Is my Name Grenache? Sowing Seeds & Laying Down Roots
– the grenache expansion diaries
I am not sure what my true birth name is... Maybe Garnacha Tinto, maybe Cannonau. It is disputed. This makes me maybe Spanish, maybe Italian, Sardinian to be specific.
There are a few theories. If I am from Sardinia, the large Italian Mediterranean Island south of Corsica, I would have left to sow my seeds in Spain (wink, wink) when Sardinia was under Aragon rule from 1297 to 1713. Alternatively, I was born in Aragon near the city of Zaragoza, in Northern, Spain, and since the Aragon Kingdom was of the colonising type, I hitched a ride to many places.
Rioja was likely the first place as it is a hop, a skip, and a jump away from Aragon. Then I went to the Pyrenees regions such as the Spanish Catalunya sub regions like Priorat which are south of the mountain range, and the South of France wine sub-regions, north of the Pyrenees mountains, which was then part of Spain (now France).
When in France I use the name Grenache! Pretty, hein? I think it has Panache, the name Grenache! Yeah, I am popular in France. I am second most planted after that Merlot dude.
But why stop there? I wanted to see more! I set my sights on the southern Rhone Valley where I hung out with the popes when they were there for a bit starting in the 14th century. Then just a little further east to Provence, in the proximity of Marseille!
All this is insignificant really. All I know is that I have travelled and when I do … I lay down my roots (get it?)
Groan! Oh my, I am not sure how I feel about this post so far.
I like it warm! Hence my focus on the Mediterranean places. I am okay with drought – I am tough that way. I thought I met my match in the Rhone Valley with that devil of wind they call the Mistral – that wind is literally known to make people crazy – but no match for me! Like I said – I lay down roots, likely sometimes deep! Maybe the popes were praying for me as they truly liked me. I am now the dominant one in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. Prestigious don’t you think!
I am not easily impressed but since I am here, why don’t you tell me what you are like?
I identify as red but sometimes rosé. I like to keep to myself, but sometimes I blend in with others. Everyone likes a little romance, you know? I particularly have a thing for Syrah and when I am in Australia, Shiraz.
Aren’t Syrah and Shiraz the same grape?
Yes, but Syrah feels more like a Shiraz when down under. She thinks Shiraz has pizzazz! It’s a question of style … wine style! Regardless, it is not uncommon to bring in a third player.
Let me guess, a little ménage à trois???
Let’s just say Mourvèdre, who identifies as Monastrell in Spain and Mataro down under, is definitely a favorite third. Although to be honest, sometimes the third is Carignan, or Cinsault.
I typically come across as red fruit flavored, not typically highly tannic yet I sometimes have a fuller body mainly because of my relatively lower acidity and higher alcohol. (Hick!)
I am also a little pale, they say I don’t have as much pigmentation in my skin! Likely why it is not uncommon for me to be rosé! Have you heard of Provence rosé?
Yes.
Yeah, that is me, sometimes Cinsault gets involved. I am also a main player in rosés from Tavel and Lirac French sub-regions. I am involved in the Spanish rosé scene too for that matter, unless Tempranillo gets the part. He is number uno in Spain, as you learned last week.
Okay, let’s wrap this up, I have had just about enough of you. I suppose you are the main performer in the featured wine.
Mais oui! And today I am using my French name Grenache and I play with my friend Carignan. Oh, and Caldoc is here too, no one really knows him, he is a little elusive that way.
This wine gives more than you may expect. It is very popular at the store; when we sell out and forget to reorder we hear about it! The wine’s name and the label crack me up. ‘Le gras c’est la vie’ means ‘Fat is life!’ The little pig just staring at us with sausage above him is simply fitting. Enjoy!
Le gras c’est la vie 2022 from Mediterranean France
Style: Old World Medium (plus) Body Red
Varieties: 55% Grenache, 35% Caladoc, & 10% Carignan
This enigmatic wine is a wine of opposites. The black fruit (cassis and blackberry) contrasts the sour red fruit (under ripe berries & rhubarb). The earthy notes of malt, meat, & herbs balance out those sweet qualities of cinnamon & milk chocolate. The moderately high crunchy tannins add tension to the ensemble!
Best pairings: Beef Bourguignon (or a different hearty stew), Roasted Chicken with Gravy, Sausage, Ratatouille, Cheeses such as Monterey Jack, Swiss, or Gouda.
Serving Temperature: 14 degrees Celsius
Price: ~$26 Cdn (incl. Shades of Grape 15% discount & 5% gst)
Serving Tips: This wine shines with food - a classic old world style.
I have compiled all my wine recommendations in one place. I will do my best to keep this up to date. I also include the link(s) to the article in which the wine was featured.
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SOURCES:
Robinson, J. (2015) The oxford companion to wine. 4th rev. ed. Corby: Oxford University Press.
Wine & Spirit Education Trust (2021) D3: Wines of the World - An accompaniment to the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. Version 1.2. London: Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Horribly cheesy? Charming and playful? I'm not sure how I feel about this post, either! But I'm unlikely to forget it, so there's that. I need to go Google "Caladoc" now....