The red grape variety originates from Greece. Synonyms are Mavro de Messenicola, Mavro de Messenicolas, Mavro de Messenikolas, Mavro Mesenikola, Mavro of Messenikola, Messenikola Mavro and Noir de Messenik.

According to one hypothesis, it was brought from France by a Monsieur Nicola during Ottoman rule, from which the name of the grape variety and a municipality is derived.
The ancestry (parentage) is unknown. According to DNA analyses, there is a relationship to the Xinomavro variety, which could confirm a Greek origin.
The late-ripening vine is susceptible to downy mildew and botrytis. It tends to produce light-coloured red wines.
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freier Autor und Weinberater (Fine, Vinum u.a.), Bad Krozingen