Grenache: Southern Rhone’s utility grape

As long as we’re on the subject, we might as well continue in the Rhone Valley a little more with a visit to a newly established appellation, Vacqueyras.  Using blends that are dominated by the Grenache grape, wines from here represent some of the best values that Rhone has to offer.

For those who enjoy wine blends that are mostly Grenache, their impressions usually center around how easy to drink these creations are.  They are often served as one of the wine options throughout the evening because they go well with just about everything from appetizers to main courses.  As a general rule, as long as the dinner fare includes some kind of cheese, Grenache dominated blends will work just fine.

Most of the valley’s Total Wine outlets are now offering expanded wine selections from the Rhone region.  In fact, so many Rhone wines are being offered that it can take quite a bit of time just to check them out.  As far as the Vacqueyras appellation goes, focus on one produced by Pierre Amadieu that is available under Total Wine’s “Alfio Moriconi Selection”.  It is a La Grangeliere, blended with Rhone Varietal grapes (80% Grenache and 20% Syrah) and is priced at $15.99.

With a bouquet of dark fruit and a hint of mushrooms, it is very friendly on the palate.  It follows through with a soft fruit body and just enough acidity to go with cheese and lightly seasoned meat.  This wine demonstrates why Grenache is so popular, it hardly rubs anyone wrong way.

Article by Tom Peiffer, Phoenix Wine Shopping Examiner at Examiner.com

View more of Tom’s articles on Examiner.com by visiting his writer’s page.