Grenache Blanc

A bit of a workhorse; in good vintages it goes really well in its heartland of the Rhône Valley providing it doesn’t lose acidity and become a bit oily. It has spread down the Med, so you’ll find it in chic bars in Barcelona as Priorat Blanc and other Catalonian whites (where it is called Garnacha). Equally, it is a staple of Croatia (as Belan), although there’s not much in Italy. In the right hands, with good barrels, it can be great – but in others, it can be very ordinary.