The grape variety originates from France; the name means "vine with reddish berries". There are over 50 synonyms that indicate its great age. The most important are Aronova Boroda, Barbarons, Barbarossa, Candollo, Cardeina, Cerwene Elzaska, Gänsfüßer, Grec Rosé, Grec Rouge, Gromier du Cantal, Gros Barbaroux, Merveille, Plant du Pauvre, Raisin Monstrueux, Regina Rossa, Rote Hammelshode, Roussée, Rousselet and Uva Barbarossa.

The variety was first mentioned in 1667 in the Toulon-Provence area under the name Barbarons, where it was once widespread. The parentage is unknown. It should not be confused with the varieties Grec Rouge or Rosé du Var (both with the synonym Barbaroux) due to some of the same synonyms or morphological similarities. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2009, the suspicions that Italian Barbarossa varieties or the German Gänsfüßer variety are identical have been refuted.
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Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena