Expat winegrowers promote Grenache

TWO vineyard owners near Avignon – a Scots and an American – are organising a major international conference in the region to help raise the profile of the Grenache grape variety used in their wine.

Walter McKinlay, a Scots vigneron, has been producing wine at his vineyard in the village of Séguret in the Vaucluse for the past 12 years. under the appellation Côtes du Rhone Villages, selling to Europe, the United States and the Far East.

He has joined forces with Nicole Sierra-Rolet, whose 30-hectare vineyard produces wine under the name Chêne Bleu, to work on the symposium which claims to be the first of its kind dedicated to the Grenache grape.

Granche is the world’s most planted variety but does not have the same reputation and profile as Pinot and Syrah.

“The aim of the symposium is to allow experts and producers from around the world to share views and create a firm foundation of knowledge and understanding of Grenache,” says Mr McKinlay.

The summit will bring together wine trade professionals from around the world, including writers, journalists, experts and producers of Grenache wine from Australia, Spain, the US, South Africa and France.

It will be led by Decanter magazine consultant editor Steven Spurrier and French wine writer Michel Bettane.

The event takes place in Le Crestet, near Avignon, on June 5-6. Find out more at www.grenachesymposium.com