WINO 101

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to another weekly edition of the Carpe Vinum Weekly Edition and Addition of Tasting Announcement! This week it’s one of my favorite tastings of the year. And it’s one I found I’ve done about this time of year, every year. It’s Grenache, the superstar grape of the French Rhone and other international points of interest. “And why Grenache this time of year?” you may ask. Well, it’s something about the autumn, when there is a crispness in the air (just before it heats back up to 80 degrees during the day) and the turning of the leaves that just asks for a wine of bold, spicy, rustic character. To me Grenache just says “October”.

And just what is a “Grenache”? It’s a grape. Pronounced “gren-AASH”. (I don’t know how to type those dictionary letter-symbol thingies, like the accents and the little hats. Sorry.) Apparently Grenache is the world’s most widely grown grape, but not the most widely known grape. The place where it is best known is in the Southern Rhone of France as the backbone grape of the regions of Gigondas, Chateauneuf du Pape, and Cotes du Rhone. In fact, if you ever hear anyone refer to a “Rhone Blend”, or a “Rhone-Style”, they’re mostly referring to a Grenache-based blend (usually blended with Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and some 20-or-more other grape varietals.)

Although the French Rhone is where the grape is best-known, the most likely origin of the grape is actually Spain, where it is known as Garnacha (not much of a stretch linguistically). Spain does grow about 3 times as much of the grape as France, and it is the major player in much of the Northern Spanish reds, as in Catalunya and specifically in Priorat. I’ve read in places that it is the major player in Spain’s quintessential region of Rioja, but most of the Rioja I’ve experienced has been dominated by Tempranillo, so that “fact” remains disputable.

Speaking of disputable, and to confuse the matter further, the grape is known as Cannonau on Italy’s island of Sardinia. The Sardinians then claim that the grape’s origin is theirs, and that Spain acquired it during the four centuries when Spain controlled Sardinia. Maybe they should have written that stuff down so they wouldn’t have to argue about it. Ah, well. But to simplify things a bit, it’s also grown in California, Oregon, Washington and Australia, as well as elsewhere in the world, and there’s little dispute of where THEY got it from. They just grow it.

So for my Grenache tastings, I like to do a tour of the world, and feature Grenache/Garnacha/Cannonau from the many places where it is grown to showcase the different styles and versatility of the grape, and the potential of it in good hands. I’ve got two from Spain, including one from the legendary Priorat. There are two from the French Rhone, one of which is a Cotes du Rhone from Chateauneuf producer Rayas (I’d have poured his TRUE Chateauneuf du Pape, but it retails for about $140. For that cost, it better TASTE like gold. So for the rest of us not on a Bill-Gates-type-budget, Rayas’ Cotes du Rhone ought to be tasty enough.) I also have an Sardinian Cannonau, and a Grenache each from Australia and California. It’s going to be a delicious set of wines!

So Friday, October 6th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Grenache/Garnacha/Cannonau!!!
Vinos Sin-Ley 2005 Garnacha, Terra Alta, Spain
Scala Dei 2004 Negre, Priorat, Spain
Ross Estate 2003 Old Vine Grenache, Barossa, Australia
Domaine la Garrigue 2004 Vacqueyras, Rhone, France
Argiolas 2004 Costera Cannonau, Sardegna, Italy

Grenache!!!
Rayas 2003 Cotes du Rhone, France
Opolo 2003 Grenache, Paso Robles, California

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Italy’s Piedmont!

M