Gray Grenache

The grenache gray is a Cépage of gray or pink grape France.

Origin and geographical distribution

The grenache gray (just like the white Grenache) is a variety of the Grenache. With 2.634 hectares (in 2004), the type of vine is cultivated mainly in the Eastern Pyrenees and the Aude. It belongs to the Encépagement Vin S of Coteaux of the department of Var in Provence, Rasteau, Banyuls, Collioure, Maury and Rivesaltes.

Small plantations are known in Australia, with the Portugal, in Bulgaria and South Africa.

Characters ampelographic

End of the young branch opened out, duveteux white with slightly dyed with carmine edging.
Young person aranéeuses, green sheets or slightly with bronzed beaches, very brilliant
adult Sheets, with 5 lobes with side sines higher very narrow and than acute funds, a petiolar sine in more or less open quadrant, angular, narrow and small teeth

Farming aptitudes

Maturity is of third average time: 30 days after the chasselas.

Technological potential

The bunches are average with large and the bays are of intermediate size. The bunch is truncated, compact and winged. The type of vine is very vigorous but fairly productive. It is adapted to gravelly earth or stony not very acid. It gives according to the grounds and type of wines of 20 hl/ha in Roussillon, with nearly 100 hl/ha in zone of plain. The grenache is generally led out of goblet to short size. It is not very sensitive to the Oïdium but it fears the Mildiou, the Excoriose, the gray Pourriture, the magnesia deficiency and the worms of the bunch. It resists well the dryness and the strong winds.

One uses the gray grenache for l elaboration of the sweet aperitif wines but also of the wines Gris (sands of the Mediterranean coastline).

Synonyms

The grenache gray is known under the names garnacha Rioja, garnacha Roja, garnacho Rojo, grey grenache (in Australia), Piros Grenache, Rosco back Pinheiro, Szuerke Grenache