Wilhelm Vineyards offers a wide selection of wines and we specialize in Spanish varietals. One of these is Garnacha, also called Grenache in French. There are many other less common synonyms for this type of grape including Bois Jaune, Alicante, Cannonau, and Llandoner. This is the second most popular red wine grape in Spain after Tempranillo and is among the most widely planted grapes in the world. At our winery, we use Garnacha grapes to produce delightful rosé wines.
Watch the video below to learn more about our 2019 Garnacha Rosado from our winemaker, Karyl Wilhelm:
More information about this varietal:
The History of Garnacha
Experts believe, based on ampelographic evidence, that the Garnacha wine grape originated in Aragon, a region in Northern Spain. Ampelography is a type of botany related to identifying grapevines and is one of the methods for determining where different varietals originated. The grape was sometimes called Tinto Aragonés (red of Aragon) during its early history. The first written reference to this varietal was in Gabriel Alonso de Herrera’s Agricultura general in 1513. From Aragon, the grape likely spread to nearby regions including Catalonia, Sardinia, and Roussillon (in Southern France).
Garnacha gained popularity in Spain’s La Rioja region during the 19th century. This was due to the Great French Wine Blight, a phylloxera (aphid) epidemic that devasted over 40% of vineyards in France and spread to other nearby countries in Europe, including Spain. The blight destroyed many varietals that were grown in the region during the time and Garnacha vines were brought in to replenish the vineyards in La Rioja.
Today, this wine grape is grown throughout the world, including at our Sonoita vineyard.
The Garnacha Grape
The Garnacha vine is hardy and has a strong wooden frame. It is resistant to both wind and drought and is able to grow in hotter climates.
This grape varietal has a long growing season. It is among the earliest to bud and one of the latest to be harvested. As a result, the grapes develop a high sugar content, which translates into a higher alcohol content for the final wine.
Its thin skin and low tannin content make it a great choice for rosados. In addition to the red Garnacha grapes we use to make our rosado, we also grow a white grape version of this varietal, Garnacha Blanca. This grape originated as a mutation of the red wine grape.
Characteristics of Garnacha Rosado
Rosé wine made from the Garnacha grape variety has luscious fresh fruit notes including raspberry, strawberry, and green apple. You may also notice red licorice, subtly sweet watermelon, and tangy grapefruit. This wine is delightfully refreshing and is best enjoyed chilled. It pairs well with savory quiches, tapas, and citrus-based salads. We briefly age our Garnacha Rosado in French oak, which imparts a firm structure and spicy acidity.
Our 2019 Rosado
To experience the vibrant flavors of rosé wine made from Garnacha grapes, you should try our 2019 Rosado. This single-varietal Spanish Garnacha is a perfect choice for any occasion.