At Bodegas Costers del Sió, we are committed to Grenache as an autochthonous variety, and during this campaign we have doubled its vineyards from 5 hectares to more than 10; As well as we have reconsidered new blends that give a greater prominence to this grape.
Our winery counted from its origin with five hectares of this variety planted in 1998 and 1999. During this 2017 campaign, "we have planted 2.5 hectares of black variety in a new plot, and we have grafted other 2.8 hectares of white Grenache in the plots where we have our white varieties, Pla de Lladoner and El Molí. With this increase we already exceed ten hectares of Grenache", explains José María Porcioles, responsible for agricultural production.
New blends
Another strategic decision regarding this autochthonous grape variety has been the reformulation of new blends, such as the Cau del Gat red wine that since 2015 (30,000 bottles), which will be released this spring after about one year in wood and seven months of bottle, it will have 70% Grenache, and 30% Tempranillo and Syrah. Until then, Grenache represented 15% of the total of this wine. A similar change has registered the Bosc Silvestre 2015 wine, which already has a 70% Grenache and a 30% Tempranillo, approximately; while up to the year 2014 the proportions were the reverse. While the Celistia Aire 2015 wine has 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. "From the point of view of export, when you speak of a Catalan wine, Aragonese or other Spanish wine, and you speak of Grenache, it is a variety that opens doors," says Juan de Porcioles, responsible of the winery's sales.
The Grenache variety is also the protagonist of the Finca Siós red wine, made in stone winery, that we make with 75% of this variety and 25% of Syrah. It is also present in its Alto Siós red wine, where the Grenache accompanies 15% in Syrah (60%) and Tempranillo (30%). "The Grenache has always given a more fruity and floral profile. The color is also more vivid than in other areas and we could say that it is very well acclimated in our area," says Valvanera Martínez de Toda, our oenologist at Costers del Sió Wineries .
