Synonym (Garnatxa Blanca, Garnatxa Gris, Garnatxa Negro, Garnatxa Pais, Garnatxa Peluda and Garnatxa Roja, also Garnaxa) for the various Garnacha varieties; see there.
The group of vine varieties probably originates from Spain. The individual varieties of different colours are grown under numerous names/synonyms all over the world. The best known of these are Garnacha or Garnatxa in Spain, Grenache in France, as well as Cannonau (Sardinia), Granaxia and Tai Rosso or formerly Tocai Rosso (Veneto) in Italy. The exact origin is assumed to be in the region of Aragon in northeastern Spain, which was justified accordingly by the French ampelographers Pierre Galet (1921-2019), Victor Vermorel (1848-1927), Pierre Viala (1859-1936) and Victor Pulliat (1827-1896). Italian experts such as Gianni Lovicu, among others, have recently claimed that the variety originated in Sardinia, where it has also been cultivated for many centuries. Both versions are possible or plausible because the island of Sardinia was a Spanish colony from 1479 to 1720 and there are also mutual relations between Sardinia and Spain for some other varieties.
The variety was first mentioned, probably in 1513, by...
In the past, you needed a wealth of encyclopaedias and specialist literature to keep up to date in your vinophile professional life. Today, Wine lexicon from wein.plus is one of my best helpers and can rightly be called the "bible of wine knowledge".
Prof. Dr. Walter Kutscher
Lehrgangsleiter Sommelierausbildung WIFI-Wien