Weird question: Comparing Spain and Italy's top varieties

[Robin Garr]

Would it be just plain weird, or would it make some kind of strange sense, if I pointed out parallels between Tempranillo and Garnacha as Spain's iconic red-wine varieties, and put them in contrast with Sangiovese and Nebbiolo as Italy's top varieties? I could give some specifics of how I think this works, but I'll just leave it at this and see if it gets me banned from the forum.

Would it be just plain weird, or would it make some kind of strange sense, if I pointed out parallels between Tempranillo and Garnacha as Spain's iconic red-wine varieties, and put them in contrast with Sangiovese and Nebbiolo as Italy's top varieties? I could give some specifics of how I think this works, but I'll just leave it at this and see if it gets me banned from the forum.

Not sure what you are talking about. Is the parallel that both countries have two iconic red-wine varieties? Something more specific about Tempranillo/Sangiovese and Garnacha/Nebbiolo?

[Robin Garr]

Not sure what you are talking about. Is the parallel that both countries have two iconic red-wine varieties? Something more specific about Tempranillo/Sangiovese and Garnacha/Nebbiolo?

Yes.

I guess it just doesn't work. I was thinking in a right-brain/intuitive way and wondering if it's fair to say that Tempranillo is Spain's Sangiovese and Garnacha is Spain's Nebbiolo. Not that they taste the same, but they fit into the nation's wine picture in similar ways. Nevermind, bad idea, thanks for responding.

Not sure what you are talking about. Is the parallel that both countries have two iconic red-wine varieties? Something more specific about Tempranillo/Sangiovese and Garnacha/Nebbiolo?

Yes.

I guess it just doesn't work. I was thinking in a right-brain/intuitive way and wondering if it's fair to say that Tempranillo is Spain's Sangiovese and Garnacha is Spain's Nebbiolo. Not that they taste the same, but they fit into the nation's wine picture in similar ways. Nevermind, bad idea, thanks for responding.

I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea, just that you need to explain in more detail what you mean by 'fitting into the nation's wine picture'?!

[Robin Garr]

I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea, just that you need to explain in more detail what you mean by 'fitting into the nation's wine picture'?!

Thanks again, Rahsaan. Again, I think this was just a notion that passed through my mind. It works intuitively for me, but if it doesn't work intuitively for most other people (which is apparently the case), then I'm better off just dropping the concept. I appreciate you working with me on it, though!

I would match Spain’s Grenache and Italy’s Sangiovese, in the sense that they both are “workhorses”

Salute

[Robin Garr]

I would match Spain’s Grenache and Italy’s Sangiovese, in the sense that they both are “workhorses”

Salute

That's the kind of thing I was thinking about, Victor! And they both tend to be used in blends, although single-varietal is possible.

I don't see any similarities at all between Tempranillo and Garnacha on the one hand and Nebbiolo and Sangiovese on the other except that they are probably the two leading red grape varieties quality-wise in their respective countries. How about extending the comparison to CabSauv and Pinot Noir for France?

One can perhaps say that Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo have in common the fact that they have not made much of an impression when planted outside their home countries but Garnacha/Grenache arguably produces its finest results in France in the Rhône valley and Roussillon.

[Jenise]

I would match Spain’s Grenache and Italy’s Sangiovese, in the sense that they both are “workhorses”

Salute

Ditto, and in terms of long-aging, tempranillo and nebbiolo have more in common (to my experience).

Spain's tempranillo and Italy's sangiovese---those yes; a case can definitely be made. In that they produce an entire range of styles, from the relatively simple and plonkish to the brooding and profound.

It falls apart, though, with garnacha. The immediate corollary with Spanish garnacha to me is French grenache. Italy doesn't really figure into it with that grape; whereas the French version---yes, with its ubiquity and range of style, again from overcropped plonk to Rhonish excellence, corresponds to its Spanish progenitor.

Nebbiolo? Nebbiolo to me is focused on Piemonte and Lombardia. Nowhere else is it as compelling and consistently outstanding.