This month I’ve decided to feature a grape variety I’ve been enjoying exploring over here in Australia…Grenache!
It’s often easy to stick to a variety you know but there are over 10,000 different wine grape varieties in the world today and even within varieties many different wine styles. I am a big advocate of trying different things and I’ve been loving exploring the many, many varieties and styles made here in Aus.
Grenache is a variety I had drunk very little of back in the UK – it’s original home is Spain (often called Garnacha), but the Southern Rhone is where it is most prominent in Europe today. However, it was one of the original varieties planted in Australia back in the 1800s and today is seeing a strong resurgence. It is a versatile variety creating different styles which makes it a great one to explore. Increasing in popularity is Grenache Rosé, the traditional GSM blend – Grenache/ Shiraz/ Mataro (or Mourvèdre if you’re in France!) – as well as single variety Grenache wines. These wines can range from medium-bodied to quite rich and flavourful, and from fruity to more savoury styles.
If you’ve been reading any of my blog posts of late you might have noticed that I’ve started doing some work with Alkina in the Barossa Valley and they have some excellent examples of these styles. You can read more about their wines here.
But my quest with these posts is to find great examples in the UK to try…so a few suggestions as follows:
Majestic
Not one I’ve tried myself but Majestic actually make an Australian GSM in their definition range. This is a great range of wines to try if you want to find classic examples of the style represented at fantastic prices. Apparently this wine is made by two Masters of Wine in South Australia, according to the Majestic website, there are only six MWs in total in Adelaide!
The Wine Society
Limited choice of Aussie Grenache on the site but they do have Whistler Wines Grenache, which is a fellow Barossan Grenache made in a lighter style. Whistler Wines also suffered pretty heavily from flash flooding earlier this year so I know they’d be appreciative of the support!
A small selection of Australian Grenache offerings can also be found at Philglas & Swiggot and Berry Brothers with a much greater selection at specialist Australian wine supplier The Vinorium. Interesting to see how few examples are readily available over in the UK…one to watch, there are some fantastic examples over here which I’m sure will be making their way over the pond very soon!