Single Barrel, Double Cheese: Meet Our 2023 Grenache

Our 2023 Grenache is finally here! This is a single-barrel wine, which means one barrel, one bottling, and just 25 cases to go around. It's bright, juicy, and about as easygoing as a red wine gets. And before we've poured a single glass in the tasting room, it has already brought home a medal.

2023 Grenache debuts at Skyhaven Reach grand opening

A Grape with Old World Roots

Grenache Noir is one of the most widely planted red grapes on earth, and its story starts in the sun-baked vineyards of the Mediterranean. Most historians trace it to Aragon in northeastern Spain, where it's still called Garnacha. (Yes, that Aragon, as in Catherine of Aragon. My Tudor-history-loving heart is thrilled. 👸) The island of Sardinia makes its own claim, where the grape goes by Cannonau and has been grown for centuries.

As the Crown of Aragon expanded across the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages, Garnacha traveled with it. It took root in Roussillon in southern France, then pushed into the Southern Rhône. There it became the backbone of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and countless Côtes du Rhône blends.

Grenache earned its place in these regions for one simple reason: it loves heat. It ripens late, handles drought, and thrives where other grapes struggle. That makes it a natural fit for our high-desert Arizona vineyards.

The Perfect Pizza Wine

This Grenache is all about easy drinking. It's lighter on its feet than a big Cabernet, with soft tannins and plenty of fresh red fruit. It doesn't ask you to think too hard; it just asks for another pour.

That's exactly why it shines with pizza. The bright acidity stands up to tomato sauce, the fruit plays nicely with pepperoni and sausage, and the gentle structure won't overpower a simple margherita. Grab a pie, pull the cork, and call it a perfect Friday night.

Already an Award Winner

We knew this barrel was special, and now the judges agree. Our 2023 Grenache earned a silver medal at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, one of the largest and most respected American wine competitions. Not bad for a wine that hadn't even had its first pour in the tasting room yet.

Our Big Little Brother

In the vineyard, Grenache vines are like a "big little brother": always ready to wrestle, but easy enough to tame. Ours produced fruit in its very first year. Completely off task, little bro! This year it came in strong, delivering nearly 2 tons of fruit on its third leaf. Crazy kid.

Grenache showing off with early signs of fruit

First Pours in Bisbee

But back to 2023... While our own vines were still growing up, we sourced this vintage's fruit from our Grenache-growing neighbors. This Skyhaven newbie is now pouring at our Bisbee tasting room. With only 25 cases from a single barrel, it won't be around for long, and once it's gone, it's gone.

So find your way over to Skyhaven Reach at 14 Main Street in Bisbee, pull up a seat, and give this beauty a try. We'll save you a glass (while they last).