The air is crisp, the sun is bright, and the daffodils and cherry trees are in bloom: With winter in the rearview and summer still at bay, spring is the perfect time to plan a picnic. A cheese spread, a charcuterie plate, fresh berries, and piquant peppers and olives may fill your basket and cover your blanket, but leave room for a few stemless wineglasses and bottles of red and rosé wine. Whether you’re going for light and fruity or rich and perfumed, red and rosé Garnacha from northeastern Spain and Grenache from the Roussillon Geographical Indications of southern France will complete the feast.
The Spanish Protected Designation of Origin (PDOs) of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Somontano and Terra Alta, as well as the PDOs and Protected Geographical Indication (PGIs) of Roussillon, offer whites, sparklers and sweet wines for all occasions, but a picnic calls for something a little heartier, yet still refreshing—reds for brie or burgers, rosé for raspberry sorbet—and these Garnacha/Grenache European wine regions deliver on that front too. Let’s unpack some bottles; all are fine examples of the top-quality wines at friendly prices from the European ancestral and spiritual home of this grape.
A vibrant, fresh rosé brightens any day and puts some charm on the start, close or repose stages of an outdoor fête. If you’ve mixed a bowl of cherries, blueberries and strawberries, or a fruit salad with cantaloupe, watermelon, mango and grapes, consider DO Cariñena and DO Terra Alta, in Spain, or the AOP Collioure subregion of the Roussillon. The abundant sunshine in all three regions coaxes out red berry and floral flavors in rosé, while the schist terraces of AOP Collioure and limestone-clay stony soils found in DO Cariñena and DO Terra Alta lend a zip of minerality. Pinker, fruitier styles could make for a fetching palate-cleanser with yogurt or shaved ice.
Red Grenache is famously ripe and round in some regions, but Garnacha can be a stylish light- or medium-bodied wine as well. Lithe, berry- and cherry-tinged quaffs can be found in Roussillon’s broad subregions of AOP Côtes du Roussillon, IGP Côtes Catalanes and IGP Côte Vermeille, bringing a Mediterranean vibe to the table. These versatile wines can tango with the whole Mediterranean diet, especially hard-to-pair picnic staples like Kalamata and green olives, pickles, pickled chanterelles and soft cheeses like brie and chèvre. A crisp, fruity DO Somontano Garnacha might line up with an array of jams and jellies, while an elegant yet aromatic DO Campo de Borja with a bit of spice can pair with smoked meats and dried sausage.
Dark, bold, structured reds are the backbone of backyard gastronomy. If you’re firing up the grill, or cooking over a fire, Garnacha from DO Calatayud or Grenache from AOP Maury labeled “Sec” will make the match. The sun on the slopes of both regions helps concentrate flavor in low-yielding old-vine Garnacha/Grenache, producing full-bodied versions brimming with blackberry, currant, spice and mineral notes. You’ll want these for bolder fare like burgers, ribs and grilled pork. Save a little in the glass to sip while the sun sets.
