The red grape variety originates from the historical Lower Styria (Austria-Hungary) in today's north-eastern Slovenia. There are about 120 synonyms indicating great age and wide distribution. Some grouped alphabetically by country are Gamé(Bulgaria); Blauer Lemberger, Blauer Limberger, Blaufranchis, Hartig 353, Lemberger, Limberger (Germany); Franconien Bleu, Franconien Noir, Franconim Noir, Limberger Noir, Limberqer (France); Franconia, Franconia Nera, Franconia Nero (Italy); Borgonja, Frankovka, Frankovka Cerna, Frankovka Crna, Frankovka Modrá(Croatia); Burgundy, Early Black, Early Black, Great Burgundy, Moravian, Moravian Black, Moravian Black Karmazin, Moravian Grape, Black Franconian, Black Franconian, Black Grobe (Austria); Borgona (Peru); Burgundy Mare (Romania); Sura Lisicina (Serbia); Frankovka Modrá (Slovakia); Frankovna Crna (Slovenia); Frankovka (Czech Republic); Kékfrankos, Nagyburgundi, Szeleslevelü,(Hungary), Blue Franc, Blue French, Lemberger, Limberger Black, The Wide-Leafed (USA).
According to legend, Emperor Charlemagne (742-814) was involved in its creation by ordering that the "good Franconian varieties be separated from the bad Heunian varieties". The Blaufränkisch may have developed from...