I mentioned in a previous article that Grenache Blanc seemed to be taking off as a varietal among producers of Rhone-style wines in the United States. Hospice du Rhone, which took place this past weekend left me with the same impression. This is not to say that suddenly you will see Grenache Blanc in every wine shop and on every wine list. It will be a lot easier to find than it has been in the past though.

In the southern Rhone where it is most commonly used, Grenache Blanc is typically used in blends. It's flavors of citrus and herb add further complexity and, if properly grown, acidity to  Marsanne and Roussanne juice. When allowed to grow with abandon however, the Grenache Blanc can be flabby and high in alcohol. In the U.S., the variety is also used in some blends, such as the Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc and Cote de Tablas Blanc from Tablas Creek Vineyards. Thoses wines are intended to be Californian versions of a Chateauneuf du Pape white wine.

As with any other grape , Grenache Blanc changes in character depending on how and where it is grown. As Larry Schaeffer of Tercero Wines points out in the video below, Central Coast Grenache Blanc can have more acidty and create a wine that can be very enjoyable on it's own, young or aged. if you haven't tried any yet, I encourage you to do so. You might find it to be an interesting change of pace from the ubiquitous Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. If you'd like to try one, I recommend the Grenache Blanc varietal wines from Tercero, Tablas Creek, Anglim Winery and Clavo Cellars.

[This was filmed at the big tasting at Hospice du Rhone 2010, sorry about the background noise]

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