Grape Variety: Grenache Blanc

Colour: White

Grenache Blanc is a major variety in its own right, particularly in France, where it is an important component of many white wines from the Rhône. It is often blended with Roussanne.

Native to northeast Spain, Grenache Blanc is planted throughout the French and Spanish Mediterranean basin, most prevalently on either side of the Pyrenees. Though the vine’s acreage in the two countries is roughly the same, it is apparently France’s third most important white variety but only Spain’s ninth.

The vine is hardy, easily-cultivated, vigorous and resistant to coulure, or the failure of the flowers to develop into berries. It thrives in hot, arid, windy conditions on rocky soils but in this environment is threatened by a naturally low acidity. When yield is intelligently restricted, the fruit offers abundant fruit extract and alcohol but oxidizes easily. Properly vinified at low temperatures and without malolactic fermentation, it yields an attractive, fleshy, generously fruity wine with a fragrance of flowers and dill.

In both the French D.O.C. and Spanish D.O. appellations where it is present, Grenache Blanc is part of a blend with other grape varieties. In France, it contributes significantly to white Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes-du-Rhône, and to a minor extent in the red versions of these wines and Tavel Rosé. In Spain, it is an important component of the white wines of Navarra and Aragón and also contributes to the blends of Priorato and Alella

Grenache Blanc is significant constituent of the white wines from Chateau Mourgues du Gres. Galets Dores sees it twinned with Roussanne sur lie. The Grenache vineyards are on slopes and terraces (grès is sandstone) interspersed with loose white pebbles called Galets which reflect the heat back onto the vines. Northern exposition provides a cooler microclimate tofor the vine to flourish in. Traditional vinification in stainless steel allowing expression of the grape and the terroir. The wine is a lovely mixture of fruit and freshness with lemon citrus notes, white flowers and a touch of exotic fruit (grapefruit). Possible food soul-mates would be crayfish in a bouillon sauce, grilled sardines, veal with peaches, pork with pineapple, Cantal, goat’s cheese.The Terres d’Argence cuvée has less Grenache, more Roussanne and some Viognier. This is a beautiful combination, the different varieties harmonising to produce a complex wine with superb finesse. Ample and generous with aromatic fruit displaying limeflower and apricots, full in the mouth with clean minerality. Long finish. Scallops, blanquette de veau with girolles, goat’s cheese with honey are on the menu du jour.

Chateauneuf Blanc, Clos Saint Michel is Grenache Blanc with Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne. Lovely vermouth nose, also notes of beeswax, apricot and pear; it is full-flavoured yet subtle with floral tones, gently waxy fruit and herbs (fennel). The grape appears throughout the Southern Rhone and the Languedoc and is particularly prominent in the Roussillon. Olivier Pithon’s Cuvee Lais (named after a jersey cow) is Macabeu, Grenache Gris and Grenache Blanc grown on schist-scarped soils from yields as low as 15hl/ha. Mango, pink grapefruit and citrus arc across the palate allied to the hint of wild herbs within a yogurty texture. La “D 18”, named poetically after the little road that winds next to the tiny vineyard, twins Grenache Blanc with Grenache Gris. The wines are raised in a mixture of new, one and two year old barrels as well as some demi-muids. “Grenaches particuliers pour Elevage particulier pour Reflexion Particulière pour Boisson particulière sur Route Particulière donc Plaisir particulier.” We think you’ll agree with those sentiments, particularly. Extraordinary wine – apples, almonds, and honeysuckle, slightly sherry aromas, on the palate notes of fennel.

Artesano Blanco, from the schist and slate soils of Terra Alta, is a blend of Garnacha Blanca and Macabeu. It is straw-yellow with aromas of pineapple, grapefruit and crystallised lime, full-bodied on the palate with a good leesy cut of pickled ginger and white pepper. As the wine warms in the glass the citrus flavours are replaced by sweet fig and melon.

Grenache Blanc can also make excellent sweet fortified wines. Grand Roussillon from Chateau de Jau is an exotic orange coloured, tangerine marmalade-flavoured wine made from late-harvested Grenache Blanc and fermented in open-topped containers.  Vieux Rivesaltes VDN, Gérard Bertrand is a russet-coloured, aromas of gentian, candied citrus, plum spirit, roasted hazelnuts and walnuts, gingerbread, caramel and brown tobacco with a nifty nip of acidity to help the medicine go down. Drink with macerated fruits or cheeses or collapse, if you must, into your favourite armchair with a stogie, and wreath yourself in plumes of smoke and smiles.