700 wines, 6 countries, 1 grape: Grenache unites!

The 13th edition of Grenaches du Monde took place on May 5 and 6, 2025, in Cariñena, Spain, recognized as the European City of Wine for the year. The event also highlighted Zaragoza’s ambition to become the world capital of Grenache. This annual competition brought together 700 wines from six countries and more than 50 appellations, all centered around the Grenache grape variety. A panel of 78 international experts from 19 different nationalities evaluated the entries, awarding Double Gold, Gold, and Silver medals to outstanding wines.

This year marked a return to Aragon for the competition, nine years after its first edition in the region. Previous editions have been held in cities such as New York in 2023 and Paris in 2024. Organizers expressed satisfaction with the choice of location, citing Cariñena’s deep connection to Grenache and Zaragoza’s growing reputation as a hub for wine tourism and gastronomy.

Frédéric Galtier, project coordinator and head of the competition in Spain, emphasized the importance of returning to Aragon. He noted that Cariñena and Zaragoza’s shared commitment to promoting Grenache made them ideal hosts for this edition. Fabrice Rieu, president of the competition, highlighted the resilience and adaptability of the Grenache grape, especially during challenging times for the wine sector.

A notable development at this year’s event was the awarding of a silver medal to a non-alcoholic rosé wine made from Grenache grapes. This marks the first time a non-alcoholic wine has received recognition at Grenaches du Monde, reflecting a growing trend toward alternative wine styles.

The competition aims to showcase regions united by their passion for Grenache. In addition to two mornings of tastings held among Cariñena’s vineyards, participants attended a technical conference on local terroirs and visited several prominent wineries in the area. The program also included opportunities to explore Zaragoza’s cultural and gastronomic offerings.

Grenaches du Monde is open to all wines made from Grenache—whether pure or blended—regardless of color or country of origin. With approximately 163,000 hectares under vine worldwide, Grenache is the seventh most planted grape variety globally. Spain and France account for nearly 90% of global plantings, but production extends across Europe, Africa, Australia, North and South America, Croatia, Greece, Lebanon, and other regions.

The competition was established in 2013 by the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR) in Perpignan. Since then, it has become an itinerant event with previous editions hosted in locations such as Campo de Borja (Aragon), Sardinia, Catalonia’s Terra Alta region, Montpellier, Cebreros in Spain, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Perpignan in France, Ascoli Piceno in Italy, Navarre in Spain, New York City, and Paris.

Cariñena holds a special place in Grenache history. Its vineyards date back to Roman times and are known for their rocky soils that produce concentrated grapes. The region is home to 16 authorized grape varieties but is dominated by indigenous Grenache (both black and white) and Carignan (locally known as Cariñena). The Denomination of Origin has existed for nearly a century and was among Spain’s first official wine regions.

As European City of Wine 2025, Cariñena will host a series of cultural events throughout the year celebrating its wine heritage. The town’s recognition by RECEVIN (the European Network of Wine Cities) underscores its role as an international reference point for wine culture.

Zaragoza is also positioning itself as a global center for Grenache-based wine tourism and gastronomy. Working with three local designations of origin—Calatayud, Campo de Borja, and Cariñena—the city plans to host wine tours, tastings, an international symposium on Grenache grapes, and its first-ever Grenache Festival.

Full details about this year’s competition results are available at www.grenachesdumonde.com.