The red grape variety originates from France. Around 300 synonyms attest to its great age and worldwide distribution. The most important, grouped alphabetically by country, are Augustiner, Auvernas, Blauer Klevner, Blauer Spätburgunder, Frühschwarzer, Glasschwarz, Klävner, Klebroth, Klevner, Möhrchen, Moréote, Schwarzburgunder, Schwarzer, Schwarzer Burgunder, Schwarzer Traminer, Spätburgunder, Süßrot, Thalrother (Germany); Auvernat, Auvernas, Auvergnat, Berligout, Bourguignon, Clevner, Formentin Noir, Genetin de St. Menin, Morillon Noir, Mourillon, Noble Joué, Noirien Franc, Noirien Noir, Orléanais, Pignola, Pignolet, Pineau de Bourgogne, Pineau de Bourgoyne, Pineau de Chambertin, Pineau Noir, Pineau de Gevrey, Plant Doré, Rouget, Vert Doré(France); Pinot Nero (Italy); Cerna, Pino Ceren, Pino Fran, Pino Negru, Pino Nero (Moldova); Blauburgunder, Blauer Burgunder, Blauer Klevner, Clevner, Klevner, Schwarzburgunder, Schwarzer Burgunder (Austria); Pinot Cernii, Pinot Cherny (Russia); Pinot Noir, Burgundy, Clevner, Cortaillod, Dôle, Klävner, Klevner, Salvagnin Noir, Savagnin Noir (Switzerland); Burgundské Modré, Rulandské Modré(Slovakia); Rulandské Modré, Burgundské Modré(Czech Republic); Kékburgundi, Kisburgundi, Nagyburgundi (Hungary); Black Burgundy, Franc Pineau, Gamay Beaujolais (USA).
It must not be confused with the varieties Béclan, Blauburger, Blaufränkisch, Brun Fourca, Gamay (Dôle), Gouget Noir, Persan, Pineau d'Aunis, Tressot Noir or Trousseau No ir, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological or name similarities. It is most likely the original Pinot variety with many varieties or clones and mutations. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2000, there is a parent-offspring relationship between Pinot (see there in detail) and Traminer (Savagnin Blanc). Specifically, Traminer is assumed to be the descendant of Pinot, although the reverse relationship cannot be ruled out. The old synonym Schwarzer Traminer (Black Traminer) points to this relationship, although at the time when this name was created there was of course no concrete knowledge about it. Somatic mutations are Pinot Meunier (Schwarzriesling) and Samtrot,...
