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The Grenache grape (a.k.a. Grenache Noir) produces relatively pale, fruity red wines that often stop just short of sweetness. Grenache is familiar to most wine drinkers as an ingredient in the blends of the Rhône and Languedoc-Roussillon, where it can add charm to varieties that are a little rougher around the edges. T

he distinguished Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas appellations are both characterized by significant percentages of Grenache, while in Tavel and Lirac the grape is used to make excellent rosés. In the most esteemed winegrowing areas in Spain (where it goes by the name of Garnacha), it is often blended with Tempranillo, with delicious results; it yields excellent Spanish "rosado" wines as well. Grenache is rapidly gaining in popularity, cropping up in more and more New World vineyards in recent years.