Popular red grape is celebrated the world over
Grenache grapes are widely cultivated and universally enjoyed by wine connoisseurs – so much so that there is an international day of celebration in the unassuming grape’s honour.
INTERNATIONAL Grenache Day, marked the world over on September 16, pays homage to the unassuming grape.
Grenache or Garnacha grapes remain one of the most frequently cultivated varieties on the planet. The vines do best in dry conditions and are grown in Italy, France, Spain (it’s likely country of origin), California in the United States of America, Australia and South Africa.
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Jeremy Maarschalk, a born and bred Durbanite, currently working in the wine industry in the Cape, says that it is one of his favourite grape varieties and is popular with the local and international visitors he interacts with.
This red grape is known for its diverse flavour profile at different times in its journey from seed to cask, meaning that a wide range of wines can be made from this one specific crop, and it is often used as a component in a blended wine.
Maarschalk says, “Grenache is an incredibly versatile variety as it can be made as a light-styled or a medium-bodied red wine. The fruit is on the nose, and the light body and ruby-red colour make it the perfect wine for all seasons.”
The tasting notes most frequently attributed to this variety are diverse and range from raspberry and strawberry to star anise and black pepper, to liquorice and tobacco.
Maarschalk, an oenophile or wine lover, was drawn into the industry two years ago following his tertiary studies at a Cape university. He has his international Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 qualification and sees a long-term career for himself in this exciting sector.
“The wine industry is filled with amazing, creative people – the exciting energy of being a part of the industry is all attributed to the people I work with. I would love to be an entrepreneur that distributes South African wine internationally. The quality of our South African wine stands out as amongst the best in the world, yet few international people have tried it.”
Maarschalk says that the South African wine trade attracts tourists to the country and is part of the great holiday experience that keeps them coming back.
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