The white grape variety is a new variety between Bacchus x Seyve-Villard 12-375 (Villard Blanc). It was named after the brightest fixed star in the sky, nine light years away. Incidentally, the new varieties Phoenix and Staufer also originated from the same parents. They contain genes from Vitis berlandieri, Vitis rupestris and Vitis vinifera. The hybrid was crossed by grower Dr Gerhardt Alleweldt (1927-2005) at the Geilweilerhof Institute for Vine Breeding in Siebeldingen-Pfalz. It was a crossing partner in the new varieties Felicia and Villaris. The vine is resistant to both types of mildew and is considered a PIWI variety. It produces fruity white wines similar to Riesling. However, no stocks were reported in Germany in 2016 (D-STATIS).
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Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)