The red grape variety originates from France. Synonyms are Canari, Pinot Gris Mendoza (Argentina); Boudalès, Caillaba, Canaril, Canarill, Carcassès, Chalosse Noire, Cot à Queue Verte, Enfin, Gamay Luverdon, Ondenc Noir (France); Luverdon (Italy); Batista (Spain); Folle Noire (Uruguay). It must not be confused with the Cot or Gamay varieties, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities. Nothing is known about its parentage and possible relationship to the white Ondenc variety. The medium-late ripening, high-yielding vine is susceptible to botrytis. It yields light red, low-alcohol red wines. Two colour mutations are Canari Blanc and Canari Gris. The variety used to be widespread in the departments of Ardèche and Haute-Garonne. Today there are no more stocks in France.
The variety was probably more widespread than previously assumed. Surprisingly, DNA analyses revealed that Luverdon or Gamay Luverdon (2001), which is cultivated in the Italian Piedmont, and Batista (2003), which is cultivated in Spain, are identical. It was introduced by immigrants to South America in the 19th century, where it was/is particularly widespread in Argentina. For a long time it was confused with Pinot Gris and called Pinot Gris Mendoza, which was only clarified by the French ampelographer Paul Truel (1924-2014). In 2016, 80 hectares were designated in Argentina and 4 hectares in Uruguay, making a total of 84 hectares (Kym Anderson statistics).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
