bodegas San Alejandro

European terroir

Similarly, Garnacha/Grenache is very sensitive to the terroir where it is grown; the grapes offer very depending on where they are grown. Because of its late ripening, the grape needs warm and dry conditions such as those offered by the windy continental-Mediterranean climate of its place of origin in Europe.

When we talk about Garnacha, we are talking about a variety perfectly adapted to its environment: the robust wood of the vines allows the variety to withstand strong winds, such as the cierzo in Spain and the tramontane in France, which help keep the grape clusters loose and free of rot. The variety also tends to be disease and drought resistant, thriving in areas with little access to water. Its long, deep roots readily seek water, especially in warm, dry, well-drained soils with low fertility. The vines produce excellent fruit on a range of soils, especially slate, clay, pebbles, granite and limestone. Old vines, which abound in the vineyards of northeastern Spain and Roussillon in France, produce even more concentrated and terroir-specific wines, due to their lower yields and deep-rooted roots.

Terroir is undoubtedly one of the keys to the effervescence of these unique wines. Increasingly, vintners are turning to these old vines, particularly in high-elevation sites with cooler conditions that preserve acidity, to make elegant, complex, and age-worthy wines. These are a few of the characteristics of old Garnacha/Grenache vines, illustrating why it produces such excellent wines:

  • Lower yields concentrate flavour. Old vines produce less but concentrated fruit, which is actually a good thing. Because there are fewer berries, the vine can allocate more resources to each one, boosting Garnacha/Grenache’s rich flavours.
  • Smaller berries provide more colour and structure. As a thin-skinned variety, Garnacha/Grenache can be pale and low in tannin, throwing the wine’s structure off-balance. Old vines produce smaller berries, deepening the wine’s colour and increasing tannins in order to create a more harmonious wine.
  • Strong roots increase quality and consistency. Garnacha/Grenache thrives in hot, dry regions, but excessive heat and lack of water can threaten even the hardiest of varieties. Strong, deep roots of old vines allow European Garnacha/Grenache to produce high-quality wines even in difficult vintages.
  • Deep roots increase terroir-specific minerality. Europe’s Garnacha/Grenache wines have naturally abundant fruit flavours, but they also have great potential to translate terroir. As roots grow over time, they are able to imbue the wines with minerality and sense of place.
  • Sustainability. In the vineyard, Garnacha/Grenache OLD VINES are drought-resistant, adaptable, self-sufficient and self-sustaining. Simply put – they make the best of a bad situation (poor soils and a dry/hot climate). Europe’s Garnacha/Grenache’s strong roots delve deep into the soil searching for humidity and nutrients; known as a “water-stress” variety, it is not that dependent on rainwater or irrigation like so many other grapes. As recognized at the World Climate Change and Wine Conference held in Marbella (Spain) in 2011, Garnacha/Grenache is arguably the most eco-friendly grape in the world, and it’s ready for climate change.
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What’s the best glass to use depending on what European Garnacha/Grenache you’re tasting?

© Rousillon wines

It may seem superfluous, but the glass is a key element in the process of wine tasting. In fact, if the glass is chosen incorrectly, it can greatly affect your perception when tasting a wine, and can even mislead its color, aromas or taste.

There are as many shapes of glasses as there are varieties of European Garnacha/Grenache. Here’s a guide to help find the perfect match:

Bordeaux Glass ideal for reds (Garnacha tinta/ Grenache Noir or even Peluda or Tintorera).

This wine glass is characterized by having a larger capacity than the rest of glasses. It allows more complex wines to oxygenate better in the glass, thus enhancing flavors and aromas. Therefore, it would be ideal to drink in it a good monovarietal aged wine from Grenache Noir, Tintorera or Garnacha Peluda.

Burgundy Glass perfect for whites (Grenache blanc or Garnacha blanca or even Gris)

This glass is designed for lighter wines as its design is shorter than the Bordeaux but has a larger bowl. Its purpose is so the wine is directed to the tip of the tongue in a direct way and enabling the taste of the most delicate flavors. The perfect choice for a beautiful Garnacha Blanca or a Grenache Gris.

Universal glass for a rosé wine

Sometimes a universal wine glass is the best choice for a refreshing rosé wine. This glass is perfect because of its multi-purpose character and because it highlights its harmony and subtle taste.

Port wine glass for a fortified wine

The tulip-shaped glass such as the Port retains the dense aromas of dessert wines, e.g, VDN or fortified wines, to which certain processes have been added to increase their alcohol content and stability.

The ideal glass for sparkling

Contrary to popular belief, flutes or coupé glasses are not ideal for sparkling wine. Conventional or universal wine glasses are better, even slightly closed at the edges so that aromas are better perceived. A very suitable glass to enjoy a delicious blanc de noirs Cava!

Whatever your choice and diversity of possibilities, it is important to bear in mind some key characteristics of the glass when it comes to wine tasting:

  • The size of the glass: it influences the quality and aromatic intensity of the wine. Glasses with a medium bowl will be good for young wines, and if shape is well selected, it will enhance the positive elements of the wine, such as aromatic intensity and freshness.
  • The stem should be long enough to be able to hold the glass without touching its bowl with your hand, in order to avoid transferring heat to the wine very quickly, which would affect its flavor and aromas appreciation.
  • The diameter of the rim must also be considered since it is the part that influences how aromas are perceived the most.
  • The glass is also a fundamental piece in wine tasting. The thin, colorless glass is more appropriate as it offers a clearer vision of the wine’s color and characteristics and makes the tactile sensation between the palate and the glass more pleasant.
© Rousillon wines
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An International Day to toast with the best European Garnacha/Grenache quality wines

Every third Friday of September, International Garnacha/Grenache Day is an exceptional occasion to enjoy one of the oldest and most widely planted varieties in the world, which hides behind wines with a pleasant palate, infinite flavor and quality, that are delicious and distinguished, specially those produced under Europe’s quality schemes: Protected Geographical Indications (PGIs) or Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs), that have been producing high quality monovarietal wines from this magnificent wine grape for generations.

Would it be its refreshing, fruity flavor, its moderate acidity or its balanced and elegant nuances that explain why everyone is talking about it?

Tinta, Blanc, Tintorera, Peluda, Gris… diversity expressed thanks to vines with a strong character, in many cases with many years of life or even centenary, that produce excellent brunches that perfectly  express their European terroir.

Poor soils, ranging from slate, clay, pebbles, granite or limestone, among others in areas where vines are deeply stablished, producing some of the highest quality wines in the world. A paradox? Low yields are obtained in such arid areas, but making the best out of such extreme terroirs, producing a miraculous concentration of flavor. The fact that such old vines produce less fruit is actually a good thing. Because there are fewer berries, the vine can allocate more resources to the fruit and the quality will be unsurpassed. Ripe, aromatic and fruit-forward wines… The results will surprise the most demanding palates.

It takes great care, extremely low yields and decades-old vines for European Garnacha/Grenache to reach its full potential. The results vary enormously, from very light wines to some enormously complex and full-bodied ones. This strive for perfection has made the variety acclaimed by wine lovers around the world, especially in countries where they “love” the offerings coming from the old world (Europe).

Grenache variety is capable of producing wines of the highest quality and very versatile in styles and flavor profiles. Depending on where the vines are grown, the fruit can be used for still (red, white and rosé); sparkling; and even fortified or VDN dessert wines.

European wineries in the area where Garnacha originated, with the wise winemakers at the forefront, have elevated to its maximum worldwide expression a varietal that has been embraced in the Protected Designations of Origin of DO Calatayud, DO Campo de Borja, DO Cariñena, DO Somontano and DO Terra Alta in Spain and in Roussillon’s  Geographical Indications (14 AOPs and 3 IGPs in France). Excellent quality and European high quality production standards provide the maximum guarantees to consumers who demand spectacular wines to discover, produced in sustainable vineyards.

Here’s a toast to Garnacha/Grenache European wine grape on its International Day!

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How to taste a European Garnacha/Grenache quality wine in three easy steps

Do you want to enjoy tasting wine but you’re not an expert sommelier? Here are some easy tips for anyone to enjoy every unique Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache) wine from Europe that is gaining ground all over the world. You’d just have to train your sight, nose and palate.

1. Visual step (look)

First, hold the glass, preferably by the stem or base to avoid warming the wine. Tilt the glass (around 113 º) on a white background, for example, a plain paper.

Then observe the color, which will give an idea of the age and evolution of the wine. In the case of reds, if it is a bright cherry color, it will mean we’re dealing with a fresh vintage but if it tends to ruby or garnet, we’d be dealing with an aged European Garnacha/Grenache. White wines are light yellow in colour with some greenish tones, which will gain a much more powerful golden tone when aged in barrels. As for rosés, their colour ranges from pale to intense pink and bright with a lot of personality.

© Roussillon wines

2. Olfactory step (smell)

Without swirling the wine, place your nose at the edge of the glass and smell it first to identify primary aromas.

Now we’re ready to swirl the glass, enabling oxygenation which will liberate secondary and tertiary aromas. Take your time to dive deep down and devote your senses to European Garnacha/Grenache aromas. Have you noticed those fruity and flowery notes? What about apple, peach, lemon and even salinity of Grenache blanc, arranging to citrus oils, honey, flowers, currants or melon of evolved whites? Oh… yummy rosés, with those beautiful strawberries, watermelon, rhubarb and roses! Just imagine that perfect Mediterranean sunset combined with those aromas!

Before we get serious with aged reds, European Garnacha makes great varietal wines full of red fruit and spices (strawberry raspberry cherry, pepper…), but evolving also to full-bodied Grenache with blackberry, currant, allspice, anise or tobacco.

And we’re not done yet! Fortified and Vins Doux Naturels offer fruity generously sweet aromas of dried fruits, jams, leather, coffee or cocoa.

© Lydia Lee Photo

3. Tasting step (taste, texture and lenght)

Here you must be attentive to the first sensations you notice when the wine reaches the mouth. With your tongue pass it from one side to the other and concentrate on appreciating the following four characteristics: saltiness, sweetness, acidity and bitterness. Grenache produces wines with many nuances and spicy aromas with a delicate complexity. Wines tend to be fruity, sweet and have a medium to low acidity.

Have you ever heard someone defining roundness and yet having no clue what was he/she is referring to? A round wine is one that achieves a balance between the four factors, as is the case with exceptional European Garnacha = Grenache quality wines.

Finally, we have to define its texture. In the case of Garnacha based-wines, its texture is elegant on the palate and juicy.

If once you have swallowed the wine, it keeps the same sensations, we’d state it a long retronasal finish. The finish will be determined by the persistence of its flavors. Thus, a short wine lasts less than two seconds while a medium, long and very long wine lasts between nine and twelve seconds.

Please kindly note for the temperature of Garnacha wines, it is advisable to taste them rather cool to control the alcohol content of the wines as they tend to have a medium-high alcohol content. To further refine, it is necessary to consider the style of each wine and whether it is a young or aged wine. In the case of red wines with reserve, it would be appropriate to drink it around  62-63ºF. The younger the red wine, the better to keep it at around 59ºF-60,8F, while for a rosé the optimum temperature would be 50ºF. Sparkling wine should be tasted at 44.6ºF and white wine at 50ºF.

Last but not least… Think! Did you like the wine? Was this wine unique? Were there any characteristics that shined through and impressed you?

Either if you prefer to get technical or just simply enjoy your glass, we encourage you to immerse in a beautiful discovery of European Garnacha/Grenache quality wines endless possibilities. Cheers!

© Bodegas Aragonesas
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European Garnacha/Grenache to conquer the U.S.

Elena N.

European Quality wines, produced in Spain and France, “harvest” new milestones in North America. The ‘European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines’ program, financed mainly with EU funds, is entering its second year of implementation, with a wide range of programmed activities. Highlights include 1,500 in-store demo per year, PR, digital and participation in major professional events in key areas such as California, Illinois, New-York metro area, Florida and Texas.

This MULTI AGRIP EU funded program aims to improve awareness and increase the market share of European quality schemes, specifically those that come from an EU quality scheme (PDO/PGI) and carry an indication of the wine grape variety (Garnacha/Granache). Sofía González, manager of the European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines Program, has highlighted that the market share in value has increased by 32% in the USA in recent years. These figures can be explained in large part by the actions of the European program and the efforts of producers and marketers to publicize this type of wines that are so markedly differential. Professionals (media, importers, distributors and other industry players) and consumers have noticed the high quality of these wines. Their demand is growing exponentially in Europe, North America and Asia, among other world destinations.

A walkaround in the U.S.

During a three-year European Union co-funded marketing campaign to raise awareness of European quality Garnacha/Grenache wines in the United States of America, Garnacha Origen Association and Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR) have joined forces to promote the European wine grape Garnacha, also known by its French nom de vin Grenache, one of the world’s oldest and most widely planted wine grapes (being currently the seventh most planted grape variety in the world and the fifth most planted red grape).This promotion and dissemination program will make it possible for European monovarietal Garnacha/Grenache wines to participate in such important events in 2022 as The International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show (IBWSS) in San Francisco; TexSom (Dallas), USA Trade Tasting; or SommCon (San Diego), among others. Likewise, González has advanced that they are working so that journalists and industry professionals will visit this harvest the European varietal production areas of Spain and France, to experience European production standards and methos, as well as their differential characteristics. “Garnacha is more fashionable than ever in the US and also internationally. We are fortunate to have a variety which expresses well the terroir and tradition, adapting perfectly, in this way, to the new trends and demands of Americans,” she said.

While most people know Garnacha/Grenache for playing a role in GSM (Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre) blends, a new generation of winemakers in Europe, and particularly in its birthplace of Eastern Spain and French Roussillon, is crafting innovative wines in which the grape plays the starring role. Contemporary European producers are demonstrating that older vines, limited yields, and the right terroir can produce premium-quality single-varietal wines. This guide provides an overview and history of European Garnacha/Grenache, as well as a look at some of the EU geographical indications—protected geographical indication (PGI) and protected designation of origin (PDO)—that have been producing high-quality wines from this grape for generations.

The Association for the Promotion of Garnacha Wine (Garnacha Origen) groups together the Protected Designations of OriginPDO Calatayud, PDO Campo de Borja, PDO Cariñena, PDO Somontano and PDO Terra Alta, in Spain, while brings together 17 appellations of differentiated quality, between 14 Protected Designations of Origin and 3 Protected Geographical Indications.

Garnacha/Grenache – whether red, white, rosé, sparkling or fortified – presents several advantages and challenges. While it is not a difficult grape to grow, Garnacha/Grenache is highly sensitive to variations in terroir and requires specific conditions and care to produce its best wines. In some places the varietal has historically been blended with other grapes so it can add its ripe, aromatic and fruity aromas to other grapes with more tannins or color. Finding the perfect balance is a real art that European winemakers have succeeded in mastering.

No matter the region, Garnacha is very sensitive to the terroir where it’s cultivated; the grapes offer strikingly different characteristics depending on where they’re grown. Grenache proponents have dubbed Garnacha/Grenache – whether red, white, rosé, sparkling or fortified – presents several advantages and challenges. While it is not a difficult grape to grow, Garnacha/Grenache is highly sensitive to variations in terroir and requires specific conditions and care to produce its best wines. In some places the varietal has historically been blended with other grapes so it can add its ripe, aromatic and fruity aromas to other grapes with more tannins or color. Finding the perfect balance is a real art that European winemakers have succeeded in mastering.

Grandes Vinos

European quality and tradition

Garnacha, also known by its French name ‘Grenache’, is one of the oldest and most internationally planted grapes. An emblem of the “terroir” and the identity of large agricultural in Europe. Although we can find this variety in practically all of Europe and the world. In its favor is its versatility, thanks to a wide range of red, white, rosé and even sweet and sparkling wines, marked by their balance and expressiveness. High quality gastronomic and great value wines in the North American market, make the variety more popular. “We are very satisfied with the evolution of this campaign, since we are making progress in achieving our objectives, which is to increase the competitiveness of EU quality wines, specifically those produced with the Garnacha/Grenache grape,” González remarked.

Garnacha has achieved a very good image and acceptance among the best prescriptions and professionals in North America. But there is still a long way to go to reach the general public and consolidate a greater presence in stores and restaurants for this type of quality European wines. Even more so in a country as important as the U.S., which also sets international trends, where wine is mainly chosen according to the grape variety. On this point, Garnacha Origen and CIVR have been pioneers and forerunners in focusing on the variety.

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Internationally renowned wine critic James Suckling rates European Garnacha/Grenache wines with +90 points

© James Suckling

The European Garnacha/Grenache variety is gaining popularity among wine connoisseurs. The quality of Grenache is mainly due to the great variety of wines it offers and its versatility when it is produced. The most renowned wine critic of the moment and one of the most acclaimed ones globally, James Suckling, an American wine and cigar critic internationally regarded as one of the world’s most influential wine critics. has rated some European Grenache Quality wines, with high scores (up to 92 points!). According to the tasting panel notes: “Garnacha has become fashionable among winemakers working in hot, dry climates who want to make wines with nuance, detail and precision.”

Specifically, James Suckling rates a wine made with Garnacha Tinta with 92 points, of which he explains: “A nice delivery of strawberries, cherries and a mixture of spices. A fuller garnacha with a good amount of spicy oak that chimes in with the spiciness from the grape”. Regarding flavour, he describes it as “Juicy and velvety with a flatteringly long, spicy finish. Drink or hold.”

Another Grenache red wine scored 91 outstanding points. He said it is “A scented and spicy garnacha with some dried Mediterranean herbs and spices on top of the strawberries and cherries. Quite bright, textured and juicy with a tense, medium-bodied palate, filled with lots of mealy tannins. Delicious now.

As for the third Grenache red wine rated satisfactorily by Suckling’s team, with 90 points, “Spiced strawberries, dried herbs and a hint of confectionary here, following through to a medium to full body with generous expressions of red and black fruit and dusty tannins. A tinge of dried fruit adds a hint of plushness. Drink now. Bright red cherries, strawberries, savory spices and dried herbs here. Floral palate, with generous red and blue fruit and tight, dusty tannins. Just slightly warming at the end. Drink now.”

The global wine critic of the moment believes that wines made from European Garnacha/Grenache respond well to the expression of the terroir’s characteristics and are giving way to more precise, pure and spicy versions accentuated by red fruit, herbs or spices.

Specifically, in these wines, “bright red cherries, strawberries, savory spices and dried herbs are perceived on the palate. And the finish is slightly warm,” Suckling acknowledges.

European Garnacha/Grenache is one of the varieties that is gaining more prominence for its versatility and elegance, with admirers joining from all parts of the world.

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A European wine grape with many names

Did you know there are over 60 ways to name Grenache all over the world? Known as Garnacha (AUS, BRA, NZL), Cannonau (ITA), Tocai Rosso (ITA), Rooi Grenache (ZAF), Red Grenache (ZAF, CHL), Granaxia (AUS), Tintore di Spagna (BIH), Grenaš crn (MKD, BIH, HRV), Grenache crni (HRV), Granacha (BIH), Alicantina (MAR), Garnacha negra (BIH), d’Alicante (BIH), Cannono (BIH), Lladoner Tinto (ESP) or Gironet (ESP), it originated in Europe (most likely Spain, according to ampelographic evidence). Because it  needs hot and dry conditions it was the ideal grape for the Mediterranean climate and it spread.

Varietal Type Names Origin
Garnacha Blanca W Garnachablanca; Grenache Blanc Spain
Garnacha Peluda R Lledoner Pelut Spain
Garnacha Roja (Gris) G Garnacha Roja; Garnacha Rose; Grenache Gris; Grenache Rose Spain
Garnacha Tinta R Cannonau; Garnacha; Garnacha Tinta; Grenache Noir; Grenache; Tinto Basto; Tocai Rosso; Vernaccia Nera; Vernaccia Nera Grossa; Vernaccina Nero Spain
Alicante Henri Bouschet R Alicante; Alicante Bouchet; Alicante Bouschet; Alicante H. Bouschet/Tintorera; Alicante H Bouschet Tintor; Alikante Mouse; Garnacha Tintorera; Tintoreras France

As a result, Garnacha/Grenache has a long history in Spain, Southern France, Corsica, Sardinia, southern Italy, Sicily and even Greece, in addition to its European native land. In the 19th century, California wine growers prized the vine’s ability to produce high yields and withstand heat and drought conditions. Another fun fact… Grenache was one of the first varieties to be introduced to Australia in the 18th century and eventually became the country’s most widely planted red wine grape variety until it was surpassed by Shiraz in the mid-1960s.

Want to know more about European Garnacha/Grenache History? Check our latest post where you can read all about it!

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X European Garnacha/Grenache International Competition – Results are out!

Every year since 2013, a unique occasion for celebrating European Garnacha/Grenache wines from all over the world takes place: this is Grenaches du Monde, an exciting competition where 80 professional judges a wide selection of the grape (with 900 registered wines) from diverse Geographical Indications.

 

The event, created and coordinated by the CIVR (Interprofessional Council of Wines from Roussillon) takes place each year in appellations focused on Garnacha/Grenache variety. After Perpignan (Roussillon GIs), Montpellier (Pays D’Oc IGP) or Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France), DO Campo de Borja (Spain), Sardinia (PDO Cannonau di Sardinia, Italy), PDO Terra Alta (Catalonia, Spain) or DO Cebreros (Sierra de Gredos, Spain); this year, Olite (PDO Navarra) has hosted the 10th edition of the competition.

A total of 303 gold and 119 silver medals have been awarded among  900 registered wines, with outstanding results for Spain (60,4%) and France (26,1%), where leading Geographical Indications such as Roussillon’s GIs (88 medals awarded to AOP Banyuls, AOP Banyuls Grand Cru, AOP Collioure, AOP Côtes du Roussillon, AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages, AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Les Aspres, AOP Maury, AOP Maury Sec, AOP  Rivesaltes or IGP Côtes Catalanes) or DO Campo de Borja (37 medals), DO Terra Alta (36 medals), DO Calatayud (26), DO Cariñena (24) and DO Somontano (4) have significantly standed out. Please find the complete results/palmarés here: https://www.grenachesdumonde.com/en/awards/

The rising numbers from past editions expect more than 1000 samples at New York 2023 XI Edition. European Garnacha/Grenache International Wine Competition has become the annual event to discover and celebrate the Mediterranean quintessential variety.

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Where is Garnacha grown? A little about Grenache bearing areas (hectares)

Garnacha Grenache world planting map (hectares)

Grenache is one of the most widely planted wine grape varieties in the world with France and Spain being its largest principal wine regions. Being 5th in terms or reds  and 7th in the general rank, Garnacha Blanca, Grey, Tinta and Peluda are mostly (98%) grown in the Old World, while Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Henri Bouschet) has a little more presence in the New World, with 7.575 hectares.

Out of 195.896 worldwide hectares, 92% remain in Europe (France, Spain and Italy mostly, according to Anderson, K. and S. Nelgen, Database of Regional, National and Global Winegrape Bearing Areas by Variety, 1960 to 2016, Wine Economics Research Centre, University of Adelaide, Revised May 2021 (First version by K. Anderson and N.R. Aryal, December 2013, revised July 2014).

A great fact to celebrate Europe Day 2022 on May the 9th! This important date commemorates the signing of the ‘Schuman Declaration’ on 9 May 1950. An ambitious plan to secure long-term peace in post-war Europe that is considered the beginning of what is now the European Union.

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Celebrating European Garnacha/Grenache sustainability on Earth Day 2022

Did you know European Garnacha/Grenache is one of the most eco-friendly winegrapes in the world?

 

Cheers to that on Earth Day 2022As our world needs transformational change to face environmental crisis affecting our planet -and winegrowing all over the globe-, during the 2011 World Climate Change and Wine Conference at Marbella in Spain with Kofi Annan (seventh secretary-general of the United Nations), the European grape earned its reputation as one of the most eco-friendly varietals for its ability to withstand dry weather conditions.

The quintessential Mediterranean varietal -Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache) doesn’t require a lot to grow as it thrives in poor soils – slate, clay, limestone, pebbles, and sand, allowing the grape to really express terroir diversity. Additionally, it is highly drought-resistant, so it does quite well in dry areas where water is limited. It does not need any irrigation and thus uses less water supply. Furthermore, due to its sturdy wood, it can withstand the elements such as strong winds in the Mediterranean valleys in Europe, as well as digging deep to find resources in the subsoil.

As the inevitable climate changes affect vines worldwide, European Garnacha has been able to stand up to the changes in weather conditions and has proved to fight the increasingly acidic soils with resilience. The Garnacha/Grenache vine’s malleability in different soil pH’s is also helpful because the acidity of all soils increases over time. This can be due to the leaching of calcium by rainwater – particularly acid rain in urban areas, the addition of fertilizer, or simply the natural decomposition of organic matter.

Want to know more about this outstanding and sustainable European winegrape? Stay tunned!

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Origin and evolution of Garnacha/Grenache: a wine grape with European History

European origins

Botanical evidence strongly suggests Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache) originated in Spain’s Northeastern region of what is now Aragón, where it is well adapted. Garnacha seeds and leaves have been carbon dated back to 153 BCE, and its first known written reference dates back to 1513. Wine from Grenache actually predates written records, so these high-quality wines are their own best witness to Garnacha’s long European history.

European Expansion 
During the expansion of the Crown of Aragón, through the 14th and 15th centuries, Garnacha/Grenache comes along, finding a home in Roussillon and Southern France, Sardinia, Italy and parts of Greece.

International Expansion during the Modern Era

In the 18th and 20th centuries, Garnacha expands beyond Europe, entering Africa with the French colonies and launching the wine industry of Australia, before being overtaken by Shiraz.

Until the 1990s, red Grenache remained the most widely planted red grape in the world.

Today! Old vines, new wines

As winemakers and wine lovers return to their cherished roots, European Garnacha/Grenache is poised for rediscovery, especially the contemporary varietal renditions from its homeland – the Spanish Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, Terra Alta and PDOs & Protected Geographical Indications (PGIs) in the French region of Roussillon.

 

 

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European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines at The SOMM Journal

Would you like to read all about our collaboration with Sommelier’s print and digital go to publication, The SOMM Journal?

 

He’re the link and details in case you’ve missed February/March 2022 edition!

Garnacha/Grenache: One Pedigreed European Grape – Wines of Limitless Quality

 

Wine has an undeniable ability to unite people across place and time. Grape varieties, likewise, transcend geographic and historic bounds in unique growing areas around the world. As one of Europe’s star native varieties, Garnacha, as it’s known in Spain, and Grenache, as it’s known in France, plays several roles in quality winemaking in Europe and beyond.
Whether it’s the featured artist or a supporting actor, European Garnacha/Grenache has become embedded in the fabric of winemaking, particularly in the appellations located in the south of France and in northeast of Spain, where it originated.
Garnacha/Grenache is one of the world’s most widely planted grape varieties, but its origins can be traced back to this small corner of the Mediterranean. While it’s the seventh most planted grape variety in the
world, and the 5fth most planted red variety, nearly 93 percent of the
globe’s Garnacha/Grenache vines are found in Europe. Its highest concentrations of plantings are in France and Spain, with 54.9 percent and 41 percent, respectively, including an exceptional number of old-vine plantings.

While most commonly planted as a red variety (tinta/noir”), European Garnacha/Grenache also exists as a white variety (blanca/blanc), grey variety (gris), tintorera and the Peluda variety (aka “hairy Grenache”).
This versatile European grape has enough power and grace to stand on its own as a varietal wine, such as in Spain’s PDOs Cariñena, Calatayud or Campo de Borja, and it’s also prized as an ideal component for blended wines, such as in France’s Roussillon Geographical Indications. As a late-ripening variety, Garnacha/Grenache is perfectly suited to Europe’s Mediterranean climate and soils, and it’s distinctly influenced by every landscape and microclimate to produce wines of great diversity.

Generally known as a lush and fruity variety, European Garnacha/Grenache can be used for red, white, rosé, sparkling, and fortified wines.

In spite of the grape’s ability to transform and transcend, its quality and provenance – in any style – is preserved, protected, and guaranteed by the European Union’s Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGIs) quality schemes. These classification systems include regionally-specific checks, controls, traceability, labeling, and winemaking guidelines that differentiate products while promoting their place of origin, particularly in terms of traditions, diversity, quality and taste.

Five Spanish PDOs, 14 French PDOs, and three PGIs are devoted to Garnacha/Grenache. Each one is distinct in terroir and production techniques, which provides a plethora of quality wines from this part of Europe, all made from Garnacha/Grenache.
The five PDO regions in northeast Spain are considered the birthplace of Garnacha. DO Calatayud is one of Spain’s highest and most arid growing regions, but elevations ranging from 1,000 to 3,600 feet and wide diurnal temperature swings help promote flavor development in limestone and slate soils. To the northwest, DO Campo de Borja’s continental climate – with cold winters, and hot, dry, and windy summers- offers ideal growing conditions for Garnacha. One of Spain’s oldest winegrowing regions, DO Cariñena, is undergoing a
quality revolution as winemakers seek to elevate Garnacha wines through contemporary production techniques. This area, which is also Spain’s largest Garnacha-producing region, is known for its significant
diurnal temperature shift in summer and for its common brownish limestone over and under rocky subsoil. Nearby, the small region of DO Somontano at the transition point between the Ebro River Valley and the Pyrenees Mountains – hence its name, meaning “at the foot of the mountains” – is relatively lush with higher rainfall. But it shares hot
days, cool nights, and poor soils of mostly pebbles, sandstone, and clay, that makes Garnacha grow successfully. Even more distinct is DO Terra Alta, which experiences a Mediterranean climate that leans more continental in winter, although sunshine and winds are abundant across limestone and clay soils.

In neighboring France, the large region of Roussillon is home to 14 AOPs (Appellations d’Origine Protégée): Collioure, Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Côtes du Roussillon Villages les Aspres, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Camarany, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, Maury Sec, Rivesaltes, Maury,
Banyuls, Banyuls Grand Cru and Muscat de Rivesaltes, as well as 3 IGPs in Southern France: Côtes Catalanes, Côte Vermeille and Pays d’Oc, most of all primarily dedicated to the production of Grenache and encompassing different terroirs, with soil types ranging from sand or schists to clay and chalk.

Garnacha/Grenache produces excellent old-vine wines that are elegant, complex, and age-worthy. Old vines produce low yields with concentrated flavor, small berries that provide more color and structure, and strong, deep roots that can thrive in excessive heat and drought while promoting nutrient uptake.

These same characteristics make European Garnacha/Grenache a sustainable variety. The vines are drought-resistant, adaptable, self-sufficient and self-sustaining. Known as a “water-stress” variety, it’s not as dependent on rainwater or irrigation, as many other grapes.

As recognized at the 2011 World Climate Change and Wine Conference held in Marbella, Spain, European Garnacha/Grenache is
arguably the most eco-friendly grape in the world as climate change poses new challenges in winemaking. 

Having already withstood the test of time, Garnacha/Grenache is uniquely poised to ensure the perseverance of quality European wine production for posterity.

 

*Disclaimer: The content of this promotion campaign represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission and the European Research Executive Agency (REA) do not accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

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ASIA & USA Open call for tenders – Results

The ENTITIES (ASOCIACION PARA LA PROMOCION DEL VINO DE GARNACHA – “GARNACHA ORIGEN” and CONSEIL INTERPROFESSIONNEL DES VINS DU ROUSSILLON (“CIVR”), after opening the bids, revising every proposal received and meeting the top ranked finalists per category (lot/WP), have prudently evaluated according to GA Selection criteria* under Grant Agreement 101045996 — GWine Asia 2022-24 and Grant Agreement 874648 — USA 2020-2022 and are pleased to announce the winning proposals for the following AGRIP Multi European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines Programs in Asia and USA: 

USA AGRIP Grant Agreement 874648 – USA 2020-2022

ASIA AGRIP Grant Agreement 101045996 – GWine Asia 2022-24

  • Implementing body

  • Evaluation body

Both entities really appreciate all bidders for their interesting and complete proposals and remain available for any relatted matter.

 

 

*Selection criteria: best value for money, while preventing situations where conflict of interest is deemed to occur. The selection of subcontractors will be based, scored and weighted according to the following criteria:

  • Cost effectiveness ……………………………………………… (40 points)
  • Professional experience of the team in the US………………… (30 points)
  • Experience and results in European co-funded projects ……. (20 points)
  • Experience and results in wine promotion campaigns …….. (10 points)
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European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines at Decanter.com

Would you like to read all about our collaboration with world famous wine and wine-lifestyle print and digital magazine Decanter?

He’re the link and details in case you’ve missed January’s 2022 edition!

Garnacha/Grenache: one European grape, endless possibilities

Wine history defines cultural territories, united by shared traditions and viticultural landscapes, that transcend political and economic borders. This could certainly be said of the European regions in North-Eastern Spain and the South of France where Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache) has its spiritual home in Europe, and nearly 93 % of the world’s Garnacha/Grenache vines are planted. Although European Garnacha/Grenache is now one of the world’s most widely planted grape varieties, its origin can be traced back to this corner of the Mediterranean where it remains at the core of the regions’ identity.

Three PGIs and 14 PDOs within Roussillon Geographical Indications and five Spanish Protected Designations of Origin (DO Calatayud, DO Campo de Borja, DO Cariñena, DO Somontano and DO Terra Alta), have now joined forces, supported by European Union AGRIP funds, to promote Garnacha/Grenache, highlighting that its full potential is best harnessed in its European birthplace. Although only a handful of vines survived the terrible phylloxera blight in the late 19th century, Europe is where some of the world’s oldest Garnacha/Grenache plants can be found, resulting on low yields, fruits of incredible concentration and complexity, with the deep roots stablished on poor and dry soils, allowing terroir to truly come through in each bottle.

As part of the European Union campaign to promote high quality agricultural products, European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines carry guarantee of their provenance and quality, with their regional names, characteristics and products protected by EU Geographical Indications quality schemes (Protected Designation of Origin, PDO and Protected Geographical Indication, PGI). These ensure excellent quality, European standards covering safety, traceability, authenticity, labelling, respect for the environment and sustainability, as well as the characteristics of EU agricultural and food products, including quality, taste, diversity and traditions, among other aspects.

European Garnacha/Grenache’s versatility and expressiveness lends itself to a variety of terroirs and winemaking approaches, translated into a variety of styles, from sparkling to still (whites, rosés or reds; either light or full bodied) and even fortified sweet wines, all with multiple food pairing possibilities. Highly sensitive to variations in growing conditions, in both time and place,  the variety requires winemakers attuned to how European Garnacha/Grenache, from each given terroir and vintage, can be best interpreted and handled. An art that winemakers in Mediterranean Europe have mastered, building upon centuries of knowledge passed on from one generation to the next.

This joint venture of Spanish and French producers is a tribute to this European legacy, as well as a shared commitment to promote terroir-led expressions of European Garnacha/Grenache, invest in the best viticultural and winemaking practices, and work with a focus on quality and sustainability. The variety’s resilience and adaptiveness, especially when grown on the terroirs where it historically developed, in fact make it particularly suited to face the challenges of erosion, drought and climate change.

Join us on a journey of discovery across the European landscapes where Garnacha/Grenache was born and continues to thrive. Each wine will tell a fascinating story of tradition, history and craft.


Discover more about European Garnacha/Grenache here

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Fall for These Valentine’s Day Pairings: White, Sparkling and Dessert European Garnacha/Grenache

So there’s no reason to question the compatibility of these styles with Valentine’s Day. Garnacha from the northeast of Spain and Grenache from southern France are perhaps best known as dry red wines, but if you want to liven things up a bit this Feb. 14, try taking out or bringing home a bottle of sparkling, white or sweet Garnacha or Grenache from European appellations.

A starry night and a fizzy wine can make a date for any occasion, but for Valentine’s, you’ll want to reach for sparkling Garnacha/Grenache from Europe.  Look for Garnacha on the label for a fruity, floral expression you can pair off with oysters or shrimp to start your evening, or fruit tarts and chocolate crème cake to make it last. Cooler, higher-elevation vineyards in the Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) of DO Cariñena and DO Campo de Borja have also proved alluring as a source for sparkling Garnacha; meanwhile the newer February rituals of Valentine’s Day and Super Bowl Eve have become worthy occasions for the wine as well.

 White Garnacha/Grenache is grown around northern Spain and southern France, and it can make a perfect match with any decadent Valentine’s appetizer or main. Light, crisp, citrusy versions from DO Somontano and DO Terra Alta, in Spain, or the Geographical Indications of  Roussillon, in France, play well with scallops or strawberry-orange salad. For lobster tails with lemon butter, or a creamy chicken or veal florentine, try a plump, round white with a rich texture and lush, honeyed flavors. Uncork powerful Garnacha Blanca from DO Calatayud or Grenache Blanc from the Roussillon AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) of Collioure.

 When it comes to a box of chocolates, we actually do know what you’re gonna get: a vin doux naturel (VDN) from Roussillon GIs made with Grenache. These traditional dessert wines beguile in many styles, red, white, rosé and tawny, but they’ll end the night on a sweet note without being too intoxicating. (Though fortified with a neutral spirit, they typically run to about 16% alcohol by volume, well below many Ports and Sherries.) An unctuous AOP Banyuls or AOP Maury wine from Grenache Noir goes arm in arm with chocolate lava cake or brownies. Try a nutty, caramelly AOP Rivesaltes with butterscotch sauce, praline bonbons … or cigars. Whatever floats your boat, be sure to stow European Garnacha/Grenache.

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OPEN CALL FOR TENDERS – ASIA Grant Agreement 101045996 — GWine Asia 2022-24

The CONTRACTING ENTITIES have entered into a Grant Agreement with the European Research Executive Agency (“REA”), and are selecting an Agency to develop the so-called “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines Program in Asia 2022-2024” (“the Program”).

  1. Type of Tender: Open Call for Tender.
  2. Contracting entities:

a) ASOCIACION PARA LA PROMOCION DEL VINO DE GARNACHA – “GARNACHA ORIGEN”.

  • VAT No. ES-G99398935
  • Address : Avda/ Ranillas, 3A, Planta 2, Oficina A, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
  • Contact person: Ms Sofía González.  Coordinator
  • Email: sofia@garnachagrenache.com

b) CONSEIL INTERPROFESSIONNEL DES VINS DU ROUSSILLON (“CIVR”)

  • VAT No. FR11434310300019
  • Address : 19, Avenue de la Grande Bretagne. 66006 Perpignan, France.
  • Contact person: M. Eric Aracil
  • Email: eric.aracil@roussillon.wine
  1. Type of Agreement: Services Agreement.
  2. Overall Target: Promotion of Garnacha/Grenache Wines in Asia
  3. Target markets: China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea
  4. Description of Services to be provided by the selected subcontractors described in the Grant Agreement 101045996 — GWine Asia 2022-24 (please note this is an abridged version for confidentiality reasons. The Coordinator will provide the complete document upon written (email) request). Specifically, complete preparation, implementation and periodic reporting concerning the activities described below.

Bidders may send offers for any or all of the lots described below:

  • Lot #1 (PR) – WP 2. Public Relations – Press events (Continuous PR activities (PR office))
  • Lot #2 (Digital) – WP 3. Website & social media – Social Media
  • Lot #3 (POS) – WP 4 Communication tools
  • Lot #4 (Events) WP 5. Events
    • Stands at Trade Fairs
    • Seminars, workshops, B2B meetings, trainings for trade/cooks, activities in schools
    • Study trips to Europe
    • Other Events
  • Lot #5 (Stores promotion) WP 6 Point-of-sale (POS) promotion
    • Tasting days
    • Other: promotion in retailers’ publications, POS advertising (shelf talkers, posters, etc.), promotion in canteens
  • Lot #6 (Evaluation) WP 7 Evaluation of results

  1. Implementation period: April 2022 – March 2025 (Y1 = 04/2022-03/2023; Y2: 04/2023-03/2024 Y3 = 04/2024-03/2025).
  2. Agreement Term: the Agreement Term will be longer than the implementation period, to allow performance of some obligations surviving same and allowing Program evaluation.
  3. Contract Budget 2,436,833.41€ (two million four hundred thirty-six thousand eight hundred thirty-three Euros and forty-one cents)
  4. Selection criteria of the implementing agency: best value for money, while preventing situations where conflict of interest is deemed to occur. The selection of subcontractors will be based, scored and weighted according to the following criteria:
  • Cost effectiveness ……………………………………………… (40 points)
  • Professional experience of the team in Asia………………… (30 points)
  • Experience and results in European co-funded projects ……. (20 points)
  • Experience and results in wine promotion campaigns …….. (10 points)
  1. Deadline for obtaining information and documents: 04/03/2022 14:59 CET
  2. Presentation of offers or requests for participation.
  • Deadline for submission of offers: 07/03/2022 23:59 am CET
  • Documentation to submit (entirely written in English):
    • A letter of intent to bid on paper letterhead, dated and signed by the person authorized to bind the company.
    • Summary of economical offer per activity following  this template (please fill in the fields in yellow).
    • A detailed Action Plan proposal, including:
      • Description of the proposed activities and methodology to implement the actions (KPIs)
      • Estimated Schedule and places
      • A detailed annual budget expressed in euros
    • Annexes for supporting documentation to substantiate existence, financial and technical capacity as well as experience:
      • A sworn statement on letterhead, dated and signed by the person authorized to bind the company, that the
        candidate has not been banned from bidding or fall under any of the exclusion criteria listed in the basis of the 2021 Call for Multi Proposals, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014.
      • Certificates proving that the bidder is in order with regard to its tax, labour and social security obligations by 31 December of the previous year.
      • A statement of overall turnover and the turnover concerning the services to which the contract relates, executed over the past three years in the target market.
      • A list of the main services provided in the past three years in the target market and regarding the wine industry, including the amount, date and recipient (public or private).
      • Team presentation: names and professional qualifications (academic professional experience);
  • Submission of proposals: by filling this online form. Each bidder must ensure that the application is successfully submitted before the deadline.

This material must be delivered digitalized in a suitable support. This information should give the tenderer a fair idea of the match between their needs and the agencies’ offers and the agencies’ ability to manage a campaign co-financed by the European Union at both technical and administrative level.

  1. Term during which the Bidder is bound by its offer: three (3) months
  2. Date for opening the bids: 08/03/2022, 08:00 am CET

Contracting entities will revise every proposal and ask the 3 top ranked finalists per category (WP) under the abovementioned criteria for a digital or in-person audiovisual presentation to be held during March the 24th 2022.

15. Contract award: The award will be notified to participants by email and publication in the contracting entities´ websites within a maximum period of thirty (30) days from the deadline for submission of offers.

16. Performance bond: no bid bond is requested to submit an offer, but bidders should be advised that a performance bond issued by a first-rate bank in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the price of the Services Agreement shall be requested from the selected implementing body.

17. Notice on EU fundind ans commitment to abide by EU Regulations: This call for tender is related to REA´s “Grants to information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council” and all implementing bodies and subcontractors must comply all obligations and conditions applicable and set out in the abovementioned Grant Agreement 101045996 — GWine Asia 2022-24, as well as Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council related legislation, specifically covering liability, indemnification and confidentiality arrangements. 

By submitting an offer to this call for tenders candidates represent and warrant having read and understood the requirements in the Grant Agreement. The selected implementing body must accept all terms, conditions and obligations resulting from the Grant Agreement as a condition to enter the Services Agreement, including, specifically, all the obligations and conditions in the following related EU regulations available at EC Funding & tender opportunities Portal:

  • Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008.
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1829 of 23 April 2015 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1831 of 7 October 2015 laying down rules for application of Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in the third countries
  • The relevant annual Commission Implementing Decision on the adoption of the work programme for the year in question in the framework of information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries
  • Annual work programme 2021
  • EU Financial regulation
  • Annotated Model Grant Agreement
  1. Compliance with China NGO Law: The selected implementing body must ensure compliance with Section 17 of China NGO law (The People’s Republic of China’s Law on the Management of the Activities of Overseas NGOs within Mainland China), as a condition to signing the Services Agreement.
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OPEN CALL FOR TENDERS – USA Grant Agreement 874648 — USA 2020-2022

The CONTRACTING ENTITIES have entered into a Grant Agreement with the European Research Executive Agency (“REA”), and are selecting an Agency to develop the so-called “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines Program in USA 2020-2022” (“the Program”).

  1. Type of Tender: Open Call for Tender.
  2. Contracting entities:

a) ASOCIACION PARA LA PROMOCION DEL VINO DE GARNACHA – “GARNACHA ORIGEN”.

  • VAT No. ES-G99398935
  • Address : Avda/ Ranillas, 3A, Planta 2, Oficina A, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
  • Contact person: Ms Sofía González.
  • Email: sofia@garnachagrenache.com

b) CONSEIL INTERPROFESSIONNEL DES VINS DU ROUSSILLON (“CIVR”)

  • VAT No. FR11434310300019
  • Address : 19, Avenue de la Grande Bretagne. 66006 Perpignan, France.
  • Contact person: M. Eric Aracil
  • Email: eric.aracil@roussillon.wine
  1. Type of Agreement: Services Agreement.
  2. Overall Target: Promotion of Garnacha/Grenache Wines in the USA
  3. Target markets: United States of America
  4. Description of Services to be provided by the selected subcontractors described in the Grant Agreement 874648 — USA 2020-2022 (please note this is an abridged version for confidentiality reasons. The coordinator will provide the complete document upon email request). Specifically, complete preparation, implementation and periodic reporting concerning the activities described below.

Bidders may send offers for any or all of the lots described below:

  • Lot #1 (PR) WP 2. Public Relations  Press events (press trips to Europe)
  • Lot #2 (Digital) WP 3. Website & social media
  • Lot #3 (POS)
    • WP 4 Communication tools
    • WP 6 Point-of-sale (POS) promotion / In-store tastings
  • Lot #4 (Events) WP 5. Events
    • Trade fairs
    • Roadshows/ walkaround tastings
    • Study trips to Europe
    • European Garnacha/Grenache International Competition

  1. Implementation period: April 2022 – February 2024 (Y2 = 03/2022-02/2023; Y3 = 03/2023-02/2024).
  2. Agreement Term: the Agreement Term will be longer than the implementation period, to allow performance of some obligations surviving same and allowing Program evaluation.
  3. Contract Budget:  2.454.943,34 € (two million four hundred fifty-four thousand nine hundred forty-three Euros and thirty-four cents).
  4. Selection criteria of the implementing agency: best value for money, while preventing situations where conflict of interest is deemed to occur. The selection of subcontractors will be based, scored and weighted according to the following criteria:
  • Cost effectiveness ……………………………………………… (40 points)
  • Professional experience of the team in the US………………… (30 points)
  • Experience and results in European co-funded projects ……. (20 points)
  • Experience and results in wine promotion campaigns …….. (10 points)
  1. Deadline for obtaining information and documents: 04/03/2022 14:59 CET
  2. Presentation of offers or requests for participation.
  • Deadline for submission of offers: 07/03/2022 23:59 am CET
  • Documentation to submit (entirely written in English):
    • A letter of intent to bid on paper letterhead, dated and signed by the person authorized to bind the company.
    • Summary of economical offer per activity following this template (please fill in the fields in yellow).
    • A detailed Action Plan proposal, including:
      • Description of the proposed activities and methodology to implement the actions (KPIs)
      • Estimated Schedule and places
      • A detailed annual budget expressed in euros
    • Annexes for supporting documentation to substantiate existence, financial and technical capacity as well as experience:
      • A sworn statement on letterhead, dated and signed by the person authorized to bind the company, that the
        candidate has not been banned from bidding or fall under any of the exclusion criteria listed in the basis of the 2019 Call for Multi Proposals, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014.
      • Certificates proving that the bidder is in order with regard to its tax, labour and social security obligations by 31 December of the previous year.
      • A statement of overall turnover and the turnover concerning the services to which the contract relates, executed over the past three years in the target market.
      • A list of the main services provided in the past three years in the target market and regarding the wine industry, including the amount, date and recipient (public or private).
      • Team presentation: names and professional qualifications (academic professional experience);
  • Submission of proposals: by filling this online form. Each bidder must ensure that the application is successfully submitted before the deadline.

This material must be delivered digitalized in a suitable support. This information should give the tenderer a fair idea of the match between their needs and the agencies’ offers and the agencies’ ability to manage a campaign co-financed by the European Union at both technical and administrative level.

  1. Term during which the Bidder is bound by its offer: three (3) months
  2. Date for opening the bids: 08/03/2022, 08:00 am CET

Contracting entities will revise every proposal and ask the 3 top ranked finalists per category (WP) under the abovementioned criteria for a digital or in-person audiovisual presentation to be held during the March the 24th 2022.

  1. Contract award: The award will be notified to participants by email and publication in the contracting entities ´websites within a maximum period of thirty (30) days from the deadline for submission of offers.
  2. Performance bond: no bid bond is requested to submit an offer, but bidders should be advised that a performance bond issued by a first-rate bank in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the price of the Services Agreement shall be requested from the selected implementing body.
  3. Notice on EU funding: This call for tender is related to REA´s “Grants to information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council” and subcontractors must comply all obligations and conditions applicable and set out in the abovementioned Grant Agreement 874648 — USA 2020-2022, as well as Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council related legislation, specifically covering liability, indemnification and confidentiality arrangements. 

By submitting an offer to this call for tenders’ candidates represent and warrant having read and understood the requirements in the Grant Agreement. The selected implementing body must accept all terms, conditions and obligations resulting from the Grant Agreement as a condition to enter the Services Agreement, including, specifically, all the obligations and conditions in the following related EU regulations available at EC Funding & tender opportunities Portal:

  • Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008.
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1829 of 23 April 2015 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1831 of 7 October 2015 laying down rules for application of Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in the third countries
  • The relevant annual Commission Implementing Decision on the adoption of the work programme for the year in question in the framework of information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries
  • Annual work programme 2019
  • EU Financial regulation
  • Annotated Model Grant Agreement

 

 

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What Does the “Enjoy It’s From Europe” Logo Stand For?

The logo, as it pertains to wine, represents respect for the environment, high-quality agricultural products, and agricultural traditions’ high standards, among other characteristics of food and beverage made in Europe.

Furthermore, the European Union quality message that is intended to be communicated, is that it represents authenticity and the inheriting tradition is so strong and well connected with the environment forming a sustainable relation that is a guide for the future. All these elements are part of European culture and elements that the EU wants to communicate to the markets and consumers.

When buying a wine that is made under PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) or PGI (Protected Geographical Indication), you can rest assured you’ll be having a safer high-value authentic bottle made in Europe and that the names are protected against imitation, fraud and counterfeit.

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What is a PDO and PGI? Why is it Important for Wine Consumers to Know?

What is a PDO and PGI?  Why is it Important for Wine Consumers to Know? 

Did you know these logos?

There are several schemes that are set in place to successfully ensure the quality of the product. Some of these include Geographical Indications (GI), and more specifically under that umbrella, Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). Geographical Indications emphasize the relationship between the specific geographic region and the name of the product, where a particular quality, reputation, or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical region. This system was created by the European Union to help consumers by informing them about the specific features of the products, and to protect their geographical appellations specific features.

By ensuring ongoing quality by relevant checks, controls, and traceability systems that differentiate the products and raise their profiles, each GI produces wines that share common traits but are unique to their region. They officially guarantee the origin and quality of products with a typicity and tradition behind them.Protected Designation of Origin, often times abbreviated as PDO -and known as Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) in Spanish or Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) in France- denotes that those product names have the strongest links to the place in which they are made. In the case of wine, this guarantees that the grapes come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is made. Whereas Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) or IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée or Indicación Geográfica Protegida means that at least 85% of the grapes used have to come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is actually made.

Garnacha or depending where you are, Grenache, is now one of the most widely planted grapes in the world, with its European origin and to this day proudly highlighted in what is now Spain and France. With its volume, it is regulated into several appellations that showcase the different characteristics of the area it is coming from.

The Protected Designations of Origin located in the area where Garnacha originated (DO Calatayud, DO Campo de Borja, DO Cariñena, DO Somontano and DO Terra Alta in Spain) and the French appellations that focus on Grenache (14 AOPs), as well as 3 IGPs under the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR) are working together with the European Union to share information on the high-quality Garnacha/Grenache monovarietal wines under such quality schemes.

By controlling yields, taking advantage of  old vines, and applying modern techniques in combination with old traditions, they are producing wines of exceptional character and concentration all whilst the EU ensures the utmost protection and labeling for consumer transparency and satisfaction.

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The Terroir of European Garnacha/Grenache, the Next Great Grape

All European Garnacha/Grenache quality wine made a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in the Spanish PDOs of DO Calatayud, DO Campo de Borja, DO Cariñena, DO Somontano and DO Terra Alta, and the French PDOs and PGIs in Roussillon, share a few qualities in the vineyard. The grape, whether a red, white, gray, tintorera or peluda (named for its “hairy” leaves) clone, is particularly sensitive to terroir, favoring hot, dry conditions. It is disease-resistant and needs relatively little water, though dry conditions and poor soils force vines to grow deep roots, extracting nutrients and the essence of terroir-specific minerality. But this sturdiness promotes sustainable grape growing; compared to other grapes, it needs little irrigation or intervention against diseases and pests.

Many European Grenache vines live for decades or longer, and old-vine expressions may originate in parcels of bush vines 40- or even 100-plus years old. Such vines produce low yields of small berries, meaning flavor, color and tannin components are concentrated in each grape. But there are factors that allow for the wonderful diversity of the wines too.

  • Climate: Though Garnacha basks in the sun, it can thrive in both Mediterranean or more continental climates in southern Europe. Inland, slopeside areas of the AOP Côtes du Roussillon PDO and the Aragon PDOs of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano all have more continental profiles, with pronounced temperature variations between day and night, providing wines that preserve acidity and freshness. Strong winds, like the cierzo and garbinada in Spain and the tramontane in France, also moderate temperature, especially in the high elevations. of PDOs like Campo de Borja. PDOs near the sea, like Terra Alta in Spain and Collioure, in Roussillon, lean Mediterranean, lending a bright, ripe fruit core to the wines.
  • Soil composition: Since Grenache draws deeply from its roots, the minerals in the European soil may give backbone to the wines, or lend earthy, herbal or ferrous qualities. In Roussillon GIs, some of the most distinctive soils are the black schist and the gray Cambrian schist, which retain heat and help concentrate phenolics in the grapes. Limestone in DO Cariñena and DO Terra Alta translate to chalky or mineral flavors. Still other European PDOs and PGIs grow Garnacha in slate, granite, gneiss, clay, sandstone and pebbles, such DO Calatayud.
  • Topography: Roussillon GIs and northeastern Spain are crisscrossed by mountain ranges and river valleys. Some vineyards have a sea view. In high-elevation sites like those of DO Calatayud, which can reach 3,600 feet, the growing season may stretch long, resulting in dense, powerful reds. Or winemakers might prefer to harvest a bit earlier at such heights, to balance acidity and red berry flavors in whites, rosés and sparklers, as in DO Cariñena and DO Campo de Borja. In seaside locales like Roussillon’s Banyuls (a PDO for sweet wines) and Collioure (a PDO for dry wines), you might find a saline tang in white, rosé and even red wines.

Terroir matters, and European Garnacha/Grenache wines are proof.

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Why European Garnacha/Grenache Winemakers are Leaders in Sustainability

As organic growing and winemaking is a relevant topic of conversation right now, these practices that have been adopted by many were already being used with Garnacha/Grenache in Europe. As a survivor of such natural conditions (sun, dry strong winds, and really poor soils)  European winemaking and terroir have allowed grapes to be treated with no invasive treatments nor aggressive irrigation. In this scenario, European Garnacha/Grenache has become one of the primary grapes producing organic wines due to its versatility and adaptation to extreme climate conditions and terroirs of its birthplace in Spain and France.

How do these attributes contribute to winemaking today? European Winemakers in the varietals’ birthplace (PDOs of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, Terra Alta and PDOs & PGIs of Roussillon France) have taken a new approach to produce Garnacha/Grenache by taking advantage of these characteristics by:

  • Respecting very low natural yields
  • Taking advantage of the old vines and their suitability to the unique terroir
  • Combining modern techniques and old traditions
  • Producing wines of exceptional character and concentration

As Jancis Robinson states, “With its upright growth and strong, sturdy trunk, Grenache is ideally suited to being grown as a water-seeking bush vine in hot, windy areas, its only disadvantage being its predilection to set relatively little fruit. But that, of course, means all the more flavor in the grapes that remain (…) The vine is relatively late ripening so can be grown successfully only in quite warm regions”. The variety also tends to be disease resistant and drought resistant, thriving in areas with little access to water. Its long, deep roots readily seek water, especially in warm, dry, well-drained soils with low fertility.”  Europe’s Garnacha/Grenache’s strong roots delve deep into the soil searching for humidity and nutrients; known as a “water-stress” variety, it is not that dependent on rainwater or irrigation like so many other grapes might be one of the solutions to Climate Change impact in the industry. 

As recognized at the World Climate Change and Wine Conference held in Marbella (Spain) in 2011, Garnacha/Grenache is arguably the most eco-friendly grape in the world.

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European Garnacha/Grenache is Arguably the Most Eco-Friendly Grape in the World

So what makes European Garnacha/Grenache so sustainable? Let’s break it down. Starting from the beginning of the life cycle, Grenache is a relatively low-maintenance grape. It doesn’t require a lot to grow as it thrives in poor soils – slate, clay, limestone, pebbles, and sand, allowing the grape to really express terroir diversity. Additionally, it is highly drought-resistant, so it does quite well in dry areas where water is limited.  It does not need any irrigation and thus uses less water supply. Furthermore, due to its sturdy wood, it can withstand the elements such as strong winds in the Mediterranean valleys in Europe, as well as digging deep to find resources in the subsoil.  As the inevitable climate changes affect vines worldwide, European Garnacha has been able to stand up to the changes in weather conditions and has proved to fight the increasingly acidic soils with resilience. The Garnacha/Grenache vine’s malleability in different soil pH’s is also helpful because the acidity of all soils increases over time. This can be due to the leaching of calcium by rainwater – particularly acid rain in urban areas, the addition of fertilizer, or simply the natural decomposition of organic matter. These protected quality schemes areas share a common devotion to Garnacha/Grenache; a majority of their vineyards are planted to the variety, and they represent one of the largest concentrations of quality Garnacha/Grenache wines in Europe. Their wines express the diversity of soils and styles found in the regions.
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Quality and Safety Standards of the European Union

The European Union takes pride while it stringently maintains precise regulations and specific quality standard regimes for agri-food products throughout 27 countries. These standards are set into place to ensure quality and safety for consumers’ health and their protection. Within this initiative, the EU quality policy aims to protect the names of specific products to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their geographical origin as well as traditions.

Product names can be granted a ‘Geographical Indication’ (GI) if they have a specific link to the place where they are made. The GI recognition enables consumers to trust and distinguish quality products while also helping producers market their products better. Products that are under consideration or have been granted GI recognition are listed in quality products registers. There are two quality schemes that fall under the umbrella of geographical indication and those are known as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). Within the PGI status, the entire product must be traditionally, at least 85% of the grapes used have to come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is actually made and  and at least partially manufactured within the specific region while the PDO status mandates the entire product to be traditionally and entirely manufactured within the specific region- both, therefore, acquiring unique properties within their designation.

PDO and PGI products represent the excellence of European agricultural production developed under a legal framework. Products that are registered under one of these schemes may be marked with the logo for that scheme to help identify those products. Starting from the distinction between generic and distinctive quality, the main factors influencing safety in geographical indication products, stress the importance of traceability systems and biodiversity in securing generic and specific quality.

Producers or winemakers specifically, are able to communicate to buyers and consumers the characteristics of their product under conditions of fair competition. It also requires them to be able to correctly identify their products on the marketplace. Operating quality schemes for producers which reward them for their efforts to produce a diverse range of quality products can benefit the rural economy.

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Roussillon GI’s 2020 Harvest Report

“A Winegrower’s Year”: Despite a multitude of challenges, a vintage with great promise.

When it comes to agriculture, and more specifically the production of European Quality Grenache grapes, nature has a way of letting us know who is in charge. The 2020 grape growing season for Grenache in Roussillon Geographical Indications proved a worthy adversary for winegrowers in myriad ways.

Located in the Eastern  Pyrenees in southern France, the Roussillon vineyards cover 14 AOPs and three IGPs with 409 wine producers, 27 winegrower cooperatives and nearly 30 wine merchants producing over 56 million bottles.

Heavy rains carried over from the latter part of 2019 well into February of 2020, followed by unusual spikes in temperatures in February and March, resulting in a very early bud break, as much as 13 days earlier than average. More Spring rains were subsequently met with intense Summer heat and drought-like conditions, provoking one of the earliest harvests on records for many European Union Quality Grenache producers in Roussillon Geographical Indications.

With record low-yields for European Quality Grenache, winegrowers who remained patient and vigilant over their harvest were rewarded with wines of amazing elegance, freshness, concentration and complexity. The 2020 vintage was  undoubtedly a “Winegrower’s Year”, where all the hard work in the vineyard pays off in the end product. Find yourself a bottle of 2020 European Grenache and discover the quality and specificities of the vintage.

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Red, White or Rosé? Discover European Garnacha/Grenache Quality and Diverse Wines

Grenache, known as Garnacha in Spain, is the wine that’s on the lips of many of the most forward-thinking vignerons in southern Europe, as exciting up-and-coming cuvées take their place alongside pedigreed traditional styles. With red, white and gray color clones (among others, such as tintorera or peluda), the Grenache grape offers a panoply of possibilities for winemakers working in the mountains or by the sea, on schist, granite, limestone, clay and pebbly soils. From lissome, fresh whites to concentrated, brooding reds, there’s a European Grenache/Garnacha for every palate.

In northeastern Spain and the Roussillon Geographical Indications in the south of France, Garnacha and Grenache soak in the sun, while poor soils, old vines and low yields coax flavor and structure from each unique site. The Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGIs) of these regions guarantee the European Union’s standards of quality and provenance in each bottle: The wines honor the taste, diversity and traditions of each place of origin. 

Look for Garnacha from DO Calatayud, DO Campo de Borja, DO Cariñena, DO Somontano and DO Terra Alta in Spain, or Grenache from the Roussillon appellations of AOP Côtes du Roussillon, IGP Côtes Catalanes, IGP Côte Vermeille, AOP Collioure and AOP Maury Sec, among others for excellent dry wines. These places are leading the way with high-quality light-, medium- and full-bodied reds, whites and rosés.

Light-bodied white Garnachas are fresh, crisp and minerally, sporting apple, peach, lemon, quince and saline flavors; chalky soils and Mediterranean breezes nurture these qualities. Full-bodied white Grenache feels plump, rich and rounded, with notes of citrus oils, honey, flowers, currants and melon, promoted by warmer sites and concentrated grapes.

Dry rosé Garnacha/Grenache is a perfect springtime sipper, and dark, ripe versions coexist with fresh, fruity ones. Rosé lovers can expect refreshing, mouthwatering wines with flavors and aromas of strawberry, watermelon, rhubarb and rose. These rosés, along with the whites, are a friend to raw and grilled fish, shrimp and scallops, with heavier styles playing off chicken, barbecued pork, grilled vegetables and mushrooms.

The Grenache-based reds of northeastern Spain and southern France also arrive in light- and full-bodied styles. Higher elevations, limestone soils and carbonic maceration encourage fresh, fruity and bright wines, showing cherry, strawberry, raspberry and pepper in the glass. They’ll make the match with duck, chicken and pasta in sweet or spicy sauces. Rich, robust, structured Garnacha reds draw power from dark schist and rocky hillside vineyard sites with abundant sunshine. The lush blackberry, currant, allspice, anise and tobacco elements call for grilled or roasted beef and pork dishes.

For a weeknight dinner, holiday potluck, intimate soiree or beach day, there’s a European Grenache or Garnacha to elevate the occasion.

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Plan a Perfect Picnic with European Garnacha/Grenache: A Springtime Spread of Red and Rosé Wine Styles

The air is crisp, the sun is bright, and the daffodils and cherry trees are in bloom: With winter in the rearview and summer still at bay, spring is the perfect time to plan a picnic. A cheese spread, a charcuterie plate, fresh berries, and piquant peppers and olives may fill your basket and cover your blanket, but leave room for a few stemless wineglasses and bottles of red and rosé wine. Whether you’re going for light and fruity or rich and perfumed, red and rosé Garnacha from northeastern Spain and Grenache from the Roussillon Geographical Indications  of southern France will complete the feast.

The Spanish Protected Designation of Origin (PDOs) of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano and Terra Alta, as well as the PDOs and Protected Geographical Indication (PGIs) of Roussillon, offer whites, sparklers and sweet wines for all occasions, but a picnic calls for something a little heartier, yet still refreshing—reds for brie or burgers, rosé for raspberry sorbet—and these Garnacha/Grenache European wine regions deliver on that front too. Let’s unpack some bottles; all are fine examples of the top-quality wines at friendly prices from the European ancestral and spiritual home of this grape.

A vibrant, fresh rosé brightens any day and puts some charm on the start, close or repose stages of an outdoor fête. If you’ve mixed a bowl of cherries, blueberries and strawberries, or a fruit salad with cantaloupe, watermelon, mango and grapes, consider DO Cariñena and DO Terra Alta, in Spain, or the AOP Collioure subregion of the Roussillon. The abundant sunshine in all three regions coaxes out red berry and floral flavors in rosé, while the schist terraces of AOP Collioure and limestone-clay stony soils found in DO Cariñena and DO Terra Alta lend a zip of minerality. Pinker, fruitier styles could make for a fetching palate-cleanser with yogurt or shaved ice.

Red Grenache is famously ripe and round in some regions, but Garnacha can be a stylish light- or medium-bodied wine as well. Lithe, berry- and cherry-tinged quaffs can be found in Roussillon’s broad subregions of AOP Côtes du Roussillon, IGP Côtes Catalanes and IGP Côte Vermeille, bringing a Mediterranean vibe to the table. These versatile wines can tango with the whole Mediterranean diet, especially hard-to-pair picnic staples like Kalamata and green olives, pickles, pickled chanterelles and soft cheeses like brie and chèvre. A crisp, fruity DO Somontano Garnacha might line up with an array of jams and jellies, while an elegant yet aromatic DO Campo de Borja with a bit of spice can pair with smoked meats and dried sausage.

Dark, bold, structured reds are the backbone of backyard gastronomy. If you’re firing up the grill, or cooking over a fire, Garnacha from DO Calatayud or Grenache from AOP Maury labeled “Sec” will make the match. The sun on the slopes of both regions helps concentrate flavor in low-yielding old-vine Garnacha/Grenache, producing full-bodied versions brimming with blackberry, currant, spice and mineral notes. You’ll want these for bolder fare like burgers, ribs and grilled pork. Save a little in the glass to sip while the sun sets.

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Discover the PDOs and PGIs Producing European Quality Garnacha/Grenache

You don’t need to be a genius to read a wine label, and if you appreciate Grenache, you’re already pretty sharp, we’d bet. But Grenache, or Garnacha as it’s known in Spain, is a versatile grape that makes wine with best-in-class quality across diverse styles around southern France and northeastern Spain. Some European Union–designated Geographical Indications are only the size of a small town and its surrounding farmland, others are restricted to certain wine styles and winemaking techniques, and each is distinct from the others in soil composition, climate and topography. It can be a lot to take in.

But the Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGIs) are intended to help you, the wine buyer. These wines are guaranteed to meet EU standards of quality and provenance, and each must respect and represent the taste, typicity and traditions of its place of origin. Here’s a primer on the PDOs and PGIs for Garnacha/Grenache in southern France and northeastern Spain.

Garnacha PDOs (aka DO or Denominación de Origen wines) in Spain:

DO Calatayud: Arid climate with high diurnal temperature variation, vineyard elevations of 1,000 to 3,600 feet and predominantly limestone and slate soils. Red and white Garnacha make red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. Reds are full-bodied and rich with black fruit and mineral characteristics. DO Calatayud Superior reds must be at least 85% Garnacha from old vines (50-plus years) with low yields.

DO Campo de Borja: Continental climate with hot summers create strong wines that ward off disease. Red and white Garnacha make red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. Higher elevations yield subtle, elegant versions, while lower sites can produce powerful, aromatic wines.

DO Cariñena: Spain’s largest Garnacha DO, home to diverse styles and a surge in quality. There is high diurnal temperature variation, and brownish limestone soils over and under rocky subsoils predominate. Red and white Garnacha make red, white, rosé and sparkling wine. Powerful reds and fresh rosés feature intense cherry, floral, and herbal flavors. Winemakers are experimenting with carbonic maceration to extract fruit flavors, as well as minimal oak aging to preserve freshness and balance.

DO Somontano: “At the foot of the mountain” between the Ebro River and the Pyrenees, with poor soils composed of pebbles, sandstone and clay. The climate brings hot days, cool nights and moderately higher rainfall than nearby regions. Red and white Garnacha make red, white and rosé wine. Reds are modern in profile, with cherry, vanilla, chocolate and spice flavors. Whites are fruity, floral and herbaceous, with styles spanning from light and minerally to full and rich.

DO Terra Alta: Limestone and clay soils in a Mediterranean climate with abundant sunshine and strong winds. Red, white and peluda Garnacha (the latter named for its “hairy” leaves) make red, white, and rosé wine. Whites account for around 30% of global white Garnacha production and showcase citrus, peach and chalk accents. Reds have berry flavors and mineral aromas.

Grenache PDOs and PGIs (aka Appellation d’Origine Protégée or AOP wines, and Indication Géographique Protégée or IGP wines) in France:

AOP Côtes du Roussillon: Broad regional AOP, covering the Pyrenees in the west to the Mediterranean Sea to the east. Red, white and gray Grenache make red, white and rosé wine. Reds are fruity and spicy, rosés are refreshing and berry-fruited, and whites are delicate, elegant, citrusy and floral.

AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages: More restricted AOP comprising 51 communes, mostly in the north of the Roussillon region, with top vineyards on the slopes rising from the Agly River. Only dry red wine is permitted, and five even smaller subregions may append their “village” names to the Côtes du Roussillon Villages designation. They are distinguished by soil composition: AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France, mainly Cambrian schist; AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde, sand from gneiss and granite; AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Caramany, granite; and AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, limestone and chalk. The fifth “village” AOP, farther south in the foothills of Canigou Massif, is AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Les Aspres, which has pebbly soils flecked with quartz, marble and other minerals.

AOP Maury Sec: AOP for Grenache-based dry red wines from an area distinguished by heat-retaining black schist soils. Wines are full-bodied with dark fruit and dense tannic structure.

AOP Collioure: AOP in the south of Roussillon distinguished by steep, terraced vineyards of gray Cambrian schist that overlook the Mediterranean. Red, white and gray Grenache make red, white and rosé wine.

AOP Maury: Vin doux naturel (VDN) AOP for Grenache-based fortified wine, usually sweet and red, from an area distinguished by heat-retaining black schist soils. Strong, black-fruited reds are labeled Grenat. Other styles include brick-colored and tawny wines sometimes aged in an oxidative environment: ambré, tuilé, hors d’age and rancio versions, which are often spicy, nutty and dried fruit–tinged. Some are vintage-dated and may be aged years, even a decade-plus, before bottling.

Banyuls: AOP for fortified VDN wine from just north of the Spanish border, distinguished by terraced vineyards of gray Cambrian schist overlooking the Mediterranean. White, red and gray Grenache make red, white, rosé and tawny wine. Vintage, hors d’age and rancio versions may be bottled; Banyuls Grand Cru wines must be tawnies aged in casks for at least 30 months.

AOP Rivesaltes: AOP for fortified VDN wine from a relatively large zone in Roussillon. Red, white and gray Grenache make red Grenat, rosé, ambré, tuilé, hors d’age and rancio styles, some from single vintages. Rivesaltes Ambré is a designation for prized tawny wines that range from fruity, light and amber in color, to dark golden-brown and very rich. For something a bit different, the Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP represents aromatic, vivacious fortified whites made from the Muscat d’Alexandrie and Muscat à Petits Grains grapes.

IGP Côtes Catalanes and IGP Côte Vermeille: IGPs for diverse wines from soil types and topographies across broad swaths of Roussillon; Côte Vermeille covers the southernmost coastal area. Red, white and gray Grenache make red, white, and rosé wines, often easy-drinking and accessibly priced. Rancio versions may be longer-aged, with a nutty, umami profile.

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Celebrate International Garnacha / Grenache Day With a European Flight and a Feast!

With Grenache picking underway or soon to come, it will be a busy time in the vineyards of Roussillon Geographical Indications, in France, and DO Calatayud, DO Campo de Borja, DO Cariñena, DO Somontano and DO Terra Alta, in Spain. But as vignerons prepare to make the best possible wines of this vintage, you can kick back with a glass of your favorite European Garnacha. Or make it a full-on day of celebration!  
  • Taste a flight of exciting, distinctive wines with friends: Whether you’re staying in or going out, call up or meet up with your favorite folks to discover the variety of Garnacha/Grenache from Europe. Grab a few glasses, and sample the diversity of red, white and gray Grenache expressions, working your way from sparkling Garnacha, to light, fruity whites, to plump, full-bodied ones, to refreshing rosés. Then venture to elegant, floral reds; powerful, concentrated reds; and, finally, sweet, fortified styles young and aged. Don’t forget to compare notes.
 
  • Whip up a Mediterranean feast. Pass around the olives, nuts, peppers, and plates of cheese and chorizo. A scallop risotto, seafood paella, or cassoulet of pork, sausage, duck confit and white beans should leave your party sated. The abundance of flavors is the perfect excuse to dip into every style of European Garnacha.
 
  • Toast the weekend: Save your most evocative bottle for a post-siesta sunset. Perhaps it’s a unique aged rosado Garnacha, a tangy, tawny Grenache honoring centuries of winemaking tradition, or something else entirely. In the Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications, Grenache is guaranteed to meet European Union standards of quality and provenance, with all bottles respecting the taste, diversity and traditions of each place of origin. So raise your glass to the European grape growers and winemakers crafting the crop of Garnacha you’ll enjoy this time next year.
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European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines for Labor Day

At the beach, by the pool, or, even, in the backyard, enjoy a glass of chilled Light-bodied White Garnacha. This terrific white wine embodies the summer season in every sip. It’s crisp and refreshing with apple, peach, and lemon notes. Add a board of soft cheeses, olives, and fresh veggies, and let the party start!

What’s great about Grenache Blanc, it’s that it offers an array of styles, from distinctly minerally wines with herbal and floral aromas to fleshier versions full of tree fruits and occasional toasty notes from oak influence. When it’s time to share some appetizers, Full-bodied Grenache Blanc is fantastic. Fresh or fried seafood pairs well with this fruity and rich wine.

 

However, if you’re craving American fried chicken to commemorate the Labor Day holiday, don’t hesitate to open a bottle of Sparkling Garnacha. The bubble’s dance will keep the palate fresh to enjoy every bite. For the sugar lovers, bring the chocolate cake or fruit tart, and pair it with a perfect chilled flute of bubbles. This sparkling wine will elevate your Labor Day celebration.

Because this holiday is about enjoying the last sunny days of the season, simple and light appetizers can be great options to delight yourself or your guests. A board of charcuterie with cured ham, bread with tomato or anchovies, or grilled tuna mini sandwiches paired with the tasty and red fruit aromas found in Grenache Rosé , is the perfect combination for a day full of pleasures.

When the menu includes poultry, salmon, or a big plate of veggies, a Light-Bodied Red Grenache is the best match. Fresh, fruity, and bright with aromas of berries, this elegant wine is an explosion of flavors in the mouth. It could be your favorite partner at any time of the day, and even without a meal.

If you’re planning to have the last big barbecue of the season, and the palate needs something big and bold, pair those burgers, ribs and sausages with a Full-bodied Garnacha Tinto. This wine is robust and concentrated, with velvety flavors of blackberries and spice. Perfect for the bold flavors of a BBQ.

For dessert look no further than Fortified Sweet Grenache wine, or Vin Doux Naturel (VDN). It may be a dessert in a glass but it also is the perfect accompaniment to fresh summer fruits, chocolate or even apple pie!

Enjoy Labor Day with European Quality Garnacha/Grenache wines or enjoy a glass for any occasion and keep exploring the diversity of styles!

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Thought You Knew Everything About European Garnacha/Grenache? Think Again.

1.) Few winegrowing regions require “heroic viticulture” of their stewards, but the intimidating terroir of Roussillon qualifies the region as one. Near the French border with Spain and abutting the Mediterranean, Roussillon is surrounded by three mountain ranges, including the Pyrenees to the west. From sandy, alluvial sites near the sea to slopeside vineyards on granite and schist reaching as high as 2,300 feet, Roussillon’s topography challenges Grenache growers as few other regions can. Despite working in the hottest, driest region in France, some farmers don’t—or simply can’t—use irrigation. Steep, terraced bush vines, some more than a century old, require harvest by hand in some areas.

No surprise, then, that Roussillon provides some of the lowest yields in France—and some of the most concentrated, richest expressions of Grenache in the world.

 2.)  In recent decades, Garnacha/Grenache growers have recognized the potential for crafting some of the most unique, terroir-driven red wines in the world under such conditions. Wines from the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) are marked by distinctive geography and yield a unique style of wine.

3.)  The old-school dessert wines of Roussillon made the region famous and still provide a unique drinking experience. Roussillon’s historic PDOs and PGIs of Maury, Banyuls, Banyuls Grand Cru and Rivesaltes are reserved for vins doux naturels (VDNs), dessert wines created when fermentation is halted by the addition of a neutral grape spirit, resulting in a high-alcohol wine with residual sugar, not unlike Port. White, gray and red Grenache, often grown on steep schist slopes, all contribute to these wines. They may be bold fortified reds with black-fruit flavors, like the Grenat of Maury, or white, amber, tawny and rosé versions.

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Delightful Pairings for European Grenache VDN Wines

European Garnacha/Grenache-based dry whites and rosés encompass light, tangy styles with fresh flavors of apple, peach, lemon and quince, and plump, rich, round styles with currant, melon, honey and citrus oil elements. Grenache rosés feature delicate berry and watermelon flavors and herbal notes like rhubarb.

To dine like a local, try the lighter styles of white and rosé with anchovies, salted or soaked in brine or oil and served with potatoes, grilled peppers or white bean salad. Cooked or raw oysters and mussels are also summer staples. Or sub in a favorite dish of your own: Seafood paellas and risottos, tropical fruit salads, and Japanese delicacies like sashimi and tempura are a solid bet. More full-bodied styles of blanc and rosé can greet the region’s winter fish dishes: bourride fish stew, a cousin to bouillabaisse, and creamy brandade with aioli, potatoes and cod. Closer to home, you might try barbecued pork, artichokes and other sautéed vegetables, and even tofu preparations.

 Red Grenache can be svelte or robust in style as well. For light- and medium-bodied versions, look for the delightfully affordable yet seriously terroir-driven wines of the PDOs and PGIs of Roussillon, which can be bright and minerally or fresh and fruity, with strawberry, raspberry and cherry accents. Full-bodied, concentrated reds, with layers of blackberry, black currant and allspice flavors, are the pride of winemakers.

 Finally, the dessert VDNs crafted from European Grenache will end any meal on a high note. These singular wines can be red, white, rosé or tawny, spanning from dense, unctuous younger versions to nutty, spicy wines bottled after lengthy oxidative aging. Whether sweet and jammy or refined with coffee, toffee and cocoa flavors, these are delightful digestifs on their own. The Catalan French might drink them with rustic, savory cow and goat cheeses or hedonistic crème Catalane, a fragrant, country spin on crème brûlée. But your own guilty pleasure, be it dark chocolate, caramel or candied tropical fruit, will go hand in hand with a VDN as well.

Now get to the kitchen, pour a glass of European Garnacha/Grenache, and get started!

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Celebrate the New Year With European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines!

For a surprising bounty of high-quality, top-value bottles, look to the Western Mediterranean for new and renewed expressions of Old World character, finesse and exuberance. More specifically, look to northeastern Spain and southern France, where grape growers and winemakers are leading a renaissance of diverse, complex and creative styles of Garnacha (aka Grenache) from Europe, honoring traditional styles and experimenting with new possibilities.

Even drinkers who know Garnacha may envision a red wine with ripe, bold flavors and high alcohol levels—many very fine examples of this exist, some better than ever—but European Garnacha offers much, much more. You’ve resolved to broaden your horizons, so it’s time to dip into lithe, elegant high-altitude reds; white Garnacha that can be crisp or rich; rosés both fresh and funky, some made from the rare gray Grenache clone; beguiling sparklers (it’s a new year, after all); fortified dessert companions; and even nutty, long-aged meditation wines made in traditional oxidative styles.

In 2022, journey toward the Pyrenees from the comfort of your kitchen table, and look for these destinations. The Spanish appellations of DO Calatayud, DO Campo de Borja, DO Cariñena, DO Somontano and DO Terra Alta, as well as France’s Roussillon Geographical Indications, mark the spiritual home of Garnacha/Grenache. What all have in common is a guarantee of quality ensured by the European Union’s Geographical Indications system. When you buy a bottle, you’ll know the wine represents the highest EU standards of safety, traceability, authenticity, labeling, nutritional and health aspects, animal welfare, respect for the environment and sustainability. Every glass evokes the distinctiveness and distinction of its place of origin.

Garnacha from one protected place of origin may be subtly or dramatically different from a neighboring region’s Garnacha, so you’ll have no trouble finding bottles to pair with all the dishes you’re planning to perfect (or just enjoy) in 2022. Queue up a sparkling Garnacha from DO Cariñena, in Spain, for fresh shellfish or a fruit plate. A citrusy, minerally white Garnacha from DO Terra Alta calls for sushi and spring rolls, while a rich, round Garnacha from DO Somontano can handle grilled salmon or roasted chicken. A fresh, zippy rosé from any of these regions is delightful on its own, but sautéed tofu and vegetables entice as well. 

Try an aromatic, elegant red from DO Campo de Borja with roasted duck or barbecue, or, for steaks or sweet and sour pork, pour a mineral DO Calatayud or a bold, robust AOP Maury Sec from Roussillon. Finish the meal with a dessert vin doux naturel from AOP Banyuls or AOP Rivesaltes: There are versions to match whatever sweet or savory treat you’ve resolved, but failed, to avoid. All in all, best to have a nice selection of bottles on hand to open whenever your friends and family drop by!

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Garnacha: A European Grape with Tradition and History

Spain is notorious for being one of the oldest wine-producing countries in Western Europe. While viticulture was already established prior, the oldest documented proof is when the Phoenicians arrived in 1100 BC. Thereafter, when the Romans conquered the country, they brought over many techniques and practices of their own. The Romans introduced more modern techniques and improved some already established methods, while France adopted some of these as well.

Garnacha (or Grenache in France) is one of the oldest varietals dating back to 153 BCE and earliest written records appear in the book Agricultura General by Gabriel Alonso in 1513.  The varietal originated in Northeastern Spain and expanded under the Crown of Aragon.  Today, 97% of the globe’s Garnacha/Grenache is produced in Europe with Spain and France having the highest concentrations of old Garnacha/Grenache vines in the world.

As the birthplace regions of Garnacha, five Spanish PDOs—Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, and Terra Alta—and the PDOs and PGIs of Roussillon share a devotion to the grape, despite a diversity of soils and styles. The majority of these vineyards are planted to the variety, and they are home to one of the largest concentrations of quality wines made from Garnacha.

In the vineyard in both Spain and France, you will still see many winemakers hand-harvesting Grenache. The alternative would be machinery in the vineyards doing the job of harvesting, shaking the grapes off and creating potential for damage. With the much gentler method of hand-harvesting,  full respect of the vine is being seen through. Manual sorting is also typical to ensure that the grapes are at their best quality- anything that is not gets discarded. Once that occurs, careful extractions are done with the thick-skinned and hardy grapes. Temperatures are carefully controlled and monitored and many are focused on spontaneous fermentation rather than inoculation.

With all of these practices and the laws in place, Europe continues to represent the best quality Garnacha/Grenache.

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A Different European Garnacha Grape for Every Day of the Week

Monday – Grenache Gris

The only additional “grey” a Monday needs is that of Grey Grenache.  A rare European varietal that is found in Northeastern Spain and Roussillon’s South of France.  It produces a variety of wines including white and fortified styles, but Monday calls for a rosé.  The rosé that it produces is a pale pink color, with coppery flashes. Its aroma of citrus fruits and light body, bring freshness. It is ideal to pair with grilled tuna or chicken salad. 

Tuesday – Garnacha Peluda

The Garnacha gets its name from the hairy leaves and it is a mutation of the Red Grenache and is native from Catalonia, Spain. The wines extracted from this grape have a lower alcohol content than the other varieties of European Garnacha. Medium acidity, light on the palate and aromas of red fruits. Its chromatic intensity is medium and has a rapid oxidation. Taco Tuesday has met its match with Garnacha Peluda.

Wednesday – Garnacha Tinta (Grenache noir)

This variety of Garnacha is one of the most used worldwide and can process red, sweet and rosé wines. It is resistant to wind and drought and produces medium-bodied wines with great aromatic vigor with hints of raspberries. Half of the week is done, you made it and a glass of red Garnacha feels like a well deserved reward.

Thursday – Grenache Blanc

White Grenache wines are medium to full-bodied, have a greenish-yellow color and medium-high acidity, which makes it an ideal variety for both monovarietal wines and for blends. Its aromatic intensity is medium and has floral, herbaceous and fruity notes. They have a high alcohol content and are sensitive to oxidation. White Grenache is mostly used for the production of sweet and still wines that are perfect to be paired with a Thursday night dessert. The Weekend is one day closer.

Friday – Garnacha Tintorera

Alicante Bouschet is the only variety whose pulp is dark coloured, which produces wines of an intense color. This grape requires abundant water and deep soils with phosphorus fertilizers, and endures the cold temperatures of winter well. The wines it produces are very dense, with medium acidity, rough and with a high alcohol content, although it is less than Garnacha tinta. With an intense aroma of red fruits and a very accentuated color, that turns it into a variety very used for mixtures. It’s the most tannic variety, which makes it rich in antioxidants.This is definitely a Friday relaxing and full bodied wine. Now you are ready to start the weekend.

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Discover European Garnacha/Grenache Through 7 Different Styles of Wine

European Grenache/Garnacha may thrive in certain conditions—warm dry climates, poor soils—but it is a great vessel of terroir, the Mediterranean’s answer to Pinot. Like that other celebrated chameleon, it appears in a variety of clones, red, white and gray (plus a tintorera and peluda strain, so named for its “hairy” leaves); also like Pinot, it can present in many guises, including red and white table wine, sparkling wine, dry rosé and dessert wine. Here’s what to know about seven essential styles of European Grenache/Garnacha from the grape’s native region of northeastern Spain and southern France.
  • Sparkling Garnacha is a niche style, but perhaps not for long. Sparkling Garnacha is making headway in the Spanish appellations of DO Cariñena and DO Campo de Borja. These regions have continental climates and high-elevation vineyards that preserve acidity and contribute cherry, floral and herbal flavors. Sparkling Garnacha can be sweet to bone-dry, fresh or long-aged.
 
  • Higher altitudes, minerally soils and maritime influence can all promote a light-bodied, crisp style of white wine from white and gray Grenache. DO Cariñena and DO Campo de Borja also excel here, as do the Spanish regions of DO Calatayud, DO Somontano and DO Terra Alta, and France’s AOPs & IGPs of Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes Catalanes and Côte Vermeille. These are wines of elegance and finesse, and may have apple, peach, quince, lemon and saline elements.
 
  • Full-bodied whites can be found in these regions too, with the warmer Mediterranean climates of DO Terra Alta and the Roussillon’s AOP Collioure providing a bit of extra plumpness to Grenache. (DO Terra Alta is home to around 30% of the world’s white Garnacha plantings.) These lush, round whites may feature citrus oil, honey, currant and melon flavors, along with a bouquet of floral aromas.
 
  • Dry rosé is now a juggernaut in the Mediterranean, and Garnacha/Grenache is a big part of the movement toward quality, appearing throughout northeastern Spain and Roussillon GIs in a variety of styles. DO Calatayud’s slate vineyards and ample sunshine may encourage more robust, mineral, dark-fruit versions, while DO Cariñena wine is more floral and herbal. Strawberry, watermelon, rhubarb and rose are hallmarks of these refreshing, vivacious European Garnachas.
 
  • Elegant and full of character, light-bodied red Garnacha belongs on the table with fish, poultry and vegetarian dishes. Redolent of strawberry, raspberry, cherry and pepper, these wines can be found around northeastern Spain and southern France, especially where cool nights and regular breezes balance ripeness and acidity. DO Campo de Borja and DO Cariñena offer very fine expressions, as do standout communes in the Côtes du RoussillonVillages appellations: Caramany, Latour de France, Lesquerde, Tautavel and les Apres yield a range of lighter-style Grenaches, many made with carbonic maceration and minimal oak to preserve fresh fruit flavors.
 
  • Full-bodied red Garnacha remains a specialty of this corner of the winegrowing world, as poor soils, dry conditions, old vines with deep roots, and low yields concentrate flavors and tannins in the grapes, unlocking robust, structured wines with deep blackberry, currant, allspice, anise and tobacco flavors. In Roussillon GIs, winemakers ply gray and black schist vineyards to make rich AOP Collioure and AOP Maury Sec Grenaches, while DO Somontano and DO Calatayud, in Spain, produce bold Garnachas with ripe fruit and mineral backbone.
  Roussillon Geographical Indications have long been regarded as one of Europe’s most esteemed dessert wine regions, home to the fortified vins doux naturels (VDNs) of AOP Maury, AOP Banyuls, AOP Banyuls Grand Cru and AOP Rivesaltes. Red, white and gray Grenache produce a spectrum of sweeties—red, white, amber, tawny and rosé. Younger styles are fruity and generous, with jam and cocoa flavors, while wines labeled ambré, tuilé, hors d’âge and rancio have been aged in an oxidative environment for years, bottled as golden-brown elixirs with the essence of dried fruit, leather, coffee and spice. They’re the perfect note to end a tasting on.
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5 Things You Didn’t Know About Garnacha From Europe

There, an appreciation of Garnacha’s stylistic possibilities and distinctive expressions of terroir is being discovered and bottled, often as single-variety wines, by enterprising, quality-minded winemakers in regions around the northeastern highlands and valleys of the country. Why should you get to know Garnacha from Europe?

1.) The new buzz around Garnacha is actually less a discovery than a rediscovery. In fact, Garnacha is one of the oldest wine grapes still in existence—and the earliest evidence of it appears in what is now Spain. Carbon-dating of leaves and seeds indicates it was grown as early as 153 BC there, and it conquered the Mediterranean alongside the Crown of Aragón between the 12th and 17th centuries. Like the empire at its height, Garnacha planted its flag in parts of modern-day Spain, southern France, Corsica, Sardinia, southern Italy, Sicily, Croatia, and even Greece.

2.) Today, Grenache is the seventh-most-planted wine grape variety in the world (and No. 5 among red varieties), but it is most highly concentrated in its ancestral and spiritual homeland of northeastern Spain and southern France. Nearly 93% of the world’s Garnacha/Grenache vines reside in Europe, with 41% in Spain and 54.9% in France. The allure of the grape has famously reached Australia and California as well, but many of the most prized old-vine parcels, some planted 120 years ago, are found in these two European countries.

3.) You can always count on Garnacha. In fact, it’s the law. The Spanish Protected Designations of Origin of DO Calatayud, DO Campo de DO Borja, DO Cariñena, DO Somontano and DO Terra Alta, to which Garnacha is native, alongside with French Roussillon’s Geographical Indications are all protected under  European Union quality schemes (PDO & PGI). Such wines carry a guarantee of their provenance and quality, with their regional names and characteristics protected by EU regulations. European quality standards cover safety, authenticity, traceability, labeling, nutritional and health aspects, animal welfare, eco-friendliness and sustainability, as well as quality, taste, diversity, and traditions of each place of origin.

4.) A Geographical Indication  is a high honor and a look at these French and Spanish appellations quickly makes clear why: Each region’s climate, soil, and topography make it unique from the others—and the rest of the world—in the nuances of the Garnacha it produces.

5.) Grenache isn’t just still red wine—it comes in a bunch of styles! Whether the wine results from mutations of the grape (such as Grenache blanc  or Garnacha peluda, so named for its “hairy” leaves) or winemaking techniques, Garnacha may surprise you with a red, white, rosé, sparkling, or VDN pour. Reds and whites (aka tinta and blanca) are made in all appellations, in styles ranging from fresh and fruity to rich and robust. From intense cherry, floral and herbal flavors, its terroir conducive to making reds with carbonic maceration and little oak aging, as well as rosé and bubbly to limestone and clay soils, contribute citrus, peach, and chalky notes.

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One European Grape for Everyone at your Holiday Table

Holidays are the best time to reunite with friends and family. Big or small gatherings always involve planning ahead what food to serve or what wine to drink.  This holiday, it will be much easier to organize these great celebrations with European Quality Garnacha/Grenache.

If your mom likes chilled white wine, your sister-in-law  prefers a rich red one, and you only love rose. Don’t overthink, just throw a Garnacha theme party and enjoy all its varieties!. These European wines are so versatile that there is a Grenache type for everyone.

Sparkling Grenache – No Holiday table is complete without bubbles and Sparkling Garnacha, with its fruity and flowery notes, makes it the perfect wine to celebrate.

Light-bodied Garnacha White – bursting with citrus, honey, flowers, currants and melon, this is the perfect wine for Holiday favorites such as roast turkey with all of the fixings.

Full-bodied Garnacha White – the aromas and flavors of apple, peach, lemon and quince are the perfect complement to holiday tables featuring a variety of seafood such as scallops, sashimi or lobster.

Grenache Rosé – The fresh, fruity and bright style of Garnacha rose will please any palate at the table and pairs perfectly with a variety of holiday favorites.

Light-bodied Red Garnacha – Fruity flavors of strawberry, raspberry and cherry are ideal with the warm spices in holiday roasts.

Full-bodied Red Grenache – For the lover of full, structured and concentrated red wines, this wine pairs perfectly with show-stopping main courses such as lamb, baked ham or prime rib.

Fortified or VDN  Grenache – There is even a Grenache to pair with dessert!  Try the fortified sweet wines grown in Roussillon GI’s to pair with chocolate, fruits or even pumpkin or pecan pie.

Take the guesswork out of trying to pair wines for the holiday table.  European Quality Garnacha/Grenache has the diversity of styles to make sure any holiday pairing is a success.

 

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European Garnacha/Grenache Sponsors TexSom 2021

TexSom is a world-renowned trade event that took place at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel in Dallas, Texas from November 14th to November 16th. At this 2021 edition, there were a total of 43 sponsors coming from across the globe to present the best wines their regions have to offer such as the United States, Argentina, Israel, Italy, Chile, Australia and many more. More than 1,000 professionals of the industry attended the event.

As a silver sponsor, European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines presented 16 wines from Spain and France at a dedicated table on November 14th and 16th. The European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines turned out to be quite popular and very appreciated by all attendees. Many noted the warm and soft tones of the red blends while being happily surprised, sometimes even astonished, by the great versatility and minerality of the white grapes (Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris).

The European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines campaign also had the opportunity to host a dedicated lunch on November 15th. Attendees had the chance to learn more about the European Quality Schemes and history, origin and diversity of the Grenache grapes as well as Spain and France specific Geographical Indications. For almost two hours, 40 to 50 guests tasted, discussed and exchanged views and opinions on 16 French and Spanish Grenache based wines from red, white and rose blends to fortified wines such as AOP Banyuls and AOP Rivesaltes.
With a total of 96 bottles sampled, representing 9 different PDOs, the Garnacha/Grenache campaign was not only able to bring focus back to the Grenache grape but also educate and enlighten the industry’s key actors that will shape the U.S. wine market for the years to come.

 

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August 28th: National Red Wine Day

Garnacha/Grenache is one of the most widely-planted grapes from Europe and, being the 7th most planted grape variety in the world (5th in reds). It originated in Northeastern Spain and Southern France, in the 1500s, and is grown in the PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) and PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) regions.

For those who’d love to dive into the extraordinary experience to sip a glass of European Garnacha/Grenache and celebrate National Red Wine Day, here there are three ideas to start your celebration:

1. Go outdoors

Enjoy the great taste of Grenache paired with a day at the beach, a picnic in the park, a walk or outdoor dining.

The recommended temperature is 45-50 F to enhance its fruity aromas of bright strawberries and blackberries. It can be placed in the picnic cooler or can be refrigerated 20 minutes before serving.

2. Try Delicious Food

Garnacha wines are known for being food-friendly. There are plenty of food pairings to try: charcuterie, olives, and cheese could be great appetizers for a summer menu.

To elevate your dining experience, pair light-bodied Garnacha wines with grilled salmon, burgers with smoked gouda, and chorizo.

Full-bodied Garnacha wines are perfect for special occasions. They are full, robust and concentrated, and match successfully with barbecue ribs, grilled sausages, and lamb chops.

3. Enjoy the moment

Discover the world of European Quality Garnacha/Grenache, and create wonderful memories with loved ones this National Red Wine Day!

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Exploring White Garnacha from Europe on National White Wine Day

The intensity of White Garnacha (Grenache Blanc) is recognizable from the first sip. This full-bodied white wine amazes wine lovers with its herbaceous and citrus notes and versatile pairings. Nothing better when you want to explore European Quality Grenache Blanc from the PDOs and PGIs of Spain and France this National White Wine Day on August 4th

 

White Garnacha is related to the red Garnacha grape variety and has a long history in the regions of the North East of Spain and Roussillon in the South of France. It thrives in hot and dry conditions, can withstand strong winds, and is disease resistant. These particular characteristics make it one of the most eco-friendly varieties in the world. 

 

A real celebration always includes delicious food. Fortunately, with Grenache Blanc, there are plenty of food pairing ideas to enjoy this day to the fullest. 

 

The fruity and flowery notes of Sparkling Garnacha, which come from Cariñena, Cava, and Campo de Roja regions, match perfectly with sushi, desserts, and fresh fruits. This wine is summer in a glass. 

Light-bodied Grenache Blanc wines are known for their crisp and refreshing flavors of apple, peach, and lemon. They are light enough to be paired with fresh food such as raw shellfish and summer salads. The hint of citrus in these wines lives up the creaminess of a scallop risotto. 

 

On the other side of the spectrum, full bodies White Garnacha wines are versatile enough to be paired with different types of dishes. They are a welcome complement to the crunch of fried chicken. Also, their richness and honey taste enhance the flavors of glazed hams. Meanwhile, their roundness balances the flavors of fresh seafood with aioli. 

To enjoy the best of Grenache Blanc, we recommend serving it chilled, as many white wines, between 8º and 10ºC ( 45-50º F). This temperature will keep its “green richness”- one of the main particularities of White Garnacha- and its citrus aromas and juicy flavors. 

 

This National White Wine Day don’t hesitate to try White Garnacha, a perfect wine for this time of the year and for those who enjoy discovering European Quality Garnacha/Grenache ! It’ll surprise you and leave you dreaming about your next adventure in the Mediterranean region of Spain and France!

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European Garnacha-Grenache: a beautiful pairing between Wine and History

By Hoke Harden

I was pleased when asked to conduct a seminar/tasting on European Garnacha-Grenache at FEAST Portland 2019. Not only am I an admirer of the grape variety and its incredibly diverse iterations, the amateur historian in me revels at the intricately intertwined story of European Garnacha’s expansion, part and parcel of the Crown of Aragon’s political and geographical power-sprawl across the Mediterranean.

Most Americans are neither knowledgeable of nor interested in history. Take Europe, for instance, where we can directly trace the expansion of Garnacha/Grenache as a major variety through the military, religious, political, and mercantile forces that created change.

The story begins with the Christian-driven Reconquista to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from the 300 + years of Islamic/Moorish dominance. The tipping point came when powerful Castile allied with the military aggressiveness of Aragon: the marriage of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand II. Yes, the selfsame royal couple who sent C. Colombo on his fateful journey.

Castile focused internally on the coalescing Iberian Peninsula but Aragon was expansion oriented and looked outward. The small but energetic state expanded to include nearby Catalonia, and became a maritime/mercantile power centered in Barcelona and stretching from Montpellier to Tarragona. But they didn’t stop there. They kept expanding until they had spread to the Balearic Islands (Majorca), the North Coast of Africa, Sardegna, Corsica, Sicily, the Kingdom of Naples, southern Italy, even as far as Greece.

 
The territories of the Crown of Aragon included Lordships, Counties, Dukedoms, Principalities, Kingdoms, Marquisates and Protectorates, all interconnected with a bustling maritime/trade.

And what does this have to do with wine? Garnacha went with them. First the wines, then the vines, then the vineyards.

Garnacha, like Pinot Noir and Sangiovese, has an impressive ability to thrive, adapt, diversify, and mutate, so Garnacha had many faces: Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir, and an old-vine version from harsh, hot, high elevation and drought-prone mountain areas, dubbed “velvety” from its astonishing intensity and deep, almost viscous, texture.

Grenache, it seemed, could do just about anything: sparkling, crisp and bright whites, delicious dry roses, light and lively fruity reds, big and bold reds for long aging, even charming dessert wines. So it spread and is now scattered across the globe. Yet 97% of its production still remains in its “homeland” (Europe). Our focus was on that homeland, from the hot, high valleys and plateaus of Aragon leading up to the towering Pyrenees to the area now known as the French Roussillon (which still identifies closely with their Catalunya heritage).

For our seminar we showcased Roussillon GIs Grenache with Spanish Garnacha from diverse PDOs, moving back and forth to emphasize the similarities and the differences from mutations, changes in geographic, climatic and soil conditions, and with an eye toward examining the stylistic expressions of different social/cultural influences.

Part I: Three Wines from Roussillon GIs

We began with a AOP Collioure rose, a white blend, and a red Grenache, made from vineyards close to the glittering blue ocean on foothill slopes arcing quickly up to the majestic Pyrenees. Bright, fruity, aromatic with pomegranate and peach, a slight saline snap from vineyards on slopes perched over the azure ocean, and a delightful finish of red fruits.

We continued with a AOP Cotes du Roussillon Blanc, a light, beguiling fruit and floral perfumed blend typical of Rousillon whites. Grenache Blanc is the sturdy base, Marsanne and Roussanne
present a nosegay of spring flowers. Malvoisie gives ripe peaches and melons, and Vermentino finishes out with a decidedly crisp acid snap.

Part II: Four Garnacha-Grenache Reds from their European Homeland

One outstanding feature of the Garnacha-Grenache grape variety is its amazing versatility. The varietal family includes Garnacha-Grenache Noir, Blanc, Velvety and Gris, and these thrive in highly disparate areas, often with radically different styles.

Here we focus on the Garnacha Tinta-Grenache Noir, and taste four different versions from four AOP/PDO: Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Terra Alta from Spain and Maury Sec from Roussillon. There’s a wide spectrum of style represented here; indeed, the four wines range from conservative winemaking to audacious, even radical, expositions of fruit and spice.

  • PDO Calatayud 2017 100% Red Garnacha from 40 to 60 years old vines. This was a juicy, generous, berry-fresh delight at a surprisingly price, and it took the U.S. by storm. It transformed PDO Calatayud, a mainstay of Aragonese Garnacha, from “PDO Calatayud? Where’s that?” to “PDO Calatayud? That’s great!
  • PDO Campo de Borja 2017 100% Red Garnacha from 70 to 100 year old vines. Although one of the smaller wine regions, DO Campo de Borja produces some impressive Garnacha. The old vines are still trained the Roman way, looking like old gnarled miniature trees. Low yield, bunch planted vines in an arid landscape, water-stressed, with hot, sunny days and cold mountain nights… that’s the recipe for a concentrated, intense, but nicely balanced red. Ripe red fruits slathered with new French oak, baking spices (clove, allspice), and tight tannins. Trivia: Campo de Borja is also famous for Popes. Borja. Borgia, in Italian. Yeah, those guys.
  • AOP Maury Sec 2016 80% Black Grenache, 20% Syrah from over 60 years old vines. Made by an eclectic winemaker who is also fiercely independent, dedicated to unique and individual wines expressive of place, tradition, and personal style.  From his small vineyard in AOP Maury Sec, he sources extremely old-vine Grenache Noir and mixes it with younger but also intense Syrah. His avowed “simple but not simplistic” style requires maceration in the skins, fermentation in stainless steel, and no use of wood.  The result is massively concentrated, intense and almost jammy fruit, spice, and herbs in a rich, silky coat.  Cherry, blackberry and dark plum (!), herbs (think rosemary bushes baking under a hot sun); vivid spices. bursting with flavor. A uniquely interesting and quite satisfying Grenache.
  • PDO Terra Alta 2016 100% Garnacha from up to 40 years old vines. DO Terra Alta is in the extreme southern part of Spanish Catalunya (NE) and reflects a maritime-influenced climate. this wine tempers the exuberance of Garnacha, using a more traditional Spanish style by adding 6 months of oak (Crianza); it is obviously their intent to produce a structured wine with a balance of fruit, tannin and oak structure. It’s suitable for aging…but why wait when it is delicious now?

Coming up next:  After this impressive line-up of Garnacha-Grenache in the premium/mid-priced category, we’ll go for the big finish, the final starbursts in the display, the big and bold celebrations of European Garnacha.

Part III : The Elegance and Intensity in Old Vine Grenache from Europe

Our final tasting of three exceptional EU’s Garnacha clearly established the character of Old Vine Garnacha grapes. Each is from a different PDO; each is a reflection of that appellation; and each gives a proud display of the inherent florality of the grape, the assertive black fruits, the herbs and spices, and the amazing balance of all the elements.

  • PDO Somontano 2016 85% Red Garnacha, 12% Syrah, 3 % Parraleta from up to 100 years old vines. The Secastilla Valley is highly regarded in PDO Somontano. Its wines are an avatar of terroir and tradition, a wine with its own unique style. Grapes are harvested in three stages to ensure phenolic ripeness. First, Syrah. Then a local variety, Parreleta, Finally, the Garnacha. Each variety is separately macerated, fermented, and allowed to go through malolactic. Then the three are blended, stabilized and placed in French oak barrels for 8 months.The wine is elegant, splendidly balanced, with lovely violets in the nose, rich black fruits, prunes, toasty oak, dried flowers, and a finishing note of licorice.
  • PDO Vinos de Madrid 2014, 100% Red Garnacha from 40 to 60 years old vines. These vineyards, located southeast of Madrid and on the edge of the Sierra de Gredos, are at 870m above sea level, with harsh granitic gravel soils, an arid climate, and rugged bush-trained old vines that endure and thrive under the long hot sunny days.  Hand-harvested grape clusters are fermented in their ambient yeasts; the wine is macerated naturally, without additives, then aged in oak casks for 10 months. Bottling is done with no filtering or clarification. It delivers up the expected Garnacha red berries, then savory ripe dark plums, medicinal cherries (cough drops with menthol) and light oak spice.  This is intense wine, nervy, high acid, stern, yet laved with fruit.  Quite frankly, it needs food–and it should be on every steakhouse wine list…American, Argentine or Brazilian. It is still rare to find wines of this quality at this price.
  • PDO Cariñena 2015, 100% Red Garnacha from up to 100 years old vines. For the last Garnacha of the tasting…we had The Last Garnacha. Or in Spanish, Ultima Garnacha. After weeks of hard work and lack of sleep getting the crop in, just when this winery sees the finish line, there’s always that last batch of Garnacha, high up the mountains, remote, difficult to pick, the oldest vines that are the last to be harvested.  Look closely at the label and you may notice a tiny stub of a pencil; that exemplifies the Ultima Garnacha, the last bit that wears you down to the nub, but you know is capable of producing magnificent old vine Garnacha with elegance and seemingly endless depth. 6 months in medium toast. French oak adds a touch of elegant spice. Generous black cherry, cool menthol, cedar, fresh-turned earth, a delightful whiff of balsamico, round, jammy, and velvety in the mouth.

Thus we conclude our ten bottle journey through the European homeland of the G varietal, from Madrid to Aragon to Catalunya and the French Roussillon. The wines show the astonishing versatility of Garnacha-Grenache with a range that few varieties can achieve so well. And yet… as impressive as the tasting is, we’ve barely touched on what European Garnacha-Grenache can do.

 

 

About Hoke Harden

Owner of Taste & Compare Academy (Portland OR)

An enthusiastic lover of wine and spirits, Hoke Harden left a career in academia to follow his other muse for the last 35 years, trekking around the world to the great producing regions. Recently referred to as a veritable walking omnibus of wine and spirits knowledge, he has experienced every possible facet of the world of wine and spirits as a retailer, restaurateur, bartender, buyer, wholesaler, supplier, marketer, critic, writer, competition judge and an educator. He is currently with Elixir Vitae Wine & Spirits Consultants, the Taste & Compare Academy of Wine, Spirits and Food in Portland OR, a writer and blogger, a member of the Society of Wine Educators, Wine & Spirits Instructor at Mt. Hood Community College, a Master Instructor with the French Wine Academy and a B.N.I.C. Certified Cognac Educator.

 
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A Master Sommelier thoughts on Global Warming and the role European Garnacha Grenache could play in it

There is no denying the effects of global warming on the world; in agriculture, nature and hence the wine industry. Wine grapes historically grow best in a narrow band of land around the world where climates are moderate and promote the balance of acidity and ripeness of fruit. The effects of greenhouses gases are predicted to increase the average temperature anywhere from 2 degrees to 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century. [source: EPA] Temperatures have already risen in Spain and France over the last few decades by an average of 3 degrees, and harvest dates have been moved forward by three weeks in part because of warmer temperatures during the season.

I wish I had better news to report; however, we have seen more torrential rains, wildfires, flooding, an increase in canopy growth, decrease in yields as well as increases in manual labor as signs that we are dealing in different times. This news is terrible, and yet the reality.

As a person that likes to try to see the silver lining, there are a few things that can be looked at from a wine glass-half-full perspective. Enter European Grenache/Garnacha, one of the world’s most widely planted grape, as one savior for the wine industry.

Garnacha aka Grenache thrives in hot, dry conditions like those found in Europe’s South of France and the North of Spain in Protected Designations of Origin (PDO = DO) like Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Carinena, Somontano, Terra Alta; as well as Rousillon Geographical Indications (AOP Banyuls, AOP Collioure, IGP Côte Vermeille, IGP Côtes Catalanes, AOP Maury, and AOP Rivesaltes, AOP Côtes du Roussillon and AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages). Grenache is also one of the few grapes that is well adapted to handle water stress, and it is at these extremes where Garnacha excels and produces wines of concentration and complexity. Garnacha from appellations in Europe will not be as negatively affected by the change in climate because these quality wine regions have older vines, which adapt to stress conditions, have deep roots to concentrate flavor and are planted at higher elevations, which help retain freshness and acidity. Grenache also has a healthy canopy allowing it to adapt to fierce winds and is well suited for dry, warm climates.

By no means do I want to dismiss the incredible hardships of climate change. I implore everyone to do what we can to help our planet and farm responsibly using regenerative agriculture and to continue to look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and while we are at it, let’s have a glass or two of Grenache/Garnacha from Europe.

About Laura Fiorvanti-Corkbuzz
Laura Fiorvanti is one of 32 females to achieve the title, Master Sommelier. Laura is the owner of Corkbuzz Restaurant and Wine Bar which has locations in Union Square, Chelsea Market and Charlotte, NC.
Fiorvanti’s fresh approach to wine has made Corkbuzz a destination for expert and novice drinkers alike and earned her recognition as both a sommelier and entrepreneur. She directs every aspect of her businesses from scouting locations to design, development and construction and all the way to marketing, mentoring and teaching wine classes. Since opening Corkbuzz, The Wall Street Journal called Laura the “It Girl” of the New York wine scene, Crain’s New York Business honored her as one of their “40 Under 40,” Food & Wine magazine named her one of 2013’s “Sommeliers of the Year” and Wine Enthusiast included her in their list of “Top 40 Tastemakers under 40.”
Laura consults for many of the top financial services companies and private equity firms in wine entertaining and travels all over the world for wine education. She is currently working on her new wine podcast and book and is a cast member of the movie Somm 3, which was released out in Fall 2018.
Laura splits her time between Manhattan, Shelter Island, NY and Charlotte, NC
Email: Laura@corkbuzz.com
Instagram & Twitter @lauramaniec @corkbuzzwine and @corkbuzzclt

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European Classics: Red Garnacha from Spain and Grenache from France

With an eye towards quality, the European Union Geographical Indications (GIs), Protected Geographical Indications (PGIs), and Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) works to ensure and protect specific products to promote their unique characteristics, which are linked to their geographical EU origin as well as traditional know-how. This allows consumers to trust products, including wine, with these EU certifications.

Wines with the PDO quality logo—which is equal to the designations Denominación de Origen (DO) in Spain and Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) in France—are guaranteed that Specific PDO areas also have specific regulations about grape varieties used, production processes, and more.

In the PDOs of northeastern Spain where Garnacha originated—specifically Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, and Terra Alta—and in the PDOs and PGIs of Roussillon, the Garnacha grape is spotlighted. While the variety actually has several variations—among them white Grenache, grey Grenache, and peluda, or “hairy” Grenache—red Garnacha is the most widespread of the family. Though it is used in rosés, sweet wines, and Vin Doux Naturels, it is worth getting to know red Grenache in its classic form: as a dry, still, varietal red wine.

The late-ripening red Garnacha grape thrives in warm, sunny, dry climates, where it makes wines that tend to be full in alcohol and body, with moderate to low acidity and tannins. These wines are juicy and plump, making them approachable in youth, though the best can also age. But red Grenache is not homogenous. Depending on soil type, vineyard elevation, site aspect, vine age, natural yields, and more, the grape can vary wildly, showing the character of the terroir in which it was grown.

Winemaking can also affect the style of red Grenache. Blending the grape with others such as in classic Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre (GSM) blends, will certainly change the character of the finished wine, as will fermentation temperature.  While Garnacha has traditionally not been aged in new oak, more producers are experimenting with limited aging in new barrels in order to add complexity and richness to these wines.

The PDO regions that serve as Garnacha’s birthplace in Spain allow a number of red grape varieties to be bottled either as varietal wines or as blends, but Garnacha is the most-planted variety among these PDOs. Though many think of Garnacha as a blending grape, vintners in PDOs like Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, and Terra Alta are increasingly focusing on varietal Garnacha wines largely made from study old vines that add concentration. In fact, and according to a research by the Wine Economics Research Centre (University of Adelaideover 40% of the world’s Garnacha is grown in Spain.

Roussillon GIs include 14 PDOs Collioure, Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Côtes du Roussillon Villages les Aspres, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Camarany, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, Maury Sec, Rivesaltes, Maury, Banyuls, Banyuls Grand Cru and Muscat de Rivesaltes, as well as 3 PGIs in Southern France: Côtes Catalanes, Côte Vermeille and Pays d’Oc, several of which focus on dry red wine. Wines are more likely to be blends here, but Grenache is a key component of these reds. It is a principal variety in PDO Collioure, where it may be blended with grapes like Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Carignan, as it is in PDO Maury Sec, which must be produced from at least 60% Grenache. Both PDO Côtes du Roussillon and PDO Côtes du Roussillon Villages—the latter of which may only produce red wines—depend on Grenache as well for their approachable yet complex wines. France is home to over 50% of the world’s Grenache.

In the end, these Geographical Indications would not exist without the Garnacha grape—and the Grenache grape would not have the same high level of quality without its EU origin, tradition and quality schemes.

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Celebrate Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache) Day with the Original European Wines!

It’s time to get out the corkscrew and polish the glasses because it’s almost time to celebrate a favorite wine holiday: Garnacha Grenache Day, to be held this year on September 20. Though there are plenty of grape celebrations out there, few others include a more versatile range than Garnacha Grenache Day, which celebrates the high-quality wines made from the grape known as both Garnacha and Grenache. Whether you opt for a red, white, rosé, sparkling, or fortified sweet wine to raise a glass with, there’s no better way to enjoy the festivities than with a Grenache wine from the grape’s European birthplace PDO and PGI regions.

The Garnacha grape hails from the PDO regions of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano and Terra Alta in northeastern Spain, and the PDO and PGI regions of Roussillon in southern France. It has over 2,000 years of history of planting in these vineyards, as carbon dating shows that Grenache was planted here as early as 153 BCE. The European Union’s Geographical Indication (GI) quality schemes also work to ensure and protect the unique characteristics of these PDO and PGI wines, as well as all European GI products, which are linked to both human and environmental factors in their EU origins. In the hot, dry, sunny climate of these birthplace regions, the Garnacha grape reaches new heights, with well-adapted old vines digging deep into the soil to make complex, long-lived wines. So, there’s no truer varietal expression of Grenache to drink on Garnacha Grenache Day.

To celebrate the grape known as both Garnacha and Grenache, several in-person events will be held in San Francisco on the days leading up to Garnacha Day, including an influencer dinner on September 18 and a media dinner on September 19. Advertisements and educational overviews will also be published in national printed and online publications like Wine Enthusiast, SevenFifty Daily, and VinePair, reaching wine lovers across the U.S.

But anyone can join in the celebrations for Garnacha Grenache Day on September 20! Just follow and use the hashtag #GarnachaDay on Twitter to connect with other Grenache lovers and learn about one of the world’s top grape varieties. No matter what your preferences are, there’s a Garnacha wine out there for you, as Grenache is not just a single variety; it’s a family of red, white, grey, and peluda grapes. And in the PDO and PGI regions of northeastern Spain and French Roussillon, all can be found in these European vineyards. Whether it’s a fresh and fruity white, a lively, red-fruited rosé, a concentrated, spicy red, or a balanced, long-lived fortified sweet wine, any European Grenache wine will make Garnacha Grenache Day complete.

To discover more about this fascinating variety, including its European heritage, the EU’s PDO, PGI, and quality schemes, styles of Garnacha, and food pairing ideas, explore our GarnachaGrenache.com website ahead of Garnacha Grenache Day.
But if nothing else, pour yourself a glass and join in the fun!

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Join us on TEXSOM 15th annual conference!

European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines will host a Conference Lunch next Tuesday August the 20th at TEXSOM 15th annual conference from 11:30 to 1:00pm at Four Seasons Resort & Club Las Colinas, TX.

If you want to dive into the depths of European Quality Garnacha/Grenache Wines, join us and discover our wines diversity of soils and styles: Still or Sparkling, red, white, rosé and sweet.

Discover Europea Quality Wines

Garnacha, also known as Grenache, is one of the world’s oldest and most widely planted European wine grapes. Winemakers in the varietal’s  birthplace (Spanish P.D.O.s of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, Terra Alta and PDOs & PGIs in Roussillon – France) are taking advantage of old vines, natural low yields while applying modern techniques in combination with old traditions, having Garnacha playing a starring role.

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Discover the different terroirs of European Quality Wines

By Laura Fiorvanti MS

In my first blog post, I discussed my passion for European Grenache/Garnacha and her love for the Mediterranean climate. Another reason why the grape is so versatile and has many expressions is that it can grow in many different soils.  The vines’ adaptability is likely the reason Grenache Noir is one of the most planted red grape varietals in the world.

However, it is the quality wines from the European Geographical Indications, which enable Garnacha/Grenache to reach her apogee, delivering excellent high-quality wines that express terroir. This part of Europe in what is now Northeastern Spain and Southern France is also the birthplace of Grenache.

Garnacha can produce concentrated, and complex wines on a variety of soils – including sand, schist, granite, and limestone. The more nutrient deficient soils found in Northeastern Spain in PDOs (Protected Designations of Origin) such as Calatayud, Terra Alta, Campo del Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, and France’s Roussillon Geographical Indications (either PDOs and PGIs) provide among the greatest results for Grenache. These soils are also well drained, which forces the roots to dig deeper into the ground.

In PDO Calatayud, you will find soils including red and grey slate, limestone and some pebbles which help this rugged land produce concentrated Garnacha Tinta and Blanca. In PDO Cariñena, you will discover Garnacha growing on four different types of Miocene clay with alluvial subsoils from the Ebro River, giving a warmer and fleshier expression. In the higher elevations, you can see Garnacha flourish on slate.  In PDO Campo de Borja, Garnacha Blanca, Tinta, and Tintorera are on sand over stony soils providing elegant styles of wine. In PDO Somontano, the pre-Pyrenees are high in sandstone and clay, which are low in fertility and help the vine handle the extreme drought and provide low yields, abundant in concentration. In PDO Terra Alta in the plains and plateaus, you will find limestone and clay that encourage well aerated and drained soils, and when combined with the Mediterranean climate and abundant sunshine, you have concentrated mineral wines.

Another example of the diversity of soils is in Roussillon Geographical Indications surrounded by mountain peaks that separate provinces from neighboring appellations.  In geological terms, Roussillon GIs suffered many upheavals of soil from the elevation of the Pyrenees during the tertiary and quaternary periods which caused the soil and subsoils to be extremely varied with very different characteristics from one area to the next. Collioure AOP produces white, rosé and red wine on grey schist soils that alternate between the deep narrow gorges, and the hills. In Côtes du Roussillon Les Aspres AOP we find 37 communes producing Grenache Blanc, Rouge and Gris grown on very fine gravel and altitudes that could reach up to 250 meters.

Garnacha/Grenache vines in Northeastern Spain and Roussillon are ancient, producing more delicate and more complex wines than in areas where the vines are much younger.

In conclusion, Garnacha/Grenache is a transmitter of the various nuances found in European terroir, producing very expressive wines with a wide range of aromas depending on their origin; from sweet, fresh and fruity to intensely mineral and concentrated.

Want to learn more about European Quality schemes: click here

About Laura Fiorvanti-Corkbuzz
Laura Fiorvanti is one of 32 females to achieve the title, Master Sommelier. Laura is the owner of Corkbuzz Restaurant and Wine Bar which has locations in Union Square, Chelsea Market and Charlotte, NC.
Fiorvanti’s fresh approach to wine has made Corkbuzz a destination for expert and novice drinkers alike and earned her recognition as both a sommelier and entrepreneur. She directs every aspect of her businesses from scouting locations to design, development and construction and all the way to marketing, mentoring and teaching wine classes. Since opening Corkbuzz, The Wall Street Journal called Laura the “It Girl” of the New York wine scene, Crain’s New York Business honored her as one of their “40 Under 40,” Food & Wine magazine named her one of 2013’s “Sommeliers of the Year” and Wine Enthusiast included her in their list of “Top 40 Tastemakers under 40.”
Laura consults for many of the top financial services companies and private equity firms in wine entertaining and travels all over the world for wine education. She is currently working on her new wine podcast and book and is a cast member of the movie Somm 3, which was released out in Fall 2018.
Laura splits her time between Manhattan, Shelter Island, NY and Charlotte, NC
Email: Laura@corkbuzz.com
Instagram & Twitter @lauramaniec @corkbuzzwine and @corkbuzzclt

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European Grenache/Garnacha: Multi-faceted and Mediterranean

By Laura Fiorvanti MS

She has an elegant style, and she loves the Mediterranean sunshine, she thrives in the South of France, her name is Grenache. She is multi-faceted and can adapt to any environment, a crowd-pleaser, but she is not simple, she is bilingual. She is at home in Eastern Spain where she goes by the name Garnacha. Garnacha/Grenache is my favorite grape; I imagine the grape personified as a strong woman, one that can adapt to any environment and still be authentic. I have not met many people that don’t love this grape, primarily because it is so different when grown in the various quality wine G.I. regions of Europe.

Garnacha is one of the world’s most widely planted grapes. You will find it produced as sparkling, white, rosé, red and fortified styles of wine.  Her birthplace is in Europe in what is now known as North Eastern Spain and Southern France. Garnacha was brought all over Europe with the expansion of the Kingdom of Aragón. When grown in the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) regions of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, Terra Alta and PDOs and PGIs in Roussillon, Grenache reaches its apogee. We see her dive into the spotlight to create wines with a true and unique expression of terroir that is capturing the attention of sommeliers, journalists, and consumers.

Grenache thrives in poor soils and grows in sand, schist, granite, and limestone. Its old vines produce low-yields of Garnacha that show intensity and finesse. It is drought resistant, and its trunk is sturdy and robust enough to stand up to the winds of the valleys in the Mediterranean making it a grape that is so adaptable as well as low maintenance. These winds also help protect it from mildew and producers rarely have to use chemicals.  The Grenache vines flourish when bush-trained and when water is limited producing quality wine rich in concentration.

A meal at my restaurant (Corkbuzz), could start with an aperitif of Grenache rosé from AOP Collioure in Roussillon, move to a glass of Garnacha Blanca from PDO Terra Alta or PDO Cariñena, with the appetizer course, an Old Vine example from PDO Campo de Borja, then to a full-bodied, sun-kissed red Grenache from PDO Calatayud or PDO Somontano for the entrée before finishing with a fortified, Vin Doux Naturel Grenache from AOP Maury with a cheese course. There is no other grape that is as versatile. 

Discover how PGI and PDO European Quality Schemes help Ensure the Excellence of Garnacha/Grenache Wines

About Laura Fiorvanti-Corkbuzz
Laura Fiorvanti is one of 32 females to achieve the title, Master Sommelier. Laura is the owner of Corkbuzz Restaurant and Wine Bar which has locations in Union Square, Chelsea Market and Charlotte, NC.
Fiorvanti’s fresh approach to wine has made Corkbuzz a destination for expert and novice drinkers alike and earned her recognition as both a sommelier and entrepreneur. She directs every aspect of her businesses from scouting locations to design, development and construction and all the way to marketing, mentoring and teaching wine classes. Since opening Corkbuzz, The Wall Street Journal called Laura the “It Girl” of the New York wine scene, Crain’s New York Business honored her as one of their “40 Under 40,” Food & Wine magazine named her one of 2013’s “Sommeliers of the Year” and Wine Enthusiast included her in their list of “Top 40 Tastemakers under 40.”
Laura consults for many of the top financial services companies and private equity firms in wine entertaining and travels all over the world for wine education. She is currently working on her new wine podcast and book and is a cast member of the movie Somm 3, which was released out in Fall 2018.
Laura splits her time between Manhattan, Shelter Island, NY and Charlotte, NC
Email: Laura@corkbuzz.com
Instagram & Twitter @lauramaniec @corkbuzzwine and @corkbuzzclt

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Summer’s best kept secret: European Garnacha Rosado and Grenache Rosé

By Deborah Parker Wong

The PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) EU mark identifies a product originating in a specific place, region or country, whose quality or characteristics are essentially or exclusively due to a particular geographical environment with its inherent natural (raw materials, environmental characteristics, location) and human (traditional and artisanal production) factors the production, processing and preparation steps of which all take place in the defined geographical area and in line with the strict production regulations established. In Europe, Quality Rosé Wines are made according to those quality schemes.

For example, Spain’s northeastern Aragon wine region is the likely home of Garnacha Tinta which is arguably the grape variety best suited to producing rosé or Garnacha rosado. Despite Garnacha’s tendency to accumulate an abundance of sugar, the Garnacha rosado wines of the PDOs of Calatayud, Cariñena, Campo de Borja, Terra Alta and Somontano will be between 11 and 13.5 % abv and range in color from the palest pink to vibrant fuchsia.

Rosado is often produced using a winemaking technique known as carbonic maceration or whole berry fermentation, rosado wines have traditionally been a showcase for the rose, strawberry, raspberry and bright red fruit flavors for which Garnacha is prized. The wine style lends itself to fruit from younger vines whereas fruit from lower-yielding, older vines is typically used for red wines.

In an effort to produce a range of styles for rosado wines, European producers are employing a variety of winemaking techniques including leaving the wines on the fine lees for extended periods of time and aging Garnacha rosados in oak where they acquire more complexity and can improve in the bottle. The pursuit of new styles of rosado is resulting in wines that show greater, structure, more savory flavors and length. Regions producing the most Garnacha Rosado in 2018 included Campo de Borja (12,283 hl), Somontano (6,631 hl) and Cariñena (6,140 hl).

Unlike mono-varietal Garnacha rosado, the rosé wines from Roussillon are blends. AOP Côtes du Roussillon requires a minimum of two allowed varieties with none greater than 70%. Grenache, Carignan Noir and Macabeu dominate here and more than 50% of Côtes du Roussillon production is devoted to rosé.  In Collioure, the blend varies with Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah predominating and Grenache Gris getting in to the picture up to 30%. Just 25% of Collioure’s total production is rosé.

Both AOPs demand an 11.5% minimum abv and keep residual sugars in check insuring dry styles at less the 4 g/l.  Whether they are made by bleeding or direct press, the wines are typically fermented at low temperatures to protect their fresh aromas and consumed within the year following harvest.

Learn more about European Quality Certification

About Deborah Parker Wong

Deborah Parker Wong, DWSET  is an opinion-leading communicator, journalist and author who specializes in the wine and spirits industries. As Global Wine Editor for SOMM Journal, The Tasting Panel and Clever Rootmagazines, she writes monthly industry columns and reports on the global wine and spirits industries with an emphasis on technology and trends. She is the co author of “1000 Great Everyday Wines” and contributes thought-provoking content to industry trade publications including the former Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine, Spirited and Drinks Business which you will find posted to her archive sitewww.deborahparkerwong.com.  

In addition to her work as a journalist, Deborah is an adjunct professor in the wine studies programs at Santa Rosa Junior College, Napa Valley College and Cabrillo College and offers private certification courses as an approved program provider for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

She presents tastings and educational seminars to trade and consumer audiences and judges several wine competitions each year. She holds the Wine and Spirits Education Trust Diploma, is a member of the London-based Circle of Wine Writers and the California Teachers’ Association. Prior to her career as a journalist, Deborah co-directed The Medialink Group, a public relations and strategic marketing agency serving high-technology and luxury consumer goods clients.

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Five reasons to love Grenache /Garnacha Blanc and Gris from Europe

By Deborah Parker Wong

Geographic Indications (GI), Protected Designation of Origins (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) protect the name of a product, which is from a specific region and follow a particular traditional production process. Product names registered as PDO are those that have the strongest links to the place in which they are made. PGI emphasizes the relationship between the specific geographic region and the name of the product, where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin.

In the case of wine, this means that at least 85% of the grapes used have to come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is actually made.

In northeastern Spain, Garnacha Blanca can predominately be found in the regions of CalatayudCampo de Borja, Cariñena and Somontano but the Terra Alta PDO has the treasure trove with 1400 hectares of old vine Garnacha Blanca under vine. That amounts to one-third of the vines grown worldwide and growing as new plantings are on the rise. 

Throughout these European regions it’s not uncommon to find wines made from extremely low-yielding, sixty-year old vines thriving in what amounts to fossilized sand dunes. Recently designated as the Terra Alta 100% Garnatxa Blanca PDO classification, these wines hold up well to oak aging and deliver orchard fruit, herbs and spices with plenty of texture and creamy mouthfeel.

White and gris Garnacha/Grenache are varieties native to Spain that dwell happily in Roussillon where they are blended to make both dry and sweet wine styles. When designated expressly for the dry wines of PDO Côtes du Roussillon and Collioure, they are picked early to retain aromas and freshness that would otherwise be lost to the sun.

In the dry white wines of Côtes du Roussillon, Grenache Blanc often shares the limelight with Macabeu or Tourbat in a blend where the dominant grape cannot exceed 80%.  Grenache Blanc contributes alcohol and plushness to the wines with sweet floral aromas and flavors of white tree fruits like apple and pear, green citrus, stone fruit and dried green herbs. Macabeu contributes acidity and Tourbat which looks quite like Grenache Gris in color offers distinctive smoky and secondary aromas.

In Collioure, Grenache Gris which has been referred to Grenache Blanc’s “pink-skinned cousin” small amounts of mono-varietal wine are produced from old vines that grow on schist soils within sight of the Mediterranean Sea. The resulting wines have volume, good minerality, the coolness of fennel and dryness that doesn’t exceed 4 g/l residual sugar.

The role of these varieties has traditionally been as the star players in the white and ambré vins doux naturel wines of Rivesaltes AOP. Ambré wines mature in open wooden vats for two years and achieve the color of liquid amber with aromas and flavors characterized by roasted nuts, candied citrus zest, raisins and toffee. With an additional three years of aging that often extends to decades, the wines take on Hors d’Age and Rancio designations for their evolved oxidative characters. AOP Maury and tawny-colored Banyuls known as “traditionnels” can also be designated this way. Discover how European Quality Certification contribute to Grenache /Garnacha Blanc and Gris success story  

About Deborah Parker Wong

Deborah Parker Wong, DWSET  is an opinion-leading communicator, journalist and author who specializes in the wine and spirits industries. As Global Wine Editor for SOMM Journal, The Tasting Panel and Clever Rootmagazines, she writes monthly industry columns and reports on the global wine and spirits industries with an emphasis on technology and trends. She is the co author of “1000 Great Everyday Wines” and contributes thought-provoking content to industry trade publications including the former Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine, Spirited and Drinks Business which you will find posted to her archive sitewww.deborahparkerwong.com.  

In addition to her work as a journalist, Deborah is an adjunct professor in the wine studies programs at Santa Rosa Junior College, Napa Valley College and Cabrillo College and offers private certification courses as an approved program provider for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

She presents tastings and educational seminars to trade and consumer audiences and judges several wine competitions each year. She holds the Wine and Spirits Education Trust Diploma, is a member of the London-based Circle of Wine Writers and the California Teachers’ Association. Prior to her career as a journalist, Deborah co-directed The Medialink Group, a public relations and strategic marketing agency serving high-technology and luxury consumer goods clients.

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European Quality Wines: Focus on Vins Doux Naturels

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PGI and PDO European Quality Schemes: How These Certifications Ensure the Excellence of Grenache Wines

Garnacha/Grenache wines are underrated European agricultural products recognized for traditional cultivation, quality, and prestige with their certification in two European Union quality schemes; “PGI,” or protected geographical indication, and “PDO,” protected designation of origin. Based on the guidelines set by the European Union in 2012 for agricultural commodities, these quality schemes ensure that products with such indication have absolutely originated in that region. The European Union schemes of geographical indications require specific qualifications of products in order to protect the integrity and reputation of regional food stuffs. The definitions of the awarded labels are explained below:

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) is awarded to products originating from a region with a high reputation regarding their cultivation methods and products produced. Wines and other foodstuffs with such identification are considered to be of utmost quality due to the goodwill, distinct variety, or other characteristics which is attributable to their place of origin. The emphasis of the relationship of the product and geographical origin provides consumers with a better idea of where their product comes from as well as the traditional background of wineries or other farms.

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is the name of a region whose geographic environment promotes products of exceptional quality and excellence. Wines with such an indication are produced exclusively in their area from the grape to the bottle, meaning that all of the production and processing takes place specifically in the region of origin. This quality label distinguishes agricultural products from their competitors by providing the consumer with a clear map of production to the table. There are five PDOs vineyards in northeastern Spain that are specialized in the Grenache grape variety: CalatayudCampo de BorjaCariñenaSomontano, and Terra Alta.

The Garnacha/Grenache wine varieties are sold and recognized internationally for their high quality in taste and overall consumer experience. Most importantly, wines processed from Garnacha/Grenache grapes are not only delicious, but they are affordable. By providing consumers with an expensive taste at low cost, Garnacha/Grenache wines ensure customer satisfaction without breaking the bank.

The authenticity of European producers designated with the PDO and PGI labels allows Garnacha/Grenache wineries to provide consumers with a clear background of where their product comes from. The “Farm-to-Table” movement has been on an upward trend around the World, specifically in the United States, as more people are choosing what they consume on a daily basis based on what exactly is inside of the product. European agriculture commodities labeled with PDO and PGI not only provide consumers with a specific region where the product originated, but they furthermore imply that the region has a reputation of excellence. The traditional cultivation methods protected by these labels ensure that the product is true of the quality advertised.

With a better understanding of what the PGI and PDO labels mean, consumers can see what sets Garnacha/Grenache wine varieties in a category of their own by providing a luxurious taste at an affordable cost. The regions of origin are recognized for consistent quality production methods and specific taste unmatched due to the geographical conditions. While underrated across the world, Garnacha/Grenache wine vineyards are recognized in Europe for producing millions of hectoliters of delicious PDO and PGI wine each year.

Cheers to European Quality Schemes on Europe Day!

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” overlay_color=”” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” padding_right=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” center_content=”no” last=”no” min_height=”” hover_type=”none” link=””][fusion_text]Happy Europe Day!

Thanks to the European institutions, regulations and standards established, we can enjoy many European products that we´ve come to value. For example, did you know that the EU is responsible for certifying the quality of wine, amongst other products, by ensuring and protecting their origin throughout Europe? Through the strict legal European Quality Certification standards, the EU guarantees quality and authenticity of any European wine bearing a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).

The origin of any wine is essential to quality, as terroir affects wine, but it is particularly important for the Garnacha/Grenache grape due to it´s sensitivity. It thrives in the European birthplace regions of France’s Roussillon and Spain’s Catalayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, and Terra Alta. The hot, windy, dry climate, poor, well-drained soils, extremely low yields, and decades-old vines of these regions create Garnacha wines with concentration, minerality, and a sense of birthplace. Accurate and authentic origin ensured by the EU PDO and PGI certifications is essential to the quality of Grenache.

While many individual European countries enacted protected wine origin and quality systems throughout the 20th century, in November 2012, the EU created a framework to regulate and elevate these standards throughout Europe. There are different types ordered by strongest link to the place where the product was made: PDO guarantees that every part of the production, processing, and preparation process must take place in the specific region. For wines, this means that the grapes have to come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is made. PGI guarantees that at least one of the stages of production, processing, or preparation takes place in the region. In the case of wine, this means that at least 85 percent of the grapes used have to come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is actually made. In each country these European quality standards and schemes are referred to in different ways; for example in Spain the PDO level is referred to as Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP), while in France it is Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP). In Spain, the PGI is called Indicación Geográfica Protegida (IGP), while in French it is Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP).

The PDOs and PGIs that Garnacha/Grenache calls home have long histories of quality wine production. Of Spain’s key Garnacha regions, Cariñena was the first to receive PDO/DO status in 1932, just six years after Spain’s protected wine origin system was created. Terra Alta followed in 1972, with Campo de Borja in 1980, Somontano in 1984, and Calatayud in 1989. The Roussillon region of France, just across the border, has 14 PDOs/AOCs and three PGIs/IGPs for Grenache, making around two-thirds of the production at the PDO level. Three of these appellations were among the first to receive AOP status in 1936, just after the system was created: Banyuls, Maury, and Rivesaltes, all for Vin Doux Naturels produced from the Garnacha/Grenache grape. Others followed throughout the century, such as Collioure in 1971 and Côtes du Roussillon in 1977.

With the EU PDO and PGI quality schemes we, as consumers, can be guaranteed and certain that we are going to enjoy fantastic, terroir-driven European quality wines. So on Europe Day, raise a glass to PDOs and PGIs!

To learn more, visit this in-depth overview of European Quality Certifications or at the European Commission website.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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Fast and Curious: Discover European Garnacha/Grenache

How well do you know Garnacha (a.k.a) Grenache?

Whether you’re an expert or a newbie, there’s always more to learn, even in 10 questions. And with a myriad of styles – red, white, rosé, sparkling, and fortified sweet – from the grape’s European birthplace regions of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, and Terra Alta in Spain, and France’s Roussillon, there’s plenty to discover. These quick either/or questions will help you better understand – and enjoy – quality PDO and PGI Garnacha/Grenache from Europe.

Europe or elsewhere?
Europe – it’s the birthplace of Garnacha/Grenache, specifically in the Spanish regions of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, and Terra Alta, and France’s Roussillon.

Oaked or unoaked?
Unoaked – freshness is key for Garnacha/Grenache wines so that flavors and aromas aren’t masked, though moderate use of new oak barrels can create full, soft wines.

Garnacha or Grenache?
Both! Garnacha and Grenache are the same grape.

Old vines or young vines?
Old vines – they have smaller yields, creating complex, concentrated Garnacha/Grenache wines.
The grape’s European birthplace has an abundance of old vines planted in its hot, windy, dry vineyards, which is one of the reasons why it produces such high quality Garnacha/Grenache.

PDO or PGI?
Both! PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) are both European quality schemes that guarantee the authenticity, quality, and origin of European wines like Garnacha/Grenache. Learn more about European Quality Certification here.

Varietal or blended?
While Garnacha/Grenache is well known for making some of the world’s finest blended GSM wines, try it as a varietal wine. Particularly when grown in European PDO and PGI regions, Garnacha/Grenache is layered and vibrant all on its own.

Meat or fish?
Round, smooth red Garnacha/Grenache wines complement a range of meats well, while white Garnacha/Grenache has the freshness and fruit flavors for fish. Rosé Garnacha/Grenache is great with both!

Spicy or sweet?
While Garnacha/Grenache pairs well with so many kinds of foods, if forced to choose, pick spicy. The acidity of dry white Garnacha/Grenache cools the palate, while the sugar in fortified sweet Garnacha/Grenache balances out intense spice.

Summer or winter?
White and rosé Garnacha/Grenache refreshes on hot summer days at the beach, while red Garnacha/Grenache has warm spices and rich fruit for cold winter evenings. Sparkling Garnacha/Grenache is perfect for sunny days and holiday celebrations alike!

Early morning or late night?
Late night, of course – it gives more time for drinking European Garnacha/Grenache!

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European Quality Wines in Figures

The European PDO and PGI quality schemes ensure that authentic, high-quality Garnacha/Grenache wines are made in the grape’s birthplace regions —CatalayudCampo de BorjaCariñenaSomontano, and Terra Alta in Spain, and Roussillon in France— that straddle the French-Spanish border. But what does that all really add up to? You might be surprised at just how much PDO and PGI wine is being made in Garnacha/Grenache’s European home and sold internationally.

Wine is an important part of Europe’s quality schemes, which also apply to different foods—like cheeses, meats and breads—beers, spirits, and aromatized wines. There are 1,758 wine Geographical Indications (GI), which include Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) regions—that’s more than half of the 3,373 GIs that existed throughout Europe at the end of 2017. By country, Italy has the most GIs, followed closely by France and then Spain, making these countries some of the most important ones for European quality wines and other products.

Five PDOs in northeastern Spain specialize in the Garnacha grape variety: Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano, and Terra Alta. Together, 144 wineries and around 5,500 winegrowers cultivate nearly 35,000 hectares of vineyards—34,945 hectares, to be specific—to produce around 750,000 hectoliters of wine in 2013. Yields are low here, averaging 20 hectoliters per hectare, due to the decades-old vines, hot, dry climate, and poor, well-drained soils of these Spanish regions.
Grenache, of course, is the main grape variety in these Spanish PDO regions, representing 40 percent of vineyard plantings, but specifically, red Garnacha dominates these vineyards. In fact, these five regions produce 38 percent of the Grenache PDO wines in Spain. Terra Alta in particular is important for the white Garnacha variety, making 80 percent of the white Garnacha from Spain. Bottled as a varietal wine or blended with grapes like Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, Grenache makes red, white, and rosé wines in these Spanish PDOs.

Though Roussillon in France is a single region of 2,200 winemaker families, 350 private cellars, and 25 co-operatives, it is actually comprised of 14 PDOs and three PGIs. This offers a wide range of micro-terroirs and stylistically diverse Grenache wines, from dry, still white, red, and rosé wines to Vins Doux Naturels, or fortified sweet wines. As a whole, Roussillon produced 604,457 hectoliters of wine in 2016, of which 202,044 hectoliters was at the PGI level, 248,966 hectoliters was at the PDO level for dry wines, and 129,218 hectoliters was at the PDO level for Vins Doux Naturels.
When it comes to sales, Roussillon exports about 22 percent of its PDO dry wines and just two percent of its PDO Vins Doux Naturels.

That’s a lot of numbers to illustrate the prominence of European PDO and PGI quality wine in Grenache’s birthplace regions, but if you only remember one figure, remember this: there a 100 percent chance that a bottle of European PDO or PGI Garnacha/Grenache will be delicious.

Learn more about European agriculture and EU wine market

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Cheers to European Quality Schemes on Europe Day!

Happy Europe Day!

Thanks to the European institutions, regulations and standards established, we can enjoy many European products that we´ve come to value. For example, did you know that the EU is responsible for certifying the quality of wine, amongst other products, by ensuring and protecting their origin throughout Europe? Through the strict legal European Quality Certification standards, the EU guarantees quality and authenticity of any European wine bearing a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).

The origin of any wine is essential to quality, as terroir affects wine, but it is particularly important for the Garnacha/Grenache grape due to it´s sensitivity. It thrives in the European birthplace regions of France’s Roussillon and Spain’s CatalayudCampo de BorjaCariñenaSomontano, and Terra Alta. The hot, windy, dry climate, poor, well-drained soils, extremely low yields, and decades-old vines of these regions create Garnacha wines with concentration, minerality, and a sense of birthplace. Accurate and authentic origin ensured by the EU PDO and PGI certifications is essential to the quality of Grenache.

While many individual European countries enacted protected wine origin and quality systems throughout the 20th century, in November 2012, the EU created a framework to regulate and elevate these standards throughout Europe. There are different types ordered by strongest link to the place where the product was made: PDO guarantees that every part of the production, processing, and preparation process must take place in the specific region. For wines, this means that the grapes have to come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is made. PGI guarantees that at least one of the stages of production, processing, or preparation takes place in the region. In the case of wine, this means that at least 85 percent of the grapes used have to come exclusively from the geographical area where the wine is actually made. In each country these European quality standards and schemes are referred to in different ways; for example in Spain the PDO level is referred to as Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP), while in France it is Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP). In Spain, the PGI is called Indicación Geográfica Protegida (IGP), while in French it is Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP).

The PDOs and PGIs that Garnacha/Grenache calls home have long histories of quality wine production. Of Spain’s key Garnacha regions, Cariñena was the first to receive PDO/DO status in 1932, just six years after Spain’s protected wine origin system was created. Terra Alta followed in 1972, with Campo de Borja in 1980, Somontano in 1984, and Calatayud in 1989. The Roussillon region of France, just across the border, has 14 PDOs/AOCs and three PGIs/IGPs for Grenache, making around two-thirds of the production at the PDO level. Three of these appellations were among the first to receive AOP status in 1936, just after the system was created: Banyuls, Maury, and Rivesaltes, all for Vin Doux Naturels produced from the Garnacha/Grenache grape. Others followed throughout the century, such as Collioure in 1971 and Côtes du Roussillon in 1977.

With the EU PDO and PGI quality schemes we, as consumers, can be guaranteed and certain that we are going to enjoy fantastic, terroir-driven European quality wines. So on Europe Day, raise a glass to PDOs and PGIs!

To learn more, visit this in-depth overview of European Quality Certifications or at the European Commission website.

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Garnacha/Grenache: Organics by nature

Currently, there is no doubt why organic wines have been on the rise these past years: fewer chemicals, environmental-friendly and kinder hangovers.

This fever is due in part to an increase in the number of young talented winemakers actively seeking out for organically grown grapes, which now can have their own space in farmer markets, small wine bars and in the mouths of interested wine lovers.

But what most of these don’t know, it’s that organic has its birthplace in the Europe. Originally, European winemaking and terroir have allowed grapes to be treated with no sulfates nor aggressive irrigation.

In this scenario, Garnacha has come out be one of the main grapes producing organic wines, due to its versatility and adaptation to extreme climate conditions and terroirs of its birthplace (In Spain in the PDOs Campo de BorjaCalatayudCariñenaSomontano and Terra Alta and in France in the AOPs Vins de Roussillon).  If you are not convinced yet, at least you’ll consider including Garnacha to your next wine purchase after you finish reading this article:

  • The most eco-friendly grape in the world?

Well, in the vineyard, Garnacha/Grenache Old vines drought resistant, adaptable and self-sustaining. In fact, we could say it’s a survivor that auto-regulates its needs in poor soils in extreme temperature climates and adapts its production, giving extraordinary concentration. Also, its strong roots delve deep into soil’s natural resources, being a water-stress variety. The varietal is perfectly adapted to the natural conditions of dry healthy winds that prevent diseases such as mildium and oidium, and consequently the use of sulfur treatments during the year.  Moreover, altitude old vines vineyards have proven to resist the effects of climate changes on its production.

  • Encouraged by local winemakers

European producers have understood that Garnacha/Grenache needs to be challenged, forced to sink deep into the soil to look for humidity and nutrients in order to produce high-quality grapes – they thus limit water waste (avoiding irrigation), making wine more sustainably.

Some producers, are even successfully experimenting with Garnacha/Grenache without sulfites.

For instance, some PDOs lying in the land of Garnacha such as Cariñena have already used sexual confusion for grape moths, to eliminate the use of insecticides and their consequent contamination to the environment – and, in parallel, to obtain healthy vineyards without any pests or diseases. In fact, they’re even developing a non-invasive ultrasound system for field studies of the water status of the vines for optimized irrigation, which aims at checking the water stress of the vines so that irrigation is only used when necessary, thus improving the quality of  wine and reducing water consumption.

  • Officially organic/ EU supported

Under the EU organic farming logo, the European Union has developed a regulatory framework that provides conditions under which the organic sector can progress in the line with production and market developments, thus improving and reinforcing the EU organic farming standards and import and inspection requirements.

The main objective of the European logo is to make organic products easier to be identified by the consumers. Next to the new EU organic logo, consumers are informed about the place where the agricultural raw material used in this product have been farmed and a code number of the control authorities is also displayed.

From now on, most of pure organic EU products will be also certified as official, so Garnacha/Grenache wines have certainly every change to get it.

Healthy cheers, folks!

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Garnacha is here: the next Malbec?

The rise of Malbec has been phenomenal these last past decades. Its popularity is mainly due to the Argentinian approach of the grape, which exports to the US more than doubled between in 2008 respect to 2006, according to data showed by Nielsen.

The grape has come a long way, from being a blend component in Bordeaux (its birthplace) to being widely produced in several parts of the world. In addition, although there is very little left in its place of origin, Malbec continues its expansion all around New Zealand and Chile.

Its success in the US market is widely explained in the documentary directed by Sky Pinnick: “Boom Varietal” (2011). There, it is suggested that this wine has taken off in the U.S by its populist appeal, as Malbec: “it was a wine not discovered by sommeliers, but by regular wine drinkers seeking a wine that was both delicious and affordable,”

As Garnacha, Malbec is currently known as an approachable, plush red with an appealing freshness – partly due to being majorly grown at high altitudes.

This lead us to think Garnacha is not just another trend within the minds of North American consumers, but a boom grape ready to hit the taste of wine lovers worldwide, at a more than affordable price.

Garnacha wine is finding its place as Malbec did in the past, showing vines (in this case, older than Malbec’s) that produce wines sold cheap are not a question of quality, but geography. The high and windy climate is perfect for winemaking as it sweeps insects and pests off sloped vineyards. In the case of the Argentinian Malbec, the melted snow from the Andes provides natural irrigation, which reduces production costs.

The same for Spain, several winemaking regions where Garnacha is grown have these characteristics of lowering costs of producing and consequently reducing the price per bottle. Moreover, it is believed that Garnacha has very good health benefits, as the grapes contain a high concentration of flavonoids –antioxidants- that may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Is Garnacha the next Malbec? Make yourself aware of Garnacha’s steps in the future; it could be the new big thing!

Here we give you a brief comparison of both grapes so you can judge yourself/ place your bets if Garnacha/Grenache could surpass the Argentinian boom:

Technical differences – Tasting

MALBEC GARNACHA/GRENACHE
Definition
Purple grape grown worldwide used in red wine. It is one of the six grapes used in Bordeaux wine. Bordeaulais at origin but considered majorly as an Argentinian varietal. Grown worldwide. Black grape grown worldwide for use in red and white wines, commonly used grape in Rhone red blends whereas in Spain and South France (concretely in Aragon, Catalonia and Roussillon) is usually made into its own grape (monovarietal).

It is one of the most grown red wine grapes in the world.

Origin
Considered French in origin, likely having originated in northern Burgundy. Roots in Aragon region (northern Spain) based on an ampelographic study by the name of Tinto de Aragon. Spread to Catalonia, southern Spain and Southern France (Roussillon).
How does it behave?
– Thin-skinned (less resistant to frosts)

– It requires more exposure to heat and sun than other grapes.

– Late ripening in the season

– Propensity for high yields

– Always flavored and rich, but with a variable taste depending on where the grape is grown:

  • French style is softer and less acidic with blackberry as the predominant taste
  • Cahors Malbecs are heavier, very dark, the “rustic” grape version, with main aromatic notes of earthier scents like raisin, garlic and tobacco.

– It produces the best flavors in limestone-based soils.

– Best grown in hot, dry climate: extremely tolerant to heat and drought.

-Late ripening  in the season

– Its light nature allows it to make excellent rosé.

-When its yields are controlled, it produces highly alcoholic, red fruit flavored wine with spicy white pepper notes.

– Grenache oxidizes easily and often. Browns, a quality known as “bricking”.

Look & Taste
Known for their inky rich colors, often described as dark purple. Malbec wines have similar flavor profiles globally: black- and other dark berries, plum, black pepper and cherry. They are also known for their earthiness. Grenache is pale, semi-translucent, fruity, sweet, and often used to lighten and brighten heavier, bolder reds. It has the tendency to brick, or turn brownish when exposed to oxygen. Its aromas are that of sweet red fruits (candied) and spice like cinnamon and pepper.
Top Production Areas
Malbec is grown in many regions but most notably France, Argentina, Chile and the US. Spain and France are top producers of the grape.
Pairing with:
  • Cuisine with a good spice profile (Middle East) and rich tomato sauces from Italy.
  • Roasted meats and barbequed pork.
  • Spicy dishes including many ethnic foods.
  • Mediterranean appetizers
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Join us at Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2019!

European Quality Garnacha/Grenache Program will participate at Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2019.

Join us from April 11-14th on the premier epicurean lifestyle event on the West Coast!

About the event: Pebble Beach Food & Wine is the premier epicurean lifestyle event on the West Coast, matching 250 acclaimed wineries and 100 celebrity chefs to create a hedonistic four-day destination on one of the most picturesque strips of coastline in the world. Throughout the weekend you’ll enjoy intimate access to the pinnacle of culinary and wine talent at wine tastings, cooking demos, and some of the most exclusive, unique dining opportunities available in the world.

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Celebrating European organic wines on Earth Day 2019!

Currently, there is no doubt why organic wines have been on the rise these past years: fewer chemicals, kinder to the environment and less powerful consequences. This fever is due in part to an increase in the number of young talented winemakers actively seeking out for organically grown grapes, which now can have their own space in farmer markets, small wine bars and in the mouths of interested wine lovers.

But what most of these don’t know, it’s that organic has its birthplace in the Europe. Originally, European winemaking and terroir have allowed grapes to be treated with no sulfates nor aggressive irrigation. In this scenario, Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache) has come out be one of the main grapes producing organic wines, due to its versatility and adaptation to extreme climate conditions and terroirs of its birthplace (In Spain in the PDOs Campo de Borja, Calatayud, Cariñena, Somontano and Terra Alta and in France in the AOPs Vins de Roussillon).

   

If you are not convinced yet, at least you’ll consider including Garnacha to your next wine purchase after you finish reading this article:

  • The most eco-friendly grape in the world?

Well, in the vineyard, Garnacha/Grenache Old vines drought resistant, adaptable and self-sustaining. In fact, we could say it’s a survivor that auto-regulates its needs in poor soils in extreme temperature climates and adapts its production, giving extraordinary concentration. Also, its strong roots delve deep into soil’s natural resources, being a water-stress variety. The varietal is perfectly adapted to the natural conditions of dry healthy winds that prevent diseases such as mildium and oidium, and consequently the use of sulfur treatments during the year.  Moreover, altitude old vines vineyards have proven to resist the effects of climate changes on its production.

  • Encouraged by local winemakers

European producers have understood that Garnacha/Grenache needs to be challenged, forced to sink deep into the soil to look for humidity and nutrients in order to produce high-quality grapes – they thus limit water waste (avoiding irrigation), making wine more sustainably. Some producers, are even successfully experimenting with Garnacha/Grenache without sulfites.

For instance, some PDOs lying in the land of Garnacha such as Cariñena have already used sexual confusion for grape moths, to eliminate the use of insecticides and their consequent contamination to the environment – and, in parallel, to obtain healthy vineyards without any pests or diseases. In fact, they’re even developing a non-invasive ultrasound system for field studies of the water status of the vines for optimized irrigation, which aims at checking the water stress of the vines so that irrigation is only used when necessary, thus improving the quality of  wine and reducing water consumption.

  • EU organic logo

Under the EU organic farming logo, the European Union has developed a regulatory framework that provides conditions under which the organic sector can progress in the line with production and market developments, thus improving and reinforcing the EU organic farming standards and import and inspection requirements.

The main objective of the European logo is to make organic products easier to be identified by the consumers. Next to the new EU organic farming logo, consumers are informed about the place where the agricultural raw material used in this product have been farmed and a code number of the control authorities is also displayed.

Healthy cheers, folks!

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European Quality Certification: PDO, PGI & TSG explained

PDO and PGI products represent excellence in European food production and are both the result of a unique combination of human and environmental factors characteristic of a certain geographical area. For this reason the European union dictates precise regulations for their safeguarding, providing for the institution of specific quality norms that protect consumers and provide producers with concrete instruments to better identify and promote products with specific characteristics and protect them from illegal practices.

These designations are European Union indicators of quality and authenticity in terms of regional origin or traditional production. The wines that qualify have met certain requirements for their technical analysis and have passed an organoleptic assessment (a formal tasting).

Three European Union schemes of geographical indications and traditional specialities, known as protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI), and traditional specialities guaranteed (TSG), promote and protect names of quality agricultural products and foodstuffs. 

They are based on the legal framework provided by the EU Regulation No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs. This Regulation (enforced within the EU and being gradually expanded internationally via bilateral agreements between the EU and non-EU countries) ensures that only products genuinely originating in that region can be identified as such in commerce. The purpose of the law is to protect the reputation of the regional foods, promote rural and agricultural activity, help producers obtain a premium price for their authentic products, and eliminate the unfair competition and misleading of consumers by non-genuine products, which may be of inferior quality or of different flavour.

Protected designation of origin (PDO)

The Protected designation of origin is the name of an area, a specific place or, in exceptional cases, the name of a country, used as a designation for an agricultural product or a foodstuff, which comes from such an area, place or country, whose quality or properties are significantly or exclusively determined by the geographical environment, including natural and human factors, whose production, processing and preparation takes place within the determined geographical area. In other words, to receive the PDO status, the entire product must be traditionally and entirely manufactured (prepared, processed and produced) within the specific region and thus acquire unique properties.

Protected geographical indication (PGI)

The Protected geographical indication is the name of an area, a specific place or, in exceptional cases, the name of a country, used as a description of an agricultural product or a foodstuff, which comes from such an area, place or country, which has a specific quality, goodwill or other characteristic property, attributable to its geographical origin,
whose production, processing or preparation takes place within the determined geographical area. In other words, to receive the PGI status,the entire product must be traditionally and at least partially manufactured (prepared, processed or produced) within the specific region and thus acquire unique properties.

Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG)

The TSG quality scheme aims to provide a protection regime for traditional food products of specific character. Differing from PDO and PGI, this quality scheme does not certify that the protected food product has a link to specific geographical area. To qualify for a TSG a food must be of “specific character” and either its raw materials, production method or processing must be “traditional”. Under Art. 3 of Regulation 1151/12 “specific character” is defined as “the characteristic production attributes which distinguish a product clearly from other similar products of the same category”. Under Art. 3 of Regulation 1151/12 “traditional” is defined as “proven usage on the domestic market for a period that allows transmission between generations; this period is to be at least 30 years”. For a food name to be registrable under the TSG scheme it must (a) have been traditionally used to refer to the specific product; or (b) identify the traditional character or specific character of the product.

Only those products that demonstrate a consolidated and codified production tradition, an inseparable tie with the area of origin, an appropriate socio-entrepreneurial fabric and which succeed in achieving high qualitative levels, certified by external bodies of control, may aspire to obtaining and retaining the sought-after European Community designations and inscription in European register of PDO and PGI products.

Click in if you want to know more about the European Appellations participating on this project!

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US/Asia Tender results announcement

Asociación para la Promoción del Vino de Garnacha – Garnacha Origen and Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR) today announce the final results of Asia and US Tenders, details of which were made public on January 22nd, 2019.

Hereby we thank all participants for their interest and qualitative proposals and congratulate the awarded companies based on the selection criteria:

For further information, please contact:

Sofía T. González Martínez

Programa European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines

sofia.gonzalez@aragonexterior.es

Parque Empresarial Zentro Expo

Avda. de Ranillas, 3A, Oficina 2-A (Antigua C/ Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 63A)

50.018 Zaragoza (España)

Tel: +34 976 221 571

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7 European Quality Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache) wines to Pair with your Takeout

Partner post: Discover the European grape, Garnacha/Grenache
We’re busy. You’re busy. It’s a crazy time of the year! Just because you don’t have time to cook a big dinner, doesn’t mean you can’t have a nice meal paired with wine from the old world. Check out these takeout and European Garnacha wine duos.

Why Grenache wines specifically? We love these European wines because they are authentic and easy to pair with a variety of foods. These food-friendly red, white, rosés, sparkling and vin doux naturel (VDN) or fortified wines aren’t confusing or overbearing. They are satisfying, expressive, and delicious, just like that delivery order that is on its way. Plus, we love that these wines can pair with cuisines from around the world!

Coming from the old world, we love that Garnacha wines are expressive and showcase the storied terroir of Europe – particularly France and Spain, where it was born. Be sure to choose a wine from the European quality PDOs and PGIs regions.

Pizza with Rosés and Red Grenache
Whether you are ordering a pepperoni pizza or a margherita pizza, there’s a Garnacha wine to match. If you’re having a vegetarian pizza, like the margherita, reach for a medium-bodied Grenache rosé. Their fruit-forward aromas and flavors will help the tomatoes and herbs on the pizza really sing. If an Italian sausage or pepperoni pizza is on its way, go for a red Garnacha bottle instead. Because of the heavier toppings, you can go with a bigger red that still has fresh fruit notes. A medium to full-bodied Garnachared wine will do the trick beautifully.

Spicy Indian Food or Thai Food with White Garnacha
So you ordered takeout or delivery from the Thai or Indian place around the corner. Those bold spices are about to warm you up from your head to your toes! Yum. What do you pair with food that has some spice? Choose a white Grenache wine with some richness. Unoaked or oaked, this white wine brings coolness and floral notes that will refresh your palate as you dig into the spicy, rich foods.

Burritos and Medium-Bodied Red Garnacha
When you’re starving and have no time or energy to cook, there are few things more satisfying than grabbing a meat or bean-loaded burrito with plenty of cheese and rice. Choose a red Garnacha to go along with your takeout. Not sure which bottle? Ask someone in the wine section at the store help you pick out one with a medium to full body. Without having too harsh of tannins or too much acidity to overpower the burrito, these medium-bodied reds will be the perfect match to the traditional Mexican spices. Take a bite of burrito, a sip of wine, smile and repeat.

Burger and Full-Bodied Red Grenache 
Americans love burgers. And the only thing we love more than the usual burger is a gourmet burger, loaded with toppings, delivered to our door. To go with your burger, you want a juicy, red, full-bodied wine. The best thing about one of these Grenache wines is that it won’t clash with all the fun toppings you decided to pile on the patty.

Fried Chicken or Chicken Wings with Sparkling Garnacha Cava
Whether it is game day or you are just craving some good, crispy chicken on a weekend, a sparkling Grenache wine is the way to go. When you are in your wine shop, look for a sparkling cava with a label that lists Garnacha as the grape. Choose a light white sparkling wine or a bubbly rosé to keep up with any of the sauces or dips that come with your chicken. Plus, we love how the bubbles dance and scrub the fried chicken grease off of our tongue and keeps our palate from getting overwhelmed between bites. Not to mention, we feel so fun and fancy sipping on flutes of bubbles with our delivery or takeout. Leave it to sparkling wine to elevate a takeout dinner.

Chinese Noodles
This takeout is seriously American comfort food. The white cartons are filled greasy, stir-fried noodles that are perfect with a dry, citruss-forward white Garnacha wine or a dry, still rosé Grenache loaded with fruit notes. Either wine will add some bright acidity to the greasy noodles and make all the flavors of the wine and the food really sing.

Fortified Wines and your Favorite Desserts
Your sweet tooth is pestering you? We understand and we for sure searched out that place around the corner that does a mean brownie, delivers warm cookies or can whip up a dark chocolate lava cake to-go. Fire up you delivery app, search for desserts nearby and open a fortified Grenache wine. The sweetness and rich flavors of these fortified wines, along with their warm aromas are the perfect match to a rich, dark chocolate dessert. Pro tip: this duo is the best way to conclude a date night at home. Dig in!

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of getting a nice meal on the table, have no fear! Call up you favorite takeout spot, open the delivery app on your phone and grab a bottle of European quality Garnacha/Grenache. This versatile European grape is ready to pair with flavors from around the world.

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OPEN CALL FOR TENDERS – US

The European Union co-finances information and promotion programmes for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries in accordance with Regulation (EU) 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council.
These rules lay down the procedure, the agricultural products covered by these programmes and the countries in which they may be developed. Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 sets out the procedure for selecting the implementing body responsible for implementing the programmes.
For the definition and execution of these programmes, the POTENTIAL CONTRACTING ENTITIES hereinbelow seek the collaboration of promotion agencies that will work on the development and execution of the promotion activities incorporated into the programmes if they are finally granted European funding. To this end, a selection process is now initiated, calling for tenders to those agencies who wish to participate and which, on the basis of their merits and experience, could contribute most to the promotion objectives pursued by the POTENTIAL CONTRACTING ENTITIES.

POTENTIAL CONTRACTING ENTITIES are interested in submitting a program linked to the 2019 CALL FOR PROPOSALS MULTI PROGRAMMES for Grants to information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2019/C 18/05), and are selecting subcontractor(s) to develop the so-called “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines Multi Program in US” (“the potential program”).

1. Type of Tender: Open Call for Tender.

2. Potential Contracting entities:

a) ASOCIACION PARA LA PROMOCION DEL VINO DE GARNACHA – “GARNACHA ORIGEN”.

  • VAT No. ES-G99398935
  • Address : Avda/ Ranillas, 3A, Planta 2, Oficina A, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
  • Contact person: Ms Sofía González.
  • Email: sofia.gonzalez@aragonexterior.es

b) CONSEIL INTERPROFESSIONNEL DES VINS DU ROUSSILLON (“CIVR”)

  • VAT No. FR11434310300019
  • Address : 19, Avenue de la Grande Bretagne. 66006 Perpignan, France.
  • Contact person: M. Eric Aracil
  • Email: export1@vins-du-roussillon.com

3. Type of Agreement: Services Agreement

4. Overall Target: Promotion of European Garnacha/Grenache Wines in the US.

5. Target markets: United States of America.

6. Description of Services to be provided by the selected subcontractors: complete preparation, implementation and periodic reporting for the following activities:

  • General activities (including samples, viasuals, materials, preparation, production, implementation and periodic reporting):Fairs (Vinexpo, SommCon, etc.) ( 1.906.000,00 € ) for the promotion of European Quality Garnacha/Grenache Wines:
    • In-store tastings (3 h demos), minimum 900 per year.
    • Press trips
    • Trade trips
    • Walk-around/ roadshows
    • Website
    • Social media
  • Evaluation ( 68.000,00 € )
  • European Garnacha/Grenache International Contest in NY Spring 2020 ( 745.000,00 €), including all related costs, specifically (but not exclusively):
    • 80 quality members of the jury (trade & press: 63 from US, 14 from Canada, 1 from Italy, Spain and France, respectively), with 16 experienced table coordinators.
    • 5 pax/table, 1 somm per table, 2 days +2 backstage bottle prep
    • 16 tables & 80 chairs for the jury
    • 100 spittons to be frequently changed/cleaned
    • Blind tasting stickers (CHAFEAvisuals)
    • Venue (2 days minimum duration) with a seminar room for 100 people, tasting room for the contest (competition tasting hall), backoffice, warehouse, wine coolers/cellar, reception area, etc.)
    • Sufficient washrooms for the jury & staff
    • Catering for all sessions
    • Accommodation and travel costs for the jury (3 nights)
    • Consumer event to present medals and all participating wines (European Garnacha/Grenache gala consumer & PR night)
      • 2 cups/pax, backlit tables for 800-1000 samples
    • Recap video of the contest
    • Official photographer
    • PR diffusion before, during and after the contest (dossier elaboration)
    • Scoring and clasification digital system (100 tablets)
    • IT responsible in-place
    • Sample management and shipment (1000 SKUs, 6 bottles each)
    • Material & decoration design and production following CHAFEA visual regulation.
    • Gifts and other jury elements (informative dossier, lanyard ID, planning, etc.)
    • Adecuate wine glasses (500/day): for whites, rosés, reds, VDN & sparkling
    • Suggested structure of the contests:
      • Day 1: arrival, briefing, seminar abour the varietal and welcome dinner:
      • Day 2: table pressidents brief, 1st tasting & scoring session, meal, technical seminars in the afternoon and dinner.
      • Day: 2nd tasting & scoring session, meal, Gala event for the jury, consumers and PR.
      • Examples of previous editions at:
        • https://vimeo.com/154405857
        • https://vimeo.com/204657542
        • https://vimeo.com/176764677
        • https://vimeo.com/100791828
    • Chosen contest subcontractor must attend Spring 2019 edition (April 17th-18th 2019  at Roussillon, France) at their own cost to experience the event and its needs.

7. Implementation period: 2020-2022.

8. Agreement Term: the Agreement Term will be longer than the implementation period, to allow performance of some obligations surviving same and allowing Program preparation and evaluation.

9. Contract Budget:  2.719.000,00 € Euros.

  • 2.651.000,00 € for the implemenation of activities.
  • 68.000,00 € for Evaluation purposes.

10. Selection criteria of the implementing agency: best value for money while preventing situations where conflict of interest is deemed to occur. The selection of subcontractors will be based, scored and weighted according to the following criteria:

  • Cost effectiveness ……………………………………………… (40 points)
  • Professional experience of the team in the US………………… (30 points)
  • Experience and results in European co-funded projects ……. (20 points)
  • Experience and results in wine promotion campaigns …….. (10 points)

11. Deadline for obtaining information and documents: 22/02/2019 15:00 CET

12. Presentation of offers or requests for participation.

  • Deadline for submission of offers: 24/02/2019 23:59 CET
  • Documentation to submit (entirely written in English):
    • A letter of intent to bid on paper letterhead, dated and signed by the person authorized to bind the company.
    • Summary of economical offer per activity following this template (please fill in the fields in yellow).
    • A detailed Action Plan proposal, including:
      • Description of the proposed activities and methodology to implement the actions (KPIs)
      • Stimated schedule
      • A detailed annual budget expressed in euros
    • Annexes for supporting documentation to substantiate existence, financial and technical capacity as well as experience:
      • A sworn statement on letterhead, dated and signed by the person authorized to bind the company, that the
        candidate has not been banned from bidding or fall under any of the exclusion criteria listed in the basis of the 2019 Call for Multi Proposals, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014.
      • Certificates proving that the bidder is in order with regard to its tax and social obligations at 31 December of the previous year.
      • A statement of overall turnover and the turnover concerning the services to which the contract relates, executed over the past three years in the targeted markets.
      • A list of the main services provided in the past three years in the targeted markets and regarding the wine industry, including the amount, date and recipient (public or private).
      • Team presentation: names of those responsible and performers provide the requested service and professional qualifications (academic and / or professional experience);
  • Place of presentation: by email to be sent in time to the coordinator (sofia.gonzalez@aragonexterior.es) with the subjet “CALL FOR TENDERS – US”.  Each bidder must ensure that the application is successfully submitted before the deadline.

This material must be delivered digitalized in a suitable support. This information should give the tenderer a fair idea of the match between their needs and the agencies’ offers and the agencies’ ability to manage a campaign co-financed by the European Union at both technical and administrative level.

Potential contracting entities will revise every proposal and ask the 3 top ranked finalists per category (WP) under the abovementioned criteria for a digital or in-person audiovisual presentation to be held in Zaragoza (Spain) on 27/02/2019 afternoon (17:00 – 20:00 CET).

13. Contract award: The award will be notified to participants by email and publication in the contracting entities ´websites within a maximum period of thirty (30) days from the deadline for submission of offers.

14. Conditions and next steps:

The aim of this competition is to apply for a promotion programme with European co-financing. The deadline foreseen by the European call implies that a firm and definitive response will not be possible before October 2019. As a result, the selected subcontractors must undertake to maintain the validity of their offer until then and it will not be possible to sign a contract before December 2019.
If funding from the European Union is not guaranteed, the competition will be declared null and void.

This tendering exercise is not remunerated: no financial compensation is provided to applicants whose bids result unsuccessful.

All information sent to successful applicants must be treated as strictly confidential and due to the institutional nature of the data cannot be used for other clients.

Once the final subcontractors are chosen by the end of february 2019, they undertake to assist the potential contracting entities in the preparation of the application for European funds in accordance with the requirements and scales presented in the 2019 CALL FOR PROPOSALS MULTI PROGRAMMES, as well as the information specified in the GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS of multi programmes for co-financing of information and promotion measures implemented in the internal market or in third countries.
Among other matters, but not exclusively, the collaboration will be based in the following sections:

  • Application form: Part B – Technical content
    • Section 2: Products/schemes and market analysis, SWOT
    • Section 3: Action objectives & KPIs
    • Section 4: Action strategy
    • Section 6: Description of activities and analysis of budget positions
    • Section 7: Measurement of results
    • Section 8: management structure

If the applicant is already managing a campaign by an operator in the same sector or a sector or entity which could give rise to a conflict of interest, that operator or entity must give an advance agreement for the applicant to participate in this tender. If this applicant is selected, an advance agreement is also required before accepting any future campaign from an operator in the same sector or from a sector or entity that may give rise to a conflict of interest.

Once the creative work of the successful applicant has been agreed and paid for, it becomes the property of the CONTRACTING ENTITIES without limitation of time or place, and this includes use for all methods of communication and media.

CONTRACTING ENTITIES reserve the right to use creative concepts (images, logos, slogans and domain names) within the context of their other campaigns and without time limitation.

The selected subcontractors must sign a contract with the CONTRACTING ENTITIES. Expenditure may not be incurred until a framework contract has been signed between the tenderer and CHAFEA and a contract between the tenderers and the successful agency.

15. Notice on EU funding: This call for tender is related to CHAFEA´s “Grants to information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council” and subcontractors must comply all obligations and conditions applicable and set out in the Multi-Beneficiary Model Grant Agreement, as well as Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council related legislation, specifically covering liability, indemnification and confidentiality arrangements. 

Final elected implementing body and subcontractors must collaborate to fulfill all terms and conditions mentioned in abovementioned Grant Agreement, including, specifically, all the obligations and conditions in the following related EU regulations available at EC Funding & tender opportunities Portal:

  • Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008.
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1829 of 23 April 2015 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1831 of 7 October 2015 laying down rules for application of Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in the third countries
  • The relevant annual Commission Implementing Decision on the adoption of the work programme for the year in question in the framework of information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries
  • 2019 CALL FOR PROPOSALS MULTI PROGRAMMES
  • EU Financial regulation
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OPEN CALL FOR TENDERS – ASIA

CONTRACTING ENTITIES have entered into a Grant Agreement with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency of the European Union (“CHAFEA”), and are selecting an Agency to develop the so-called “European Garnacha/Grenache Quality Wines Multi Program in Asia” (“the Program”).

1. Type of Tender: Open Call for Tender.

2. Contracting entities:

a) ASOCIACION PARA LA PROMOCION DEL VINO DE GARNACHA – “GARNACHA ORIGEN”.

  • VAT No. ES-G99398935
  • Address : Avda/ Ranillas, 3A, Planta 2, Oficina A, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
  • Contact person: Ms Sofía González.
  • Email: sofia.gonzalez@aragonexterior.es

b) CONSEIL INTERPROFESSIONNEL DES VINS DU ROUSSILLON (“CIVR”)

  • VAT No. FR11434310300019
  • Address : 19, Avenue de la Grande Bretagne. 66006 Perpignan, France.
  • Contact person: M. Eric Aracil
  • Email: export1@vins-du-roussillon.com

3. Type of Agreement: Services Agreement.

4. Overall Target: Promotion of Garnacha/Grenache Wines in some Asian countries.

5. Target markets: China (People’s Republic of), Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea (Republic of), Japan and Singapore.

6. Description of Services to be provided by the selected subcontractors described in the Grant Agreement-825940-G ASIA (please note this is an abridged version for confidentiality reasons. If necessary, the coordinators will provide the complete document by email request) specifically:

  • Implementation of activities under work packages 2 to 5 (both included): Press trips, POS, Stands at trade fairs, Seminars, workshops, B2B meetings, trainings for trade/cooks, activities in schools, Study trips to Europe, Online store, Other events
    and Tasting days.
  • Evaluation (work package 6)

7. Implementation period: 2019-2021.

8. Agreement Term: the Agreement Term will be longer than the implementation period, to allow performance of some obligations surviving same and allowing Program evaluation.

9. Contract Budget:  3.035.901,60 € Euros.

  • 2.930.901,60 € for the implemenation of activities under work packages 2 to 5 (both included).
  • 105.000,00 € for Evaluation (work package 6)

10. Selection criteria of the implementing agency: best value for money while preventing situations where conflict of interest is deemed to occur. The selection of subcontractors will be based, scored and weighted according to the following criteria:

  • Cost effectiveness ……………………………………………… (40 points)
  • Professional experience of the team in Asia ………………… (30 points)
  • Experience and results in European co-funded projects ……. (20 points)
  • Experience and results in wine promotion campaigns …….. (10 points)

11. Deadline for obtaining information and documents: 22/02/2019 15:00 CET

12. Presentation of offers or requests for participation.

  • Deadline for submission of offers: 24/02/2019 23:59 CET
  • Documentation to submit (entirely written in English):
    • A letter of intent to bid on paper letterhead, dated and signed by the person authorized to bind the company.
    • Summary of economical offer per activity following this template (please fill in the fields in yellow).
    • A detailed Action Plan proposal, including:
      • Description of the proposed activities and methodology to implement the actions (KPIs)
      • Stimated schedule
      • A detailed annual budget expressed in euros
    • Annexes for supporting documentation to substantiate existence, financial and technical capacity as well as experience:
      • A sworn statement on letterhead, dated and signed by the person authorized to bind the company, that the
        candidate has not been banned from bidding or fall under any of the exclusion criteria listed in the basis of the 2018 Call for Multi Proposals, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014.
      • Certificates proving that the bidder is in order with regard to its tax and social obligations at 31 December of the previous year.
      • A statement of overall turnover and the turnover concerning the services to which the contract relates, executed over the past three years in the targeted markets.
      • A list of the main services provided in the past three years in the targeted markets and regarding the wine industry, including the amount, date and recipient (public or private).
      • Team presentation: names of those responsible and performers provide the requested service and professional qualifications (academic and / or professional experience);
  • Place of presentation: by email to be sent in time to the coordinator (sofia.gonzalez@aragonexterior.es) with the subjet “CALL FOR TENDERS – ASIA”.  Each bidder must ensure that the application is successfully submitted before the deadline.

This material must be delivered digitalized in a suitable support. This information should give the tenderer a fair idea of the match between their needs and the agencies’ offers and the agencies’ ability to manage a campaign co-financed by the European Union at both technical and administrative level.

Contracting entities will revise every proposal and ask the 3 top ranked finalists per category (WP) under the abovementioned criteria for a digital or in-person audiovisual presentation to be held in Zaragoza (Spain) on 28/02/2019 morning (9:00-13:00 CET).

13. Contract award: The award will be notified to participants by email and publication in the contracting entities ´websites within a maximum period of thirty (30) days from the deadline for submission of offers.

 Phases of the bidding process201920202021
 JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilDecemberJanuaryDecemberJanuaryDecember
ASIATender publication22/01/2019        
Deadline for submission of offers 24/02/2019       
Deadline for obtaining information and documents22/02/2019       
Finalist presentation 28/02/2019       
Communication to the winning bidder(s)  01/03/2019      
Preparation and signing of contracts for the provision of servicesMarch 2019      
Start of implementation of activities   April 2019 1st Jan 2020 1st Jan 2021 
Reporting    Dec 2019 Dec 2020 Dec 2021
End of implementation of activities        Dec 2021

14. Notice on EU funding: This call for tender is related to CHAFEA´s “Grants to information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council” and subcontractors must comply all obligations and conditions applicable and set out in the abovementioned Grant Agreement-825940-G ASIA, as well as Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council related legislation, specifically covering liability, indemnification and confidentiality arrangements. 

Final elected implementing body and subcontractors must collaborate to fulfill all terms and conditions mentioned in abovementioned Grant Agreement, including, specifically, all the obligations and conditions in the following related EU regulations available at EC Funding & tender opportunities Portal:

  • Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008.
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1829 of 23 April 2015 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1831 of 7 October 2015 laying down rules for application of Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in the third countries
  • The relevant annual Commission Implementing Decision on the adoption of the work programme for the year in question in the framework of information provision and promotion measures concerning agricultural products implemented in the internal market and in third countries
  • Annual work programme 2018
  • EU Financial regulation

 

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Synergies between French Grenache and Spanish Garnacha

Synergies between European Garnacha/Grenache wines from Spain and France, and the qualities that bring them together

Image by DinexDesign

One says Garnacha, another bottle reads Grenache. What gives? How can a grape be both Spanish and French? It’s European! Let’s dive into the wonderful world of Garnacha/Grenache wines!

Pro tip: ‘Grenache’ and ‘Garnacha’ both refer to the same European grape. In Spain, it goes by Garnacha, but it is often, but not always, labeled as Grenache once it leaves the Spanish region where it was born.

One of the most planted red grapes in the world Grenache/Garnacha first found its home in northern Spain. Surrounded by mountains, this region has a typical hot, Euro-Mediterranean climate that is ideal for growing these specific grapes. With France nearby, just over the Pyrenees mountains, the Grenache/Garnacha grape found its second home in the Roussillon region of Southern France. Today you will find the grape in more areas and countries than just those two Spanish and French regions where it got its start.

When Grenache/Garnacha was first grown in France, it was strictly to be used in the famed Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (GSM) blends. The Grenache grape brought a certain elegant, bright, fruitiness to the blends that the other grapes could not contribute. We would argue that although Grenache/Garnacha didn’t originate in France, it was the French blends that really brought Grenache/Garnacha to light, elevated its fame and clued people into the grape.

Image by Leah Behr

Along with hot weather, the Grenache/Garnacha grape needs your full attention once it is ready to be harvested. This is true in either country. Most vineyards producing the best wines pride themselves on harvesting the grapes by hand and picking at just the right moment. In the winemaking process, the grapes must undergo a long, slow fermentation at cooler temperatures under the watchful eye of the winemaker in order to keep the terroir expression intact. This will make sure the grapes do not oxidize and lose their bright fruity notes.

Despite the fact that the grapes can go by two different names and is grown in two different regions, European Grenache/Garnacha will always be a thin-skinned grape that flourishes in hot, dry climates. It’s irresistibly juicy with refreshing fruity notes and not too bold of tannins that has created a delicious relationship between two neighboring countries with similar climates and differing cultures. No matter which country or region it comes from, we have a hard time resisting an EU Grenache/Garnacha wine!

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A guide to the different European Garnacha/Grenache Appellations

Image by Dine x Design

Appellations noted on a label can tell you a lot about the wine inside of the bottle and can help point you in the direction of a quality wine. Appellations categorize wines into specific growing regions and assure standards of quality for every wine produced within that region. It also notes that the wine has been grown and made in that certain region, with a certain required grape and that it has abided by the traditional laws and regulations of production of that area. However, because each appellation has a different set of rules, it can be a bit confusing. That’s where PDO and IGP come in.

The logos above are there to denote a PDO, or Protected Designation of Origin and a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication). It has a simple meaning, but an important significance. The European Union’s Agriculture and Rural Development department recognizes specific traditions and qualities of wines across Europe, wines with these logos on the label mean the wine have fit all the qualifications of that PDO or PGI. That’s a good thing for you as a wine drinker! It means you know that bottle in your hand is authentic, of high-quality and follows all the standards required of its growing region.

The Grenache or Garnacha grape can be found in top PDOs in Europe, especially in France and Spain.

Here are some of the most recognizable appellations for European Garnacha/Grenache wines:

Calatayud PDO
Making some white Garnacha wines, refreshingly acidic rosés, and intense reds, the mountainous Calatayud is a beautiful landscape for growing wines with thick skins and low yields. The terroir of this region goes on to make bold Garnacha wines with beautiful acidity and minerality to balance each sip.

Campo de Borja PDO
Campo de Borja is a region that has worked hard to mix modern winemaking techniques while still keeping the terroir in mind and preserving traditions of the past. One of the most well-known regions, they have given themselves the title of the “Empire of Garnacha.” Some of their Garnacha vines are said to date back to 1145. Highlighting Garnacha rosés, a variety of reds, and even sparkling wines, the region is known for intensely fruity and floral wines.

Cariñena
One of the oldest PDO in the region, Cariñena is also the largest of the PDOs with about 1,540 wine growers. While the Cariñena grape is of course important to this PDO, Garnacha makes up a large portion of production as well. With reds, whites, sparkling and rosés, this area is known for full-bodied wines with vibrant red colors and fresh, young fruity flavors.

Somontano 
Much smaller than the previous PDO, Somontano only grows has about 5% of Garnacha in its vineyards. Despite its small size, Somontano is known as the modern PDO, with elegant wines that can be cellared, trendy marketing and a yearly wine festival. Adjacent to the Pyrenees mountains, the area often has extreme weather changes that produce high-quality grapes.

Terra Alta 
Terra Alta is home to most of the white Garnacha grapes grown in the world (70%), but the region also grows red Garnacha grapes too. With plains, plateaus and valleys, the region is home to warm, humid sunshine and cool winds, a perfect wine duo. White wines from Terra Alta are recognizable by their golden yellow color with ripe fruity notes and minerality. It’s a perfect pair with Mediterranean cuisine. Their reds are known to be balanced, interesting and intense.

Roussillon
The Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR) is a French association
(recognized as AOP, Appellation d’Origine Protégée and IGP, Indication Géographique Protégée) that includes 15 AOPs and 3 IGPs: Collioure, Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Côtes du Roussillon Villages les Aspres, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Camarany, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, Maury Sec, Rivesaltes, Maury, Banyuls, Banyuls Grand Cru and Muscat de Rivesaltes, IGP Côtes Catalanes and IGP Côte Vermeilles (a bit of Languedoc and IGP Oc) in Southern France. Roussillon has around 2,200 wine growers, cooperative cellars and 380 private cellars. The vineyards are generally small, averaging 21 acres in size, and 90% of them are managed by their owners. 58% of the agricultural areas of Roussillon are planted with vines. CIVR represents 2.2% of the vineyards in France, and approximately 6% of the Grenache planted in French PDO. It produces white, rosé, red, and, most notably, fortified sweet Grenache wines. Grenache is around 38% of the planted surface in Roussillon.

While each appellation has a specific terroir and produces different Garnacha wines, thanks to the Designations, we can expect red Grenache bottles to be bold and fruity with hints of spice and smooth, balanced tannins. All rosés tend to be acidic with notes of strawberries and white Garnacha wines range from crisp and minerality-loaded to rich and full. The fortified sweet wines made with Garnacha grapes are a perfect complement to rich desserts and fine cheeses – particularly chocolate. These wines fall into every budget and pair with foods of many cuisines. So the next time you are shopping for a bottle of wine, search out a Grenache with the PDO logo!

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Old Vines from the old continent making New Wines: Garnacha & Grenache

by Christy Canterbury MW

Today’s epicenter of Garnacha stretches from its birthplace in Aragon, Spain northeast across the border into France’s Roussillon, where it is known as Grenache. In this small European portion of the globe, Garnacha/Grenache remains a centerpiece in most prevalent wine styles. Twenty years ago a new generation of winemakers gave birth to the dawn of a revolution to revive the Garnacha/Grenache twins as focal points in the tapestry of European quality wine.

HISTORY AND RENAISSANCE

Garnacha/Grenache’s tie to quality wines has endured the centuries. The first known mention of Garnacha/Grenache dates back to 1513. Were it not a noble grape variety, it would have fallen out of favor over the last four centuries, especially after phylloxera. (Yes, it also helped that the variety can be a productive grape, too.) However, Garnacha/Grenache is now in the crescendo of a full-blown, quality-driven renaissance that is certainly its most important yet.

This European quality wine rebirth is centered in Northeastern Spain in the regions of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena (Somontano and Terra Alta, as well as in France’s Roussillon. After all, even today, 97% of the globe’s Garnacha/Grenache is planted here. Moreover, Garnacha/Grenache is the second most-planted grape variety in the world. The abundance of this one grape variety in this area is impressive!

Spain remains a stronghold for the variety, Today, Garnacha is the third most planted variety in Spain. Interestingly, however, it is France, where Grenache is the second most planted variety, that hosts over 50% of the globe’s Grenache plantings.

OBJECTIVES OF THE QUALITY RENAISSANCE

The cornerstones set forth by the new wave of European Garnacha/Grenache winemakers to achieve consistently world-class quality wines are:

  • Protecting old vines
  • Selecting vineyard sites carefully
  • Monitoring yields strictly
  • Controlling alcohol levels
  • Bonding modern winemaking techniques with old traditions
  • Pushing stylistic experimentation through the inherent diversity of Garnacha/Grenache

PROTECTING OLD VINES

Europe holds a treasure trove of old Garnacha/Grenache vines. When these wine regions favored productivity – which often sacrifices quality, old vines were less appreciated because old vines produce less fruit. However, in today’s quest for world-class quality, old vines are cherished. Not only do their low yields produce more concentrated flavor, their well-established, deep root systems deliver better expressions of terroir – especially in mineral-like characters – and better resist increasingly hot weather conditions.

SELECTING VINEYARD SITES CAREFULLY

With regard to changing weather and climate conditions, the wine community is becoming ever more careful about where it develops or redevelops vineyards. Garnacha/Grenache grows well in many different soils, as long as they are low in vigor and well-drained. Humidity in the soils or amidst the vines poses disease pressure problems in this warm grape growing region. Of all soil types, this Mediterranean grape particularly loves schist and clay, both widely found in Northeastern Spain and France’s Roussillon.

The orientation of vineyards is a major change now. Whereas the best vineyard sites used to be south-facing, today many are planting with southeast and even northern exposures to help combat rising summer temperatures.

Additionally, higher altitudes and locations closer to the sea are being sought out to relieve vineyards of heat stress. Garnacha/Grenache needs a long growing season to ripen. However, when too much heat accumulates too quickly, the grapes’ acidity can drop dramatically before the fruit is fully mature.

MONITORING YIELDS STRICTLY

Garnacha is a generous producer, but winemakers today are in search of quality over quantity. When yields are restricted – particularly by old vines and poor soils as found in Spain and France, the wines’ flavors are more concentrated. Additionally, their colors improve. This is in part because Garnacha/Grenache has thin skin and low anthocyanin (color) levels. With smaller grapes, Garnacha/Grenache wines have better developed color. Furthermore, with smaller grapes having a lower grape juice to skin ratio, the grapes’ tannins can help structure the wines, supporting Garnacha/Grenache’s frequently restrained acidity.

CONTROLLING ALCOHOL LEVELS

Winemakers are trying to control alcohol levels more carefully today in still wines. This is a challenge as Garnacha/Grenache generally ripens at 14-16% abv. This is both a quest for better balance given the naturally light acidity and low tannin of Garnacha/Grenache, as well as a stylistic preference of many consumers, who today wish to be more careful about their alcohol intake. Additionally, more carefully balanced alcohol levels tend to give wines better drinkability with food.

BONDING MODERN WINEMAKING TECHNIQUES WITH OLD TRADITIONS

Research and education as well as tradition inform the new generation of winemakers in their work with Garnacha/Grenache. This applies to both vineyard and cellar work. From rootstocks to vegetative material to vineyard site and situation, growers are able to make better-informed decisions today with a wider range of solutions. This also follows in the management of the vineyards. For example, leaf canopy management can be customized to slow ripening and maintain acidity.

In the winery, temperature-controlled fermentation is de rigueur and maintaining excellent cellar hygiene – from transfer lines to barrels – is of utmost importance. Many wineries, especially the cooperatives, have state-of-the-art equipment, including computerized tanks and highly sophisticated bottling lines.

PUSHING EXPERIMENTATION THROUGH THE INNATE DIVERSITY OF GARNACHA/GRENACHE

Garnacha/Grenache is marvelously diverse. The array of colors and styles of wines it can produce is hardly new. However, European winemakers continue to experiment during this era of redefining top quality Garnacha/Grenache.

EVOLUTION IN THE CRADLE OF GARNACHA/GRENACHE

Both independent wineries and cooperatives are engaged in the quality renaissance of European Garnacha/Grenache, both in the vineyards and in the wineries of the cradle of this very old grape variety. Today’s grape growers and winemakers in Northeastern Spain and Roussillon have a new understanding of the variety through research and education, as well as decades of inherited experience from family members steeped in the traditions of growing Garnacha/Grenache grapes and making its many wine styles.

While some changes in winegrowing and winemaking produce immediate results, many more require a longer horizon for the benefits to surface. Twenty years into the renaissance of Garnacha/Grenache, and we can truly taste the crescendo in quality.

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News

The enduring renown of European Grenache/Garnacha

By Frédéric Arnould

What’s not to love about Grenache, the versatile European grape variety that has been able to adapt to so many different terroirs, vinification techniques and winemaking styles? Whether you call it Grenache, Garnacha or, like some, “the Pinot Noir of the South,” this ever-more-popular grape is more than a passing trend.

 

The variety is widely grown around the world. Because it thrives in dry soils without the extensive irrigation required for many other grapes, Garnacha-based wines are increasingly eco-friendly—a quality that’s becoming more and more important for today’s consumers.

All colours for any occasion 

It’s easy to forget that Garnacha is not only a red wine grape. Varieties exist in many different colours.

Whether blended or monovarietal, Granacha expresses itself wonderfully in reds, whites, rosés, sparkling wines, dessert wines and Vins Doux Naturels. Indeed, you can happily spend a whole evening sipping nothing but European Garnacha. A sparkling Garnacha white or voluptuous rosé as an apéritif, a mineral white with hints of salt served with an appetizer of fish and a strong red paired with grilled meat—wine lovers will appreciate this variety’s many facets. Capping off the meal with a European amber or fortified red, a Grenache with velvety notes of blackcurrant and baked blackberry is exquisite alongside aged cheddar, blue cheese or any chocolate dessert. Is your mouth watering yet?

European terroir wines

Grenache grown in sandy soils is known for its light tannins. In high-altitude limestone terroirs, it takes on a pleasant freshness and mineral notes. The full-bodied varieties cultivated in stony soils with heat-retaining rocks that warm the grapes at night possess a deep and pronounced fruitiness.

Under the added influence of a Mediterranean European climate, you can see why Garnacha is an ideal choice for so many top wines produced in France and Spain.

Ever more refined

For several years now, winemakers in northeastern Spain and southern France have been honing their techniques. Garnacha has benefited from upgraded facilities, ongoing improvements to production standards and the push for European vineyards to stay competitive on the international market. Thanks to these developments’ great success, this grape continues to surprise and its appeal endures.

The success of European PDOs and IGPs 

Garnacha’s European birthplace has worked to make consumers fall in love with this unique and versatile grape from a distinctly recognizable vine. Sometimes more than a hundred years old, Grenache vine stocks are often twisted and weathered, embodying the variety’s impressive resistance to time and setbacks.

Northeastern Spain and the Somontano region are credited with bringing this grape to the world. The continental climate tempered by the Pyrenees mountains has a wide temperature range between day and night, which brings a nice complexity to the wine.

Grenache thrives in the Cariñena appellation, where it is widely planted for both reds and rosés. This is another area where significant night and day temperature differences allow grapes to mature slowly and produce well-structured wines. The region is home to “vino de las piedras” (wine of stones), thanks to its stony soil that captures the sun’s heat during the day and warms the grapes overnight.

In the Campo de Borja appellation, located between La Rioja and Catalonia, Garnacha vines have proven able to thrive in the unique Spanish terroir, offering some of the best value for money as they are exported around the world. Tempranillo varieties may even see themselves unseated in time, as the region’s iconic winemakers seek to reinforce Garnacha’s pedigree. Fans of both French and Spanish vinification techniques can appreciate the elegance of Garnacha’s flavour and its hints of rustic spice. The best of both worlds!

And what about Garnacha Blanca, cultivated in the terroir of the Terra Alta appellation? A third of the worldwide production of this white variety takes place in the region. These wines are delicate on the nose, but only reveal their true potential on the palate, with a burst of complex and intense flavours to thrill your taste buds. They also age surprisingly well. As for Catalayud, this intense red Garnacha is mainly known for its notes of fleshy fruits and strong structure, but also offers a nice minerality thanks to its unique high-altitude terroir.

There is also an inspiring tradition of Grenache cultivation in Roussillon, the enchanting region of France dominated by the Canigou, the Catalans’ sacred mountain. The region boasts an ideal Mediterranean climate with an average of 320 sunny days per year, a wide variety of terroirs and a winemaking tradition that dates back nearly 3,000 years. It’s no wonder Grenache has flourished there, accounting for 38% of the region’s viticultural surface area today.

An example of adaptation? Over 15 years ago, growers of the Maury appellation changed direction to favour dry wines, adjusting production trends to match evolving consumer interests. The Maury Sec appellation was officially introduced in 2011. These Roussillon vineyards were able to counteract dwindling demand for fortified wines such as porto, Madeira and Muscat—a great example of updating vinification methods to get ahead of market trends and consumer habits.

Intensity and “drinkability”

Spicy, full-bodied European wines with a strong structure to enjoy with good company with grilled meat; fresh reds with rich, luscious notes of fruit; silky or bright whites or rosés—Grenache offers something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in “drinkability” or not, the intense aromas and exquisite flavours in a glass of red, white or rosé Grenache are sure to impress.

And of course, the pleasure of a distinctively European wine never fails to satisfy.

Frédéric Arnould is passionate about wine.

He has a constant desire to expand his knowledge to the public as a journalist, columnist, holder of the prestigious Wine and Spirit Education Trust Diploma (WSET) and sommelier accredited by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers. Based in Montreal, he constantly update his blog in order to share his love for the taste of fine wines on his web site  toutsurlevin.ca.

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L’éternel renouveau du Garnacha/Grenache européen

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Par Frédéric Arnould

Comment ne pas tomber en amour avec le Grenache, ce cépage Européen si polyvalent qui a toujours su s’adapter aux différents terroirs, techniques de vinification et styles des vignerons. Qu’on l’appelle Grenache ou Garnacha, il est bien plus que ce que certains appellent « le pinot noir du Sud », car le Grenache transcende les modes et gagne sans cesse en popularité !

 Ce cépage est extrêmement répandu dans le monde et comme il est très résistant à la sécheresse, les vins à base de Garnacha méritent l’étiquette de plus en plus recherchée de vins écoresponsables. Nul besoin en effet, de procéder à des irrigations massives comme pour d’autres cépages plus gourmands.

De toutes les couleurs et pour toutes les occasions

On l’oublie peut-être mais le Garnacha ne se limite pas qu’au vin rouge : elle existe sous une grande variété de couleurs.

Tantôt assemblé, tantôt en monocépage, la Garnacha s’exprime merveilleusement dans du rouge, du blanc, du rosé, des effervescents, des liquoreux et des Vins Doux Naturels. Bonne nouvelle : on peut très bien passer une soirée entière à ne boire que du Grenache / Garnacha d’Europe. Un blanc effervescent de Garnacha ou un rosé gourmand pour commencer à l’apéritif, un blanc minéral presque salin pour accompagner une entrée de poisson et un bon rouge pour accompagner une viande grillée, tout est là pour convaincre les amateurs. Sans oublier en fin de repas un vin européen ambré ou rouge muté, dont on apprécie tellement le grenache velouté aux arômes de cassis, de mûres cuites pour bien encadrer un cheddar âgé, des fromages bleus et tous les desserts au chocolat. Ça fait saliver, non ?

Des vins de terroir européens

Cultivé sur les sols sablonneux, on apprécie les tanins discrets du Grenache. Sur des terroirs calcaires en altitude, on raffole de sa fraîcheur et son impression de minéralité. Alors que dans le cas d’une culture dans un sol rocailleux où abondent les galets qui se gorgent de chaleur pendant la journée pour réchauffer la vigne le soir venu, le cépage prendra toute une envergure avec son fruité concentré et profond.

Ajoutez le climat méditerranéen européen à cette diversité de solset vous obtenez le portrait idéal pour produire des vins de haut calibre en provenance de France et d’Espagne.

De plus en plus de raffinement

 Depuis quelques années, tant les producteurs du Nord-Est espagnol que du Sud de la France ont affiné leurs techniques d’élaboration de leurs vins. Le Garnacha a ainsi pu profiter de la modernisation des chais, d’une amélioration continue des normes de production et d’une volonté des vignerons Européens de rester concurrentiels sur les marchés internationaux. Et ce besoin de se renouveler sans cesse fonctionne très bien puisque le cépage continue d’étonner et de convaincre.

Le succès des AOPs et IGPs européennes

Le berceau européen du Garnacha a souvent mis le cap sur la séduction pour convaincre les consommateurs de la polyvalence et de la spécificité de ce raisin provenant d’une vigne reconnaissable entre toutes. Parfois plus que centenaires, les pieds de vignes de grenache sont souvent vus entortillés et travaillés par le temps, symbole d’une impressionnante résistance face au temps et aux obstacles.

Que ce soit dans le Nord-Est de l’Espagne ou encore dans la région aragonaise de Somontano, il s’agit de l’endroit phare du renouveau de ce cépage où le climat continental est tempéré par la chaîne des montagnes Pyrénées, offrant à la vigne des différences de températures entre le jour et la nuit, ce qui confère au vin une belle complexité.

Massivement planté dans l’appellation Cariñena, le grenache y prospère allègrement que ce soit pour ses vins rouges ou rosés. Là encore, la différence de températures entre le jour et la nuit assure une maturation plus lente des raisins et aide à doter le vin d’une bonne structure. Dans cette région où l’on produit le « vino de las piedras » (vin des pierres), le sol rocailleux capte la chaleur diurne et irradie de sa chaleur les raisins pendant la nuit.

Dans l’appellation Campo de Borja, située entre la Rioja et la Catalogne, cette vigne semble avoir réussi à exploiter les typicités du terroir espagnol, tout en exportant à travers le monde certains des meilleurs rapports qualité-prix de la planète. Et le tempranillo n’a qu’à bien se tenir car les vignerons emblématiques de la région veulent plus que jamais graver les lettres de noblesse de leur Garnacha. Ceux qui apprécient à la fois le style de vinification français et espagnol ont l’occasion de goûter dans cette région l’élégance de la Garnacha avec un petit côté rustique et épicé. Le meilleur des deux mondes, non ?

Et que dire de la garnacha blanca cultivée dans le terroir de l’appellation Terra Alta? Un tiers de la production mondiale du cépage blanc serait concentrée dans cette région. Plutôt délicats au nez, les vins qui surprennent par leur capacité de bien vieillir, ne révèlent pleinement leur potentiel qu’en bouche alors qu’un festival de complexité et d’intensité prend d’assaut vos papilles. Quant à Catalayud, l’intense garnacha rouge se distingue par ses notes de fruits charnus, sa charpente ferme, mais aussi par la minéralité qu’elle dégage, gracieuseté de son terroir d’altitude unique.

Dans le Roussillon, coin magique de la France où domine le Canigou, la montagne sacrée des catalans, on ne peut aussi que s’émouvoir de la culture de la vigne de Grenache. Avec son climat méditerranéen parfait grâce à ses meilleures moyennes climatiques annuelles qui lui accordent 320 jours d’ensoleillement par an, grâce à ses terroirs très variés et un savoir-faire viticole depuis 28 siècles, tout y est pour l’épanouissement de ce cépage qui occupe aujourd’hui près de 38% des surfaces de vignes.

Un exemple d’adaptation ? Il y a plus de 15 ans, les vignerons de l’appellation Maury ont négocié tout un virage, celui qui mène vers les vins secs. La tendance de production a suivi la courbe d’intérêt des consommateursen créant officiellement l’appellation Maury sec en 2011. Cette zone du Roussillon, comme l’ensemble de son vignoble, a ainsi pu contrer la baisse de l’intérêt pour les vins mutés comme le porto, le madère et les muscats. Encore une fois, une preuve de la modernisation des méthodes de vinification afin d’anticiper les aléas du marché et les envies des consommateurs.

Intensité et « buvabilité »

Que l’on aime les vins européens corsés et épicés à la charpente bien bâtie pour déguster en bonne compagnie autour d’une viande braisée, les rouges tout en fraîcheur axés sur le fruit gourmand et gouleyant ou encore les blancs ou rosés soyeux ou vifs, il est assez facile de trouver son bonheur avec le Grenache. Que l’on cherche la « buvabilité » ou pas, ce qui reste dans le verre, c’est l’intensité aromatique et la gourmandise de ce cépage tant en rouge, qu’en blanc, et qu’en rosé.

Et surtout le plaisir sans cesse renouvelé de savourer un bon vin distinctif de qualité européenne.

Frédéric Arnould est passionné de vins.

Désirant faire découvrir au public les richesses du monde vinicole, il est journaliste, chroniqueur, détenteur du prestigieux Diploma du Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) et sommelier accrédité par l’Association Canadienne des Sommeliers Professionnels).

Basé à Montréal, il adore partager ses connaissances et le goût des bons vins sur son site toutsurlevin.ca.

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