The red grape variety is a new breed between Tannat x Cabernet Sauvignon. According to the latest DNA analyses conducted in 2013, the breeding list entry Merlot x Petit Verdot has proven to be incorrect. The crossing took place on behalf of the INRA in 1956 by Pierre Marcel Durquéty (1923-2016) in France with the support of the University of Montpellier. By the way, the variety Ekigaïna also originated from the same parents.
The late ripening grape is resistant to Botrytis as well as drought and water stress. It produces alcohol-rich, deep dark red wines with mild tannins and herbal aromas. The variety is grown in France in the region Languedoc-Roussillon on 145 hectares. Additional stocks exist in Switzerland (1 ha), as well as overseas in Argentina (1 ha), Brazil (2 ha), Chile (2 ha), Canada (289 ha), and Uruguay (45 ha). In 2016, a total of 486 hectares of vineyard area were reported with a strongly increasing trend (Statistics Kym Anderson).
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For my many years of work as an editor with a wine and culinary focus, I always like to inform myself about special questions at Wine lexicon. Spontaneous reading and following links often leads to exciting discoveries in the wide world of wine.
Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien