We’re all familiar with the grenache based wines of Southern France. In fact, I’d imagine this is the first place that the wine nerd’s brain descends upon when discussing grenache as a varietal and the styles of wine we feel are emblematic of it. But this is actually not the grape’s true place of heritage! Ampelographical evidence suggests that the grape was first born in Spain’s Northeastern regions of Aragon & Catalonia, where seed remains of Garnacha have been carbon dated back to 153 BC. This predates written records in Europe. It was in the 1300s onwards that the grape began to expand its presence, taking root in outher parts of Southern Europe like Sardinia, Greece, and France.

Tasting a grape from its place of origin brings a sense of enormity and significance that cannot be replicated.… Read the rest