With Grenache picking underway or soon to come, it will be a busy time in the vineyards of Roussillon Geographical Indications, in France, and
DO Calatayud,
DO Campo de Borja,
DO Cariñena,
DO Somontano and
DO Terra Alta, in Spain. But as vignerons prepare to make the best possible wines of this vintage, you can kick back with a glass of your favorite European Garnacha. Or make it a full-on day of celebration!
- Taste a flight of exciting, distinctive wines with friends: Whether you’re staying in or going out, call up or meet up with your favorite folks to discover the variety of Garnacha/Grenache from Europe. Grab a few glasses, and sample the diversity of red, white and gray Grenache expressions, working your way from sparkling Garnacha, to light, fruity whites, to plump, full-bodied ones, to refreshing rosés. Then venture to elegant, floral reds; powerful, concentrated reds; and, finally, sweet, fortified styles young and aged. Don’t forget to compare notes.
- Whip up a Mediterranean feast. Pass around the olives, nuts, peppers, and plates of cheese and chorizo. A scallop risotto, seafood paella, or cassoulet of pork, sausage, duck confit and white beans should leave your party sated. The abundance of flavors is the perfect excuse to dip into every style of European Garnacha.
- Toast the weekend: Save your most evocative bottle for a post-siesta sunset. Perhaps it’s a unique aged rosado Garnacha, a tangy, tawny Grenache honoring centuries of winemaking tradition, or something else entirely. In the Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications, Grenache is guaranteed to meet European Union standards of quality and provenance, with all bottles respecting the taste, diversity and traditions of each place of origin. So raise your glass to the European grape growers and winemakers crafting the crop of Garnacha you’ll enjoy this time next year.
