Grenache is an old variety that most likely has it origins in Spain. It requires a warm climate due to its extended growing season; this tolerance of hot, dry climates means that it is widely grown in those regions where such conditions are found, i.e. southern France, Spain, Sardinia and the Barossa Valley in Australia. Young Grenache wine can be dark and spicy, is often high in alcohol and with low-ish acidity; the wine tends to lose its colour relatively quickly and almost always has a detectable sweetness about it. It expresses terroir well and can, particularly when made from old vineyards, remain balanced even with exaggerated levels of ripeness.
