Lighter, brighter and built from gnarled old bush vines, Barossa Grenache is winning over a new generation of drinkers.
Out of Shiraz's shadow
For decades, Barossa Grenache was the grape that went quietly into blends or, worse, was pulled out to plant more Shiraz. That story has flipped. As drinkers reach for lighter, more perfumed reds, the valley's old bush-vine Grenache - some of it well over a century old - has become some of the most exciting wine made here.
Why the old bush vines matter
The best Grenache grows on dry-grown, low-yielding bush vines in sandy soils around Tanunda and the western Barossa. Picked at the right moment, it gives bright red-fruit aromatics, fine tannins and a drinkability that the biggest Shiraz can't match. Producers like Charles Melton built their reputations on Grenache-led blends, and a wave of newer makers now bottle it proudly on its own.
What to try
Look for single-vineyard and old-vine Grenache on cellar-door lists, and the classic GSM (Grenache-Shiraz-Mataro) blends that have always been the valley's house style. Served slightly cool, it's the Barossa red for a warm afternoon.
