International Grenache Day is the third Friday of September. Celebrate with this ideal transition grape from summer to fall.
The ancestral home of Grenache is France, and it is most prominent in the Languedoc region. As Jeff from Food Wine Click noted, Grenache can be an ideal transition wine to mark the seasonal change.
Grenache is not my favorite varietal due to its candy, lolli-poppy notes. But in the tween time as hot summer days with sweet bbq sauce grilled meats are ending and hearty stews are beginning coupled with the last appearances of stone and berry fruits, Grenache can aptly handle both seasons and foods that identify with hot and cold weather.
This menu was created to celebrate the end of summer fruit, the beginning of autumnal stews, and the varieties of grenache wine in white, red, and rose colors.
Languedoc Inspired Menu for Grenache Day
- Lamb Clapassade - Tender chunks of lamb stewed with star anise, honey, and carrots
- Summer Tomato Tartines with Anchovies, Aioli, and Fresh Thyme on country sourdough bread
- Fresh Fig and Raspberry Spinach Salad with Blue Cheese Crumbles - drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar
Grenache Wine Pairing
Organic Terre des Dames wines from Languedoc
- 2020 Ami des Dames Le Blanc - 100% Grenache Blanc
- 2021 Rose Amphore - 60% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, and 10% Syrah
- 2016 La Diva - 60% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 15% Alicante
Tasting Notes
2020 Ami des Dames Le Blanc (100% Grenache Blanc)
- Visual: Pale, sun flecked yellow, pearlescent white, very clean looking swirl
- Aroma: white flowers, pineapple, wet stone, whiff of camembert cheese
- Taste: Rich, round, chalk, not super acidic, more like candied lemon, confit lime zest, light to medium weight, tinge of acidity on the back end, like the chalky rind of brie cheese
- Pairing: So good with the fresh tomato and thyme, matching the acidity in the tomato. Lifts the saltiness and fishiness of the canned anchovies, like a little squeeze of lemon. Works suprisingly well with the lamb stew, I think because the white wine in the stew and has enough body to go with red meat. Clashed with the blue cheese and balsamic vinegar sweetness.
2021 Rose Amphore - 60% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, and 10% Syrah
- Visual: Pale salmon, rose colored blush
- Taste: Ooooh - this is spicy! I don’t know why but it has some spice! Nectarine skins, a bit of tang, just enough to say I’m not like everyone else. After being open for a day, it tasted like watermelon.
- Pairing: Winner with the fig/raspberry salad. Turns softer and more lemony. Tastes very acidic with the stew for some reason. Kind of just ok with the lamb and tomato tartines. Not super sure what food this wine wants to play with. Upon further research, I found this wine goes great with broccoli slaw, 13 month aged gouda, and goat cheese stuffed dates with toasted walnuts.
2016 La Diva - 60% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 15% Alicante
- Visual: inky, dark squid purple
- Aroma: gentle good morning, rosehips, an old leather chair
- Taste: Really liking this blend of syrah, grenache and a kick of alicante. Both warm and comforting with minerality and freshness at the same time.
- Pairing: Surprising winner with the fig/raspberry salad. It can handle sweetness. Also surprising winner with the tomato tartines. It takes the edge of the fresh tomatoes. Not as amazing with the lamb stew as hoped, but I did find this wine loves goat cheese and almond butter stuffed dates.
The Last Drop
- Grenache Day is the 3rd Friday of September and an ideal time to transition from the cool whites and roses of summer time to warmer red wines.
- Grenache is a French varietal and grown most prominently in the Languedoc region.
- This menu had 2 pairing winners - 1) Syrah/Grenache red blend wine with a luscious spinach salad with lots of fresh raspberries, two kinds of fresh figs, blue cheese crumbles and balsamic vinegar and 2) Grenache Blanc with Tomato Anchovy Tartines
- Even if you don't love Grenache by itself, it can be a really nice wine to pair with subtly sweet and savory dishes.
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