Garnacha and Grenache are the same grape. The Spanish name reflects the grape's origin in Aragon; the French name reflects its central role in the southern Rhone, where it became the dominant red of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The grape traveled to California in the late twentieth century and has been quietly producing serious wine since.
Spanish style vs French style
Spanish Garnacha tends toward dark, ripe, high-alcohol wines, particularly in Priorat where old vines on slate produce some of the most intense red wines in the world. French Grenache tends toward more elegant, mid-weight wines, blended with Syrah and Mourvedre. Southern California can do either, depending on the site.
Local versions
We work with growers producing both styles. The hillside sites with marine influence produce Grenache in a southern Rhone style: medium-weight, savory, food-friendly. The warmer inland sites produce wines closer to Priorat, with more density and structure. Both are good wines, in different registers.
Why the variety matters for the club
Grenache is the structural foundation of many Rhone blends. Members tasting through our quarterly allocations encounter Grenache repeatedly, in different vineyards' different expressions. The grape's range, from elegant to dense, lets the club show a single varietal in multiple styles across a year.