Garagiste Fest Goes Grenache

Grenache is considered to be the pinot noir of Rhône varietals. That’s due to its pretty aromatics, full of rose petals and bright red cherries; a relatively lighter frame, compared to brawny syrah and leathery mourvèdre; and the ability, depending on where it’s grown and how it’s vinified, to be made into a wide range of styles, from delicate, lithe, and transparent in color to ripe, structured, and inky. It’s rising in popularity across the country — and is the preferred grape for rosés most everywhere — and provides a truly blank canvas for emerging winemakers to establish their style.

So grenache is a perfect pairing for the California Garagistes, a boutique winemaker community whose Southern Exposure festival comes to Solvang March 31-April 2. Along with more than 40 producers pouring all sorts of varieties and blends at the main tasting on Saturday, there’s a panel that morning featuring these three grenache producers discussing why they love this grape. Here’s a sneak preview. See californiagaragistes.com for tickets.

Sonja Magdevski, Casa Dumetz: Though she started making wine in 2004 and opened her popular tasting room in Los Alamos in 2011, Magdevski’s decision to focus her Casa Dumetz brand on grenache didn’t come until after first working with the grape in 2014. “I was freaked out and excited by the flavor profiles that were coming out from the barrels,” said Magdevski, who makes about 1,000 cases a year, 80 percent of which is grenache. “Everything that applies to pinot and syrah does not apply to grenache. The fruit behaves differently. I was immediately hooked.”