The red grape variety originates from France. Around 300 synonyms testify 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 (Moldavia); Blauburgunder, Blauer Burgunder, Blauer Klevner, Clevner, Klevner, Schwarzburgunder, Schwarzer Burgunder (Austria); Pinot Cernii, Pinot Cherny (Russia); Blauburgunder, Burgunder, 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).
Origin
This is a very old variety. There are countless sources/variants, often with different dates, as to when Pinot Noir was first mentioned or first appeared in the individual countries. The mentions in the 9th century in connection with Charlemagne (742-814) must be regarded as legends (but cannot be ruled out) because it is unclear exactly which grape varieties were meant. In any case, it is one of the classic Franconian varieties and could have been spread with the Traminer (Savagnin Blanc) during the time of the Frankish Empire. Reliable dates are 1283 (Moreillon) and 1375 (Pinot Vermeil) in France, 1470 (Clebroit = Klebroth) in the municipality of Hattenheim in the Rheingau in Germany, 1766 (Cortaillod) in Switzerland and the 18th century in Austria, Hungary and Italy.
Ancestry
Despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological or name similarities, it should not be confused with the varieties Béclan, Blauburger, Blaufränkisch, Brun...
