Win a case of wine on International Grenache Day – 23 September

A candidate.

Amongst the most widely planted of all grape varieties, Grenache yields fine wine from select sites throughout the wine-producing world and is probably the greatest resource of old vine fruit amongst the different noble varieties. Vineyards planted more than 50 years ago are not uncommon across the Southern Rhône and Spain and there are several century-old sites elsewhere in Europe and Australia.

Grenache usually performs its magic in blends, the Grenache Noir combining well with most Mediterranean varieties (Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Carignan and Shiraz, for example) and the Grenache Blanc with Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Ugni Blanc). Unsurprisingly, many of the people drinking wines in which Grenache is the key component are not even aware of the role that it plays.

International Grenache Day was launched at the 2010 Grenache Symposium to increase awareness of the variety and this year. This year International Grenache Day takes place on 23 September and as part of celebrations, the organisers will be running a competition in South Africa to encourage awareness of Grenache in South African red and white wine blends.

All you need to do to win a six-pack of Grenache-based wines from around the world is produce the most extensive list of current release South African wines (2009/2010/2011 vintages) – red or white – in which Grenache can be verified as a component.

The person submitting the most complete list by 12h00 midday on the 23 September will win a prize which will include wines from France, Spain and, of course, South Africa.

Entries – by email only – with name, email address and delivery address must be sent to grenacheprize@gmail.com