Grenache ripens late and shows itself adept at creating great wine in a number of locations, ranging from the Cote du Rhone in France to the Barossa Valley of Australia, frequently seen in the company of Syrah and Mourvedre, recently incorporated as GSM Ltd.
Early bud-break and a long ripening season sometimes encourage the variety to produce potent alcohol levels, although when the wine is made from reduced yields, this does not always pose a balance-problem. Spicy and berryish, signs point to an origin either as Tinto Aragons or as Cannonau (from Sicily).
In California the Grenache showed itself adaptable even to the swelteringly hot San Joaquin valley, although those wines were anything but distinguished. This variety has recently shown great promise in the Horse Heaven Hills of Washington.
