The red grape variety (also known as pepper Cabernet) originates from California, but there are a number of legendary stories and ambiguities surrounding its origin. The question arises as to whether it is an independent variety at all. The original vine was supposedly discovered and selected in California's Santa Clara Valley in the 1880s by William Pfeffer, who immigrated from Germany in 1850. It was thought to be a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon x unknown partner. However, the stock was destroyed by phylloxera. Pfeffer claimed to have bred a better version as a seedling and to have transplanted and propagated it onto a stable rootstock. It was therefore no longer the original vine. According to another hypothesis, it is the French variety Trousseau Noir or a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon x Troussau Noir. This has not yet been confirmed by DNA analyses (although the question arises as to which of the many specimens of this vine should be examined).
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Thorsten Rahn
Restaurantleiter, Sommelier, Weindozent und Autor; Dresden