Grenache Noir
French appellation
Grenache N
Use
Wine grape variety.
Phenology
Bud burst: 6 days after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: late-season, 4 weeks after Chasselas.
Technological potential
Certified ENTAV-INRA® Grenache grapevine is a vigorous red variety known for aromatic, full-bodied wines when yields are well managed. Grenache’s bunches are medium to large and the berries are medium in size. It has a very high sugar accumulation potential but the color decreases quickly as the yields increase. Acidity is generally low. Grenache produces sweet wines and very structured, ample and aromatic great wines suited to ageing, provided that they are planted in quality terroirs and that the yields are perfectly managed.
Cultural and agronomic skills
This variety is very vigorous (strong vine trunks), is sometimes sensitive to coulure and can have issues with lignification. Grenache has an erect bearing and must be pruned short in gobelet or cordon. It easily shows symptoms of magnesium deficiency. It is better adapted to slightly acidic, gravel or stony (pebble) terroirs rather than to very limestone white soil.
Elements of description
The identification is based on:
– the tip of the young shoot with a low density of prostrate hairs,
– the green and shiny young leaves,
– the shoots with green internodes,
– the adult leaves with teeth with straight sides, no anthocyanin coloration of veins and petioles, a very twisted smooth leaf blade, and on the lower side of the leaves, no or a very low density of erect and prostrate hairs,
– the yellow woody shoots,
– the round-shaped berries.