The white grape variety originates from France. Synonyms are Gros Mansenc, Gros Manseng Blanc, Manseng Gros Blanc (France); Izkiriot Haundi, Iskiriota Zuri Handia (Spain). The very old variety was first mentioned in 1562 in Jurançon by a wine, namely "vinhe mansengue", but it was not until 1783 that a text distinguished between the two varieties Petit Manseng (with small berries) and Gros Manseng (with large berries). Pierre Galet (1921-2019) had already noted great morphological similarities between the two varieties in 1990. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2011, Gros Manseng is a direct descendant of Petit Manseng and thus a "grandson" of Savagnin Blanc (Traminer). However, there is no relationship to the red Manseng Noir. Gros Manseng was a crossing partner in the new Heranecot variety.
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