Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/961311
82 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } APRIL/MAY 2018 { variety viewpoint } VERSATILITY, PEPPERY RED FRUIT, and seductive aromatics: What more could one ask for in a bottle of red? These coveted traits charmingly converge in Grenache, and from southern French clas- sics to structured New World expressions, the varietal seems to have finally garnered the industry attention it deserves from sommeliers, shop owners, and wine buyers nationwide. So how are wine professionals translating this enthusiasm to their customers? Carey Vanderborg, Wine Specialist at the Connecticut-based Ancona's Wines & Liquors, finds Grenache—also widely known as Garnacha (for more on the variety, check out the cover story on page 56)—to be somewhat of a niche market. "People who know and love Châteauneuf-du-Pape need no convincing, and lovers of Spanish Garnacha most definitely have some level of affinity for wine from Spain," he said. "With that said, it's on us as som - meliers to turn the non-believers into believers." Vanderborg's approach is to narrow down exactly what a customer is looking for, starting with structure and price point. "After that, the ball is pretty much in my court," he explains, adding that his personal recommendations almost always lean toward the Southern Rhône. Generally blended with other grape varieties, Grenache-based Rhône wines like Domaine Arragus' La Vigne du Facteur and Domaine Piaugier's Sablet Rouge serve as what Vanderborg calls "the perfect hook, line, and sinker" for customers on the fence about the variety. Highly Recommended PROMINENT WINE BUYERS ENDORSE GRENACHE FROM COAST TO COAST by Vicki Denig Carey Vanderborg, Wine Specialist at the Connecticut-based Ancona's Wines & Liquors looks to Southern Rhône for Grenache-based wines. PHOTO COURTESY OF CAREY VANDERBORG PHOTO CREDIT: VISUAL2 Galets, beloved for the warmth they provide at night, surround the vines at a vineyard in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP.