The white grape variety is a new variety between Silvaner x Pinot Gris (which was confirmed by DNA analyses carried out in 2012). Synonyms are FR 21-5 and (in Switzerland) Freiburger. The cross was made in 1916 by the vine breeder and founding director Dr Karl Müller (1881-1955) at the State Viticultural Institute in Freiburg (Baden-Württemberg). The first name was Freiburger, which was then changed to Freisamer in 1958 for legal reasons. The current name is derived from Freiburg and the small river Dreisam that flows through the city.

The breeding objective was to improve the then very low-yielding Ruländer (Pinot Gris) with only around 1,000 to 1,500 litres/hectare of grape must. Subsequently, the Ruländer/Grauburgunder variety was largely improved through clonal selection. As a result, the importance of the Freisamer grape variety has declined dramatically.
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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“