Banyuls wines come from the South-eastern Part of Roussillon, in the south of France, in the lower Pyrenees, a few kilometres from the Spanish border. These naturally Sweet wines are consumed both as an aperitif and as a dessert. They come in a wide range of hues, from GoldenGreen (Banyuls Blanc) to Amber (Banyuls Ambré) to the intense garnet of the standard Banyuls Rouge. Unusually among the natural sweet wines of France, all Banyuls wines are made primarily from Grenache grapes of various colors.
Muscat grapes (the mainstay of southern French sweet wines) are allowed, but only in very small proportions. Dark-skinned Grenache Noir is by far the dominant and preferred variety in Banyuls - it must make up at least 50% of the blend for red Banyuls (75% for Grand Cru wines). Pink-skinned Grenache Gris comes next, followed by Grenache Blanc and a host of other southern French varieties, including Mourvèdre, Carignan, Macabeu and Tourbat. As a sweet red wine made from Grenache, Banyuls is comparable to Maury, from the northern Roussillon, and Rasteau, from the southern Rhone Valley.