The white grape variety is one of the oldest cultivated vines in Europe alongside the Muscat grape. It has countless descendants and has also been used in many new breedings, so its genes are widely spread. Synonyms The approximately 200 synonyms in countless languages are a record and prove the high age and wide distribution. In most countries, there is no separation in the recording of the varieties, but they are usually listed together. The following synonyms are used as a general, neutral designation for Traminer or for the white/yellow variety, but also confusingly often for all varieties (there is no clear assignment). The most important ones, grouped alphabetically by country, are Adelfranke, Edeltraube, Fränkisch, Frennschen, Frentschen, Klevner, Rotfrensch, Weißfrennschen (Germany); Edler Weiß, Weißedler (Alsace); Fromenteau, Fourmentans, Gentil Blanc, Naturé, Naturel, Sauvagnin, Savagnin Jaune, Savagnin Vert, Viclair (France); Traminac (Croatia); Klevner (Austria); Heida, Païen (Switzerland); Brynšt, Drumin, Prync, Tramín Bíly (Czech Republic); Traminec (Slovenia); Altdeutsche/Deutsche, Malvoisie (South Tyrol); Formentin (Hungary). The specific synonyms for the varieties Gewürztraminer and Savagnin Rose are listed under these keywords. Varieties The different varieties differ in terms of berry color, aroma, leaf shape, and grape size, as well as in terms of growth vigor, yield, and susceptibility to disease, but they exhibit almost the same DNA profile with slight differences. They are therefore considered a single grape variety, although they are listed separately as independent varieties in many grape variety catalogs. There are three main varieties: Savagnin Blanc The French name (also Savagnin) is usually given in international sources. Whether it is actually White Traminer or Gewürztraminer is often unclear. In German-speaking countries, it is referred to as Gelber Traminer, Weißer Traminer, or Traminer. This variety is characterized by odor-neutral, yellow-green berries. Gewürztraminer The German name (often with "u" in English-speaking countries) is also internationally common; Red Traminer is also common. Especially in France, it is called Savagnin Rose Aromatique. This far more common variety is characterized by aromatic, reddish/orange berries that give the wine its typical, name-giving note. Savagnin Rose It is also called Klevener de Heiligenstein or Savagnin Rose Non Musqué. This non-aromatic variety with reddish-brown berries occurs almost exclusively in the French Alsace and in the municipality of Durbach (Baden). Unclear source references In many sources, it is unclear which variety it is. However, since Gewürztraminer is by far the most common variety in terms of quantity, this is unproblematic. Most countries list all Traminer varieties together (exceptions are Australia, France, Romania, Russia, and Switzerland). In Kym Anderson's statistics, quantities are listed under the names Gewürztraminer, Savagnin Blanc (Traminer), and Savagnin Rose (only France and Hungary). The first two quantities are included under Gewürztraminer. Properties The early-ripening vine is very resistant to various fungal diseases, especially Botrytis, due to the relatively thick berry skin. The berries usually have a balanced sugar-acid ratio. The variety produces well-structured white wines with quality and aging potential. Especially the far more common variety Gewürztraminer produces extract-rich and alcohol-rich white wines with varietal typical, intense aromas of musk (musqué), bitter orange, lychee (Litchi tree), marzipan, and roses. Therefore, this grape variety is classified as one of the so-called bouquet varieties. Ancestry In German-speaking countries, sources usually distinguish between the two varieties White Traminer or Yellow Traminer and Gewürztraminer or Red Traminer. If only the name Traminer is given, it usually refers to Gewürztraminer, but it can also mean White/Yellow Traminer. For the two varieties Gewürztraminer and Savagnin Rose, there are separate keywords with additional information (see there). Traminer designations Through various independent DNA analyses in Italy, France, Germany, and Austria, it has been proven that the French varieties Savagnin Blanc, Savagnin Rose, and Savagnin Rose Aromatique (Savagnin Aromatique), the Swiss varieties Heida, Heidarot, and Païen, the Italian Traminer Aromatico, and all varieties referred to as Traminer in German-speaking countries are genetically identical (same genotype). The Swiss biologist Dr. José Vouillamoz believes that it is incorrect to speak of a "Traminer family" as this also associates other kinship relationships such as "siblings" or "aunts" and "uncles," which is not the case. Ancestry There are three different theories about parentage. The first theory is that Traminer was selected from wild vines. According to DNA comparison, there is a parent-offspring relationship between Pinot and Traminer. The assumption of a direct wild vine ancestry is only valid if Traminer is a parent (not offspring) of Pinot. This would conform with the assumption that the French name Savagnin is derived from "sauvage" (wild), as well as with the morphological similarity between leaves of Savagnin and wild vines occurring in the Rhine Valley. However, no genetic connection between Traminer and wild vines has been discovered to date. The second theory is based on a cross between Pinot x unknown father variety, and the third theory is of a presumably natural cross between two unknown, now extinct varieties. The most likely theory is a presumably natural cross between Pinot x unknown variety. Origin An earlier often suspected origin from Egypt or the Near East was substantiated by archaeological finds of ancient grape seeds that are said to resemble Traminer (Savagnin Blanc). However, this is doubtful, as identification using grape seeds is very difficult. An origin from Greece is also unlikely, as no genetic connections to Greek varieties have been established to date. The German ampelographer Hermann Goethe (1837-1911) suspected an ancestry from ancient grape varieties and mentions the variety Aminea mentioned by Pliny the Elder (23-79). Other sources also mention Nomentana. However, there is a lack of botanical evidence. Germany, France, or the Czech Republic The exact origin is uncertain; it could come from Germany, France, or the Czech Republic (Moravia). The first reliable mention dates back to 1483 in the Bebenhausen Monastery near Stuttgart as "Frennsch und Traminer Stoeck." The Swiss botanist Johannes Bauhin (1541-1613) mentions in his work published in 1650 "Muscateller" and "Traminner" as widely spread varieties in the Rhine Valley. In the Palatinate village of Rhodt, a Traminer wine was mentioned in 1591. Here there is a protected vineyard where allegedly around 350-year-old Traminer vines from the time of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) still produce wine. In Switzerland, the variety Heida was mentioned in the canton of Valais in 1586. Much later, this occurred in 1736 in France under the name Savagnin Blanc. Thus, the origin from Germany seems much more credible. South Tyrol A frequently mentioned origin is South Tyrol because there is a place called Tramin (Termeno) south of Bolzano. The botanist Hieronymus Bock (1498-1554) reported in his "Kreütter Buch" in the 1546 edition of "vil (much) in the Etsch and to Tramyn growing Traminner grapes." The French ampelographer Pierre Galet (1921-2019) also adhered to this theory and believed that the variety should have first spread to Switzerland and Germany and then to France. However, facts argue against a South Tyrolean origin. In ampelographic works from Italy before the 19th century, there are no indications of Traminer or its synonyms. Although Traminer wines from South Tyrol have been traded since the Middle Ages, the name is likely to refer to the "Großen Traminer" = Räuschling (Traminer descendant), which has been mentioned in Tyrol as "Deutsche Trauben" (German grapes) since the late Middle Ages. Pannonia The diploma biologist Andreas Jung suspects Moravia (Czech Republic) as the origin. At the time of the Frankish Empire, it was introduced during the Christianization of the Slavs in the early Middle Ages together with other Frankish varieties from the eastern Avar mark via the Danube to Franconia and Württemberg and from there to Central Europe. In the Frankish Empire, it was widely spread as "Kleinfränkische" or "Rotfränkische" along the Western Alps (Savoy, Valais) as well as in the French Jura and Alsace. The Pannonian Traminer descendants Grüner Veltliner, Rotgipfler, and Silvaner support this theory (Pannonia included Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Western Hungary). Northeast France However, based on the available historical and genetic data, it is now mostly assumed that the origin is in Northeast France (Franche-Comté, Champagne-Ardenne, Lorraine, and Alsace) and Southwest Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg). The variety was often mentioned in old documents under its numerous (also used for other varieties) synonyms, which makes precise identification difficult. For example, Gentil Blanc was used for the varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Savagnin Blanc. Similarly, Fromenteau was a frequently used name. In South Tyrol, a "Vini de Traminne" was already mentioned in 1242 in Bolzano (and interpreted as evidence of origin), but this refers to a "wine from Tramin" (place) and not the variety. Descendants Traminer, like Heunisch (Gouais Blanc), is one of the most important leading varieties from which many others descend. Its descendants can be considered the Frankish gene pool of Central European grape varieties. Thus, it played a decisive role in the emergence of many valued European varieties alongside Gouais Blanc (Weißer Heunisch). Through DNA analyses, many direct descendants resulting from presumably natural crossings have been identified, and parent-offspring relationships have been established (which means that Traminer could either be a parent or a descendant). Furthermore, Traminer varieties were crossing partners in many new breedings. Adelsfränkisch to Budelho Adelfränkisch – Cross with unknown partner / Germany Albarín Blanco – Cross with unknown partner / Spain Alfrocheiro – Cross with unknown partner / Portugal Aubin Blanc – Cross with Gouais Blanc / France Béquignol Noir – Cross with unknown partner / France Berdomenel – Cross with unknown partner / France Berués de Huarte – Cross with unknown partner / Spain Blauer Riesling – Cross with unknown partner / Germany Budelho - Cross with unknown partner / Spain Carrasquín to Ezerfürtű Carrasquín – Cross with unknown partner / Spain Cserszegi Fűszeres – New breeding with Irsai Olivér / Hungary Chenin Blanc – Cross with Sauvignon Blanc / France Děvín – New breeding with Veltlínske Červené (Roter Veltliner) / Slovakia Duras – Cross with Tressot Noir Elbling – Cross with Gouais Blanc / Germany Ezerfürtű – New breeding with Hárslevelű / Hungary Feridac to Goldtraminer Feridac – Cross with unknown partner / Germany Flora – New breeding with Sémillon / California Folgasão – Cross with unknown partner / Portugal Fütterer – Cross with Gouais Blanc / Germany Generosa (1) – New breeding with Ezerjó / Hungary Godello – Cross with Castellana Blanca / Portugal Goldtraminer – New breeding with Garganega Hartblau to Morava Hartblau – Cross with unknown partner / Germany Hetera – New breeding with Veltlínske Cervené (Roter Veltliner) / Slovakia Jubileum 75 – New breeding with Kövidinka / Hungary Lado – Cross with unknown partner / Spain Manzoni Rosa – New breeding with Trebbiano Toscano / Italy Medea – New breeding with Müller-Thurgau / Czech Republic Mennas – New breeding with Gouais Blanc / Switzerland Mília – New breeding with Müller-Thurgau / Slovakia Molar – Cross with Prieto Picudo / Portugal Morava – New breeding with Bianca and Riesling / Serbia Neoplanta to Prúeras Neoplanta – New breeding with Smederevka (Dimyat) / Serbia Noria – New breeding with Ezerjó / Slovakia Ondenc – Cross with unknown partner Pálava – New breeding with Müller-Thurgau / Czech Republic Panonia – New breeding with Bianca and Riesling / Serbia Pátria – New breeding with Welschriesling / Hungary Perle – New breeding with Müller-Thurgau / Germany Petit Manseng – Cross with unknown partner / France Petit Meslier – Cross with Gouais Blanc / France Pinot Noir – Parent-offspring relationship / France - see above Prúeras – Cross with unknown partner / France Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012 Weißer Traminer: MSBu Internet & Werbung Gewürztraminer: Deutsches Weininstitit DWI
