Close Menu
News

All the winners from the Global Grenache Masters 2023

From good-value quaffers to wines of substance, the diversity offered by Grenache was on full show at this year’s blind tasting, as Patricia Stefanowicz MW discovers.

Although there are nearly 200,000 hectares globally, making it the seventh most widely planted grape variety in the world, Grenache goes unrecognised by many consumers, even though they drink quite a lot of it. There are a few reasons for this contradiction. Firstly, the varietal name is rarely seen on a wine label. In Europe, where the vast majority of Grenache is planted, Grenache is buried in the AOP regulations. Garnacha Tinta, as it’s known in Spain, is a staple in the three sub-regions of Rioja and, in southern France, Grenache Noir is the mainstay of most red wines. Even in Australia, where Grenache has long been planted and vineyard area is increasing, the name is often buried as ‘GSM’ (Grenache-Shiraz-Mataro) on wine labels.

Grenache, from its presumed birthplace of Spain, has expanded to so many regions because it thrives in hot and dry climates. Our Global Grenache Masters investigated wines hailing from Australia, South Africa and California, to name just a few, taking in samples made from Grenache Noir (Garnacha Tinta), Grenache Blanc (Garnacha Blanca) and even some blends with Grenache Gris (Garnacha Roja).

When well-made, Grenache Blanc has lemon custard and orange blossom, zippy acidity and creamy texture. It works nicely in Australia, and in Rioja is a foil for Tempranillo Blanco. Whether unoaked or made with judicious use of older oak, it can make intriguing wines.

Grenache Noir, with its juicy, sweet fruit, provides the alcohol, red berry character and lively acidity to balance the tannic, herbal-scented, black-fruited Syrah.

Together, these two varieties form most southern French blends, with occasional additions of dense Mourvèdre, floral Cinsault, and/or structured Carignan. In this year’s judging, we found that unoaked Grenache from France or Australia gives exceptional value at under £20. Those from France are a little more structured; those from Australia packed with sweet fruit.

Many of the big Rhône producers make great-value Côtes-du-Rhône AOC wines based on this variety. Guigal, Vidal-Fleury and Chapoutier are reliable labels to look out for. We also judged some very attractive wines from Domaine de Coyeux, in the Beaumes-de-Venise AOC. Other crus, such as Cairanne, Vinsobres or Rasteau, are also worth searching out. At £10-£18, these wines are exceptional.

In South Australia, McLaren Vale delivers red berry and plum fruit with tobacco and black pepper spice from Shiraz blended in. GSM wines from South Australia, especially the Barossa, are superb; they have clarity and balance of fruit, gentle oak, good acidity and supple, though abundant, tannins.

Spain produces brilliant Garnacha and Garnacha-based blends at all price points. Garnacha Tinta is the major variety in Rioja Oriental, not far from Barcelona. Garnacha also shows its perfection in the highlands of Rioja Alavesa around the towns of Sanmaniego, Laguardia, Leza, Badiola or Viana, adding weight and breadth to the ubiquitous Tempranillo Tinto. A little further south, the mountains of Priorat, at an altitude of 600-800m, are a true homeland for unblended Garnacha, as we discovered with artisanal gem Creu Celta from Celler en Números Vermells, a snip at under £25. Meanwhile, Scala Dei, a collection of vineyards centred around a 12th-century monastery, makes pricy but perfect examples of pure Garnacha.

Grenache also forms the basis for some beguiling rosé wines, particularly in Navarra, Spain and Provence, where it tends to be blended with Cinsault and occasionally Syrah.

From inexpensive, crowd-pleasing ‘quaffers’ to serious, age-worthy ‘classics’, Grenache makes excellent wines in a variety of styles and price points. The following pages include some of our highlights from the competition.

Still White – Unoaked

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint. Medal
£30-£50
Bodegas Bilbaínas Viña Pomal Garnacha Blanca Spain Rioja 2020 Bronze

Still White – Oaked

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint. Medal
Under £10
De Bortoli Wines Grenache Wizardry Grenache Blanc Australia Heathcote 2021 Silver
£10-£15
Perdeberg Wines The Vineyard Collection Grenache Blanc South Africa Coastal 2023 Silver
£15-£20
El Garbi Blanco Spain Terra Alta 2021 Silver

Still Rosé – Unoaked

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint. Medal
£15-£20
Domaine du Moulin Blanc Tavel France Rhône 2020 Silver
£50-£70
Chateau Léoube Collector Rosé France Provence 2022 Silver

Still Rosé – Oaked

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint. Medal
Under £10
De Bortoli Wines Grenache Wizardry Grenache Rosé Australia Heathcote 2022 Silver
£30-£50
Bodegas Ysios Rosé Spain Rioja 2022 Gold

Still Red – Unoaked

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint. Medal
£15-£20
Tscharke Wines A Thing of Beauty Australia Barossa Valley 2021 Silver
Domaine of the Bee The Bee-Side Grenache France Roussillon 2022 Silver
Res Fortes GMS France Roussillon 2021 Silver
£20-£30
Gemtree Wines Small Batch Grenache SBE Australia McLaren Vale 2022 Silver

Still Red – Oaked

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint. Medal
Under £10
De Bortoli Wines Grenache Wizardry Grenache Australia Heathcote 2020 Silver
£10-£15
Gemtree Wines Cinnabar GSM Australia McLaren Vale 2022 Gold
Paragon Wine Estates Shingleback NX Gen McLaren Vale Grenache Australia McLaren Vale 2021 Silver
Pinnacle Drinks Cat Amongst the Pigeons Fat Cat Barossa Grenache Australia Barossa Valley 2021 Silver
Paragon Wine Estates Krondorf Founders View Barossa Grenache Australia Barossa Valley 2022 Silver
Perdeberg Wines The Vineyard Collection Grenache Noir South Africa Paarl 2022 Silver
Langmeil Winery Rough Diamond Grenache Australia Barossa Valley 2022 Silver
£15-£20
Paragon Wine Estates Chapel Hill The MV Bush Vine McLaren Vale Grenache Australia McLaren Vale 2022 Gold
Wakefield/Taylors Wines Reserve Parcel Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre Australia South Australia 2021 Gold
El Garbi Tinto Spain Terra Alta 2021 Silver
Domaine le Prieuré des Papes Le Prieuré France Rhône 2020 Silver
Domaine de Coyeux Les Jumelles France Rhône 2020 Silver
Domaine de Coyeux Les Cavares France Rhône 2018 Silver
Domaine de Coyeux Les Cavares France Rhône 2016 Silver
£20-£30
Angove Family Winemakers Angove McLaren Vale Grenache Australia McLaren Vale 2022 Gold
Gemtree Wines Small Batch Grenache SBO Australia McLaren Vale 2022 Gold
Celler en Números Vermells Creu Celta Spain Priorat 2020 Gold
St Hugo Grenache Shiraz Mataro Australia Barossa Valley 2022 Gold
De Bortoli Wines PHI Grenache Amphora Australia Heathcote 2022 Silver
MontGras Handcrafted Rare Garnacha Chile Colchagua Valley 2022 Silver
Ferruccio Deiana & C. SAS Cannonau di Sardegna DOC Sileno Riserva Italy Sardegna 2020 Silver
£30-£50
Yangarra Estate Vineyards Old Vine Grenache Australia McLaren Vale 2021 Master
Angove Family Winemakers Warboys Vineyard McLaren Vale Grenache Australia McLaren Vale 2021 Master
Charles Melton Nine Popes Australia Barossa Valley 2018 Master
Bodegas Bilbaínas Viña Pomal Garnacha Spain Rioja 2021 Gold
Paragon Wine Estates Chapel Hill Old Vine 1952 “McLaren Vale Grenache” Australia McLaren Vale 2021 Gold
Langmeil Winery The Fifth Wave Grenache Australia Barossa Valley 2021 Gold
Casa Dumetz Wines Clementine Carter West End Grenache USA Santa Barbara County 2021 Gold
Casa Dumetz Wines Clementine Carter Santa Rita Hills Grenache USA Santa Barbara County 2021 Gold
Casa Dumetz Wines Clementine Carter Peake Ranch Grenache USA Santa Barbara County 2021 Gold
Domaine le Prieuré des Papes Vieilles Vignes France Châteauneuf- du-Pape 2020 Gold
Domaine of the Bee Les Genoux France Roussillon 2021 Gold
Abadía de Poblet El Tossal de la Salut Spain Catalonia 2019 Silver
Paragon Wine Estates Krondorf Stone Altar Barossa Valley Old Vine Grenache Australia Barossa Valley 2022 Silver

 

Winery Name of wine Region Country Vint. Medal
£50-£70
Domaine le Prieuré des Papes Le Couchant France Châteauneuf- du-Pape 2019 Master
Domaine le Prieuré des Papes La Bessade France Châteauneuf-2019 du-Pape 2019 Gold
£70-£100
Scala Dei Masdeu Spain Catalonia 2018 Master
Scala Dei Sant Antoni Spain Catalonia 2020 Gold
Bodegas Remirez de Ganuza Iraila Spain Rioja 2020 Gold

 

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Grenache Masters provides a chance for your wines to star. The 2023 competition was judged on 12 October at 28-50 Chelsea in London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Grenache Master.

This report features the medal winners only.

Please visit the Global Masters website for more information or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No