The red grape variety originates from China - at least under that name. It was imported from France in 1892 and cultivated on the historic Chang Yu vineyard. A fierce legal battle has broken out in China between the wineries Yantai Changyu and Chateau Huaxia(COFCO) as well as other companies over the use of the name. At the end of 2005, the matter went to arbitration. Yantai Changyu Winery has been using the brand name since 1930, had it registered as a trademark in 2002 and therefore claims it exclusively for itself. The other Chinese wineries think that Cabernet Gernischt cannot be a trademark. In any case, the winery Château Changyu Castle (joint venture between Yantai Changyu Winery and Castel Frères) has been exporting wines of the variety, among others, to the USA since 2004.
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Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)