The red grape variety (also called Cabernet pepper) originates from California, but there are some legendary tales and uncertainties about its origin. The question arises as to whether it is an independent variety at all. The original grapevine was allegedly discovered and selected in the 1880s in the Santa Clara Valley in California by William Pfeffer, who had immigrated from Germany in 1850. It was suspected to be a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon x unknown partners. However, the stock was destroyed by phylloxera. Pepper claimed to have bred a better version than seedling and transplanted and propagated it on a stable rootstock. It was therefore no longer the original vine. According to another hypothesis, it was the French variety Trousseau Noir or a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon x Troussau Noir. This has not yet been confirmed by DNA analysis (although the question arises as to which of the many specimens of this vine should be examined).
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Dominik Trick
Technischer Lehrer, staatl. geprüfter Sommelier, Hotelfachschule Heidelberg