The red grape variety is a new breed between Castets x Abouriou. Synonyms are CAAB 3/8 and Nitra. The name was given after a tributary of the Danube or town of the same name (Nitra). The crossbreeding was made in Slovakia in 1976 by the breeder Dorota Pospíšilová. The plant variety protection was granted in 2012. Incidentally, the new Hron, Rimava and Váh varieties were created with the same parents. The medium to late-maturing vine is susceptible to both types of mildew, sensitive to frost but resistant to botrytis and drought. It yields dark-coloured, full-bodied red wines with ageing potential similar to Cabernet Sauvignon. The variety is cultivated in Slovakia. However, no stocks were reported in 2016 (statistics Kym Anderson).
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien