17 editor-picked Grenache Blanc producers across 3 regions.
A guide to Grenache Blanc worth seeking out, by region. We list the estates, how each region expresses the grape, and the bottles that show it best.
Vidal-Dumoulin family estate at the hamlet of La Liquiere in Cabrerolles, 60 hectares on the pure schist hillsides of the Faugeres appellation, certified organic.
Tasting: Cellar tour and tasting at La Liquiere by appointment
Signature wines: liquiere-cistus, liquiere-nos-racines, liquiere-amandiers
Tip: The Cistus rouge is the schist-driven flagship; the Nos Racines old-vine Carignan shows the estate's heritage parcels.
Saint-Chinian family estate at Murviel-les-Beziers established by the Guy family in 1868, 54 hectares of clay-limestone vineyard at 140 metres elevation, certified organic since 2008 under the Florence Guy generation.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Murviel-les-Beziers by appointment
Signature wines: coujan-bois-joli, coujan-rapsodie, coujan-tradition
Tip: The Bois Joli blanc (Roussanne-Grenache Blanc) is a benchmark Saint-Chinian white; the estate also produces olive oil from the border olive trees.
Corbieres-Boutenac organic estate at Montseret on Route Departementale 613, run by Pierre Bories with a vineyard restaurant (La Touketa) on the property.
Tasting: Cellar tastings and on-site bistro La Touketa at Montseret
Signature wines: ollieux-romanis-cuvee-classique, ollieux-romanis-or-de-la-touketa, ollieux-romanis-prestige-boutenac
Tip: The Prestige Boutenac (Carignan-Grenache-Syrah) is the cellar bottling; the on-site La Touketa restaurant pairs the wines with regional food.
Picpoul de Pinet and Languedoc estate at Montagnac inland from the Bassin de Thau, with both a single-variety Picpoul de Pinet and the cellar-aged Bronzinelle flagship.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Montagnac year-round
Signature wines: saint-martin-picpoul-de-pinet, saint-martin-bronzinelle, saint-martin-chateau-rouge
Tip: The Picpoul de Pinet is the appellation reference; Bronzinelle is the upper-tier Languedoc white that goes beyond the Picpoul style.
La Clape historic estate at Salles-d'Aude on the limestone massif between Narbonne and the sea, 96 hectares run by the Saint-Exupery family across five generations, with both reds and Bourboulenc-led whites under the La Clape PDO.
Tasting: Cellar tastings and on-site accommodation at the chateau at Salles-d'Aude
Signature wines: pech-celeyran-la-clape-rouge, pech-celeyran-la-clape-blanc
Tip: The La Clape blanc is the bottle to taste here, a Bourboulenc-led coastal white with the iodine signature unique to the massif.
La Clape flagship estate inside the limestone massif, acquired by Gerard Bertrand in 2002, with a five-star hotel, gastronomic restaurant, art space and tasting cellar on a single property, biodynamic across the vineyard.
Tasting: Cellar tastings, on-site five-star Chateau l'Hospitalet hotel, gastronomic restaurant, art space
Signature wines: hospitalet-grand-vin-rouge, hospitalet-grand-vin-blanc, hospitalet-summum
Tip: Chateau l'Hospitalet Grand Vin Blanc is the Bourboulenc-led La Clape signature white; the hotel pairs the wines with full Mediterranean menus.
Chateau Pech-Redon sits high on the limestone-and-garrigue La Clape massif east of Narbonne. The estate blanc is a Bourboulenc-led white characteristic of the appellation, with saline maritime character and a long mineral finish. The Bourboulenc grape's reputation has risen with La Clape's promotion to AOC cru status (2015) and Pech-Redon is the appellation reference.
Tip: La Clape blanc pairs with the local oysters from Gruissan lagoon and grilled sardines. Pech-Redon's higher-tier La Clape blanc Centaurees cuvee sits at the next price band.
The Rougier family has farmed Chateau Simone since 1830 on the south-facing limestone scree of the Palette AOC, and now produces roughly 70 percent of the entire appellation's wine.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings by appointment
Signature wines: simone-palette-rouge, simone-palette-blanc, simone-palette-rose
Tip: Palette Blanc from this estate (Clairette-dominant, aged in old oak foudres) cellars 15 years from vintage.
The Perrin family estate at Courthezon, one of the oldest and most biologically farmed CdP properties, using all 13 permitted varieties and producing the benchmark Roussanne Vieilles Vignes blanc.
Tasting: Visits and tastings by appointment at the estate; wine shop on site
Signature wines: beaucastel-chateauneuf-rouge, beaucastel-roussanne-vieilles-vignes, beaucastel-hommage-a-jacques-perrin
Tip: The Hommage a Jacques Perrin is the prestige red; the Roussanne Vieilles Vignes white is the estate's flagship white wine.
Courthezon family estate producing approachable and reliably excellent Chateauneuf-du-Pape including the old-vine Chaupin Grenache cuvee.
Tasting: Tasting room open Monday to Saturday at the domaine
Signature wines: janasse-chateauneuf-chaupin, janasse-chateauneuf-vieilles-vignes
Tip: Cuvee Chaupin from a single old-vine Grenache parcel is a must-try.
Demeter-certified biodynamic Chateauneuf-du-Pape estate producing profound old-vine Grenache of great depth and terroir expression.
Tasting: By appointment at the domaine
Signature wines: marcoux-chateauneuf-vieilles-vignes, marcoux-chateauneuf-classique
Tip: The Vieilles Vignes cuvee from centenarian Grenache is among the most complex and age-worthy in CdP.
Tavel domaine producing the reference rose of the appellation, the Dame Rousse, alongside Lirac red and white and a Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Tasting: Tasting room open at the domaine in Tavel; appointment preferred
Signature wines: mordoree-dame-rousse-tavel, mordoree-reine-des-bois-lirac-rouge
Tip: La Dame Rousse is the reference Tavel rose; structured enough to age 3-5 years.
Long-established Cairanne estate well-known for the Grande Garde cuvee from old vines across multiple appellations.
Tasting: Open tasting room; Monday to Saturday
Signature wines: presidente-cairanne
The Perrin family secondary label (Beaucastel owners) producing Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages and Vinsobres.
Tasting: Tasting room in Orange; open Monday to Saturday
Signature wines: famille-perrin-reserve-rouge, famille-perrin-les-sinards
Tip: La Vieille Ferme is the entry-level range; the Vinsobres Les Cornuds is a genuinely serious wine at a moderate price.
One of the oldest estates in CdP with winemaking cited to the 16th century, producing refined GSM-led reds and whites from organic farming.
Tasting: Open tasting room and shop at the chateau; cellar tours by appointment
Signature wines: nerthe-chateauneuf-rouge, nerthe-cuvee-des-cadettes
Tip: The Cuvee des Cadettes white from very old Roussanne and Clairette vines is a rare and age-worthy white CdP.
Aimé and Christophe Sabon's organically-farmed Chateauneuf-du-Pape estate is beloved by local sommeliers for quality that outpunches its price, particularly the old-vine Grenache cuvees.
Tip: The Cuvee Chaupin white blends old-vine Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Roussanne. Visit by appointment from Avignon or Courthezon.
Guigal's Cotes du Rhone blanc is Viognier-dominant, giving it apricot-blossom and stone-fruit aromatics at a fraction of the cost of Condrieu. Drink young for the freshest Viognier expression.
Tip: At under EUR15 this is one of the best-value Viognier-driven white wines in France. Serve chilled with a Provencal fish dish.
More regions are in research. Want Grenache Blanc covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to drink.