The London Wine Competition is a unique event in the wine industry, celebrated for spotlighting wines that resonate with today’s consumers. Similarly, the best Grenache wines of 2024 were chosen for their exceptional quality, affordability, and eye-catching presentation—ensuring they are wines that people not only want to drink but want to buy. This consumer-centric approach highlights brands that offer strong market value and stand out to trade buyers.

Unique Characteristics of Grenache

Typically medium- to full-bodied, Grenache is bright in colour and packed with aromas of orange rind, raspberry, plum, and tobacco. The grape’s balanced tannins, medium acidity, and plush berries create a wine that is both flavourful and approachable, making it a crowd-pleaser.

Grenache has a long growing season before ripening, making them better suited for warmer climates such as Southern France, Northern Spain, and South Australia. These wines are known for their medium acidity, medium tannins, and high alcohol content, typically ranging between 13.5% and 16% ABV. The grape’s relatively thin skin plays a significant role in the wine's flavour profile, resulting in a lighter colour and softer tannins, which contribute to a more approachable drinking experience.

Wines made from older Grenache vines exhibit more intense flavours, with earthy and herbaceous notes. This is due to the fact that older vines produce less fruit, thereby concentrating the flavours in the grapes. As a result, Grenache wines from old vines tend to have a more complex and rich flavour profile, making them highly sought after by wine connoisseurs.

Top Grenache Picks from LWC 2024

1. Lost Wolf 2019 Grenache, Gold Medal (96 Points)

This 2019 vintage from the Lost Wolf Wine Company in Australia secured the Best in Show by Varietal title at the London Wine Competition 2024. The wine is ripe and complex, featuring aromas of raspberry, cinnamon, and vanilla. On the palate, it delivers a mix of minerality and red fruit flavours, with hints of spice, smooth tannins, and a medium finish.

Image Title & Source: Lost Wolf 2019 Grenache

2. Pinyeres, Gold Medal (92 Points)

The Pinyeres from Celler Masroig in Spain is a 2021 vintage Grenache that impressed the judges with its medium-deep appearance and well-balanced mix of red and black fruit flavours. The wine offers ripe black fruits and sweet spices, along with smooth tannins, making it a rich and full-bodied choice with a medium finish.

Image Title & Source: Pinyeres

3. IL·LIA, Gold Medal (92 Points)

Celler Devinssi’s 2022 IL·LIA, a Spanish Grenache, is another standout from the London Wine Competition 2024. This wine is rich and opulent, with red fruit aromas on the nose and a palate bursting with sweet spices, star anise, and balsamic notes. It offers a great concentration of flavours, making it a luxurious and memorable wine.

ImageTitle & Source: IL·LIA

4. Cat Amongst the Pigeons Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro, Gold Medal (92 Points)

This 2022 vintage from Pinnacle Drinks in Australia blends Grenache with Shiraz and Mataro, resulting in a well-balanced wine with dark berry fruit and savoury hints on the nose. The palate is rich with flavours of blackberry, black cherry, tobacco, and plum, supported by smooth tannins for a simple yet satisfying drinking experience.

Image Title & Source: Cat Amongst the Pigeons Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro

5. Curtis Small Batch MV Grenache Shiraz 2021, Gold Medal (91 Points)

The 2021 Curtis Small Batch MV Grenache Shiraz from Curtis Family Vineyards in Australia is a youthful and vibrant wine. It features notes of cherry and cranberry, with a full-bodied profile and flavours of dried spice, cumin, and lavender. The wine has moderate complexity and a silky texture, making it a delightful choice for Grenache enthusiasts.

Image Title & Source: Curtis Small Batch MV Grenache Shiraz 2021

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Top Grenache Producing Regions

France

In France, Grenache thrives in the cooler southern Rhône, producing wines with more finesse and lower alcohol levels, often highlighting herbal notes such as oregano and lavender. The Côtes du Rhône AOC, yet another notable region, offers both varietal and blended wines, typically with syrah (shiraz), carignan, or mourvèdre. The renowned Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation also lies in the southern Rhône, producing intense, smoky Grenache wines with licorice notes. Additionally, some of the most popular rosé wines from Provence are Grenache-based, featuring strawberry and orange zest flavours. In Languedoc, the warm climate produces juicy, full-bodied GSM blends, while Grenache Blanc is used to create unoaked whites meant for early drinking.

Spain

In Spain, Grenache, known as Garnacha, is predominantly grown in the warm regions of the north. These wines are typically high in alcohol and feature ruby-red grapefruit, cherry, and licorice characters. The prestigious Garnacha wines of Priorat are often blended with Cariñena, resulting in powerful, spicy wines that age well. White Priorat, made from Garnacha Blanca, offers floral and mineral notes. In regions like Rioja and Navarra, Garnacha is used to add aroma and soften the tannic Tempranillo grape. Calatayud in southwest Aragon is known for bold Garnacha-based reds, with those from vines older than 50 years classified as Calatayud Superior, a rare and sought-after wine. 

USA (California)

Grenache has been grown in California since the 19th century, where it was initially valued for producing high-yielding wines, often used in sweet jug blends. The Rhone Ranger movement in California during the 1980s revitalised interest in Grenache, with winemakers producing premium varietal Grenache and Rhone-style blends inspired by Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. The grape is particularly well-suited to the Central Coast, where winemakers now focus on producing top-notch varietal Grenache wines.

Australia

In Australia, Grenache was one of the first varieties introduced in the 18th century, initially playing a key role in the production of sweet fortified wines. Today, Grenache is often used as a component in GSM blends or for sweet fortified wines. The Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale regions are home to some of the oldest Grenache vines, dating back to the late 1800s, producing richly textured wines that showcase the grape's full potential.

Italy

Known as Cannonau in Italy, Grenache is predominantly grown in Sardinia, where it is the island's most important red wine grape, alongside Vermentino. Grenache is also grown in other regions such as Tuscany, Latium, and Umbria, where it is typically used as a blending wine. Sardinian Grenache tends to have a more rustic profile, with dried fruit flavours and highly aromatic qualities.

The 2024 London Wine Competition brought attention to the diversity and quality of Grenache wines from top regions around the world. From Spain to Australia, the winning Grenache wines showcase the grape’s ability to produce exceptional, complex, and memorable wines across various climates and terroirs. For anyone eager to explore the world of Grenache, take a look at the complete winners list from the London Wine Competitions 2024.

Header image sourced from Adobe Stock Images.