The grape variety with many color variations probably originates from France. There are around 40 synonyms, indicating a high age. Some of these are Blauer Blussard, Blauer Malvasier, Blussard, Blussard Blau, Blussard Modry, Cornelle, Drille de Coq, Kleinblättrige Fingertraube, Mècle, Mescle, Méthie, Miècle, Olivette, Pandouleau, Pellosard, Pelossard, Pelousard, Peloussard, Pendoulot, Plant d’Arbois, Pleusard, Pleusart, Plousard, Ploussard, Ploussard Noir, Ploussart, Ploussart Noir, Plussart, Polozard, Poulsard Blanc, Poulsard Rouge, Poulsard Noir, Poulsard Noir Musqué, Pulceau, Pulsard, Pulsare, Pulsare Blau, Quille de Coque, Raisin Perle, Schwarzer Malvasier, and Yurskii Zhemchug. Origin This is an ancient variety that was already mentioned in 1386 under the name Polozard in Lons-le-Saunier in the Jura appellation. The German ampelographer Johann Christian Metzger (1789-1852) mentioned it in his work "Die Wein- und Tafeltrauben der deutschen Weinberge und Gärten" published in 1836 under the name Blauer Blussard. At that time, it was still widely cultivated in the Swiss-French border area at Lake Geneva and also in Germany in the Kaiserstuhl region in Baden. Ancestry The ancestry (parentage) is unknown. Despite having the same synonyms or morphological similarities, it should not be confused with the varieties Mècle de Bourgoin, Peloursin, or Tressot Noir. The most common variant Poulsard Noir has a plum-like color (Pelosse is the common term for plum in the Jura). There are somatic mutations Poulsard Blanc (white) and Poulsard Rouge (red), as well as the flavor variant Poulsard Noir Musqué with a subtle muscat note. An openly flowered seedling is Bacchus Noir. These variants are nearly extinct. Characteristics The early ripening vine is susceptible to shatter and particularly to downy mildew, as well as sensitive to spring frosts and heat. The large, thin-skinned berries have few pigments. It produces fragrant, rather light-colored, and not very full-bodied red wines, but still has some aging potential. These are mostly blended with Trousseau and Pinot Noir. It is also used as a table grape. Cultivation areas Poulsard Noir is mainly cultivated in the Jura region, where it is also allowed in some appellations for white wines. Small quantities are also found in the Bugey area. In 2016, 90 hectares of vineyard area were recorded with a sharply declining trend for Poulsard Noir and 0.1 hectares for Poulsard Blanc (Kym Anderson). Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012 Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
