It is International Grenache Day on Friday 17th September, so raise a toast to this complex, versatile and intriguing grape with its luscious juicy ripe red fruit flavours, silky tannins, savoury spice and seductive mouthfeel. 

The enchanting tasting room at Muratie

Grenache also happens to be one of the most adaptable food-pairing wine wines in the world.

Originating in Northern Spain, Grenache spread to the south of France, specifically the Rhône Valley, and around the world, thriving in hot, dry vineyards in six of the seven continents. An important grape for the production of red wines, it also makes excellent rosés and fortified wines. Largely tucked away in Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre red blends (the New World take on the Rhône) and in Châteauneuf du Pape (with a cocktail of other varieties), more and more highly acclaimed single-vineyard bottlings are coming on stream.

Enter Muratie Mr May Grenache Noir!

And in true Muratie style, where the culture of food and wine is an intrinsic ingredient of the Melck family’s history, and life at Muratie today, Annatjie Melck, foodie legend and chatelaine of Muratie, has provided her much-loved Marrow Bones on Toast recipe for a perfect pairing with Muratie’s Mr May Grenache Noir.

MURATIE MR MAY GRENACHE NOIR 2019

Every wine tells a story at Muratie, the historic Stellenbosch Estate that dates back to 1685.

The story: Muratie Mr May Grenache pays tribute to Cornelius, or Mr May as he was affectionately called, who planted and pruned many a vine at Muratie. His attention to detail and ability to predict the weather, long before technology, is legendary.

In the vineyard and the cellar: Low-yielding dryland vines planted at 368m above sea level produce fruit with a high intensity of flavours. The grapes were fermented in half ton stainless steel open fermenters. Half of the batch underwent spontaneous whole berry fermentation. The wine was then basket pressed and taken to barrel for malolactic fermentation. It was aged for 18 months in 500L French Oak barrels.

Tasting notes: The nose shows ample red fruit, especially strawberries, with hints of fynbos and spice and some floral notes. The palate is fruit forward with loads of raspberries and a punch of pomegranate rubies, complemented by a savoury earthiness and subtle white pepper and oak notes. The wine has a lovely freshness and length with a hint of cranberry on the finish.

Food: Grenache also happens to be one of the most adaptable food-pairing wine wines in the world. See: ANNATJIE MELCK’S MARROW BONES ON TOAST RECIPE.