Designation (also original variety) for a grape variety that is considered the origin (mother or father variety) for many other varieties within a large group in the vine family tree. Naturally, these are exclusively very old grape varieties. Most of the cultivars grown in Western Europe today can be traced back to a relatively small group of leading varieties and their offspring resulting from spontaneous (natural) crossbreeding.

Main leading varieties: 1 = Traminer(Gewürztraminer), 2 = Pinot Noir, 3 = Gouais Blanc (Heunisch), 4 = Cabernet Franc
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