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The white grape variety originates from France. Around one hundred synonyms testify to the vine's great age and worldwide distribution in most wine-growing countries. The most important of these, grouped alphabetically by country, are Grossburgunder, Kleinedel, Weißburgunder, Weißer Arbst (Germany); Bon Blanc, Arnaison Blanc, Arnoison, Auvernas, Auvernat Blanc, Chardonnet Pinot Blanc, Clevner, Epinette, Epinette Blanche, Espece Moreote Variete Blanche, Gentil Blanc, Klävner, Moréote Blanche, Morillon Blanc, Noirien Blanc, Pino Blanc, Pinot Blanc Chardonnet, Pinot Blanc d'Alsace, Pinot Blanc Vrai, Plant Doré, Vert Plant (France); Burgundac Bijeli, Pinot Bijeli (Croatia); Pinot Bianco (Italy); Burgundy Veisser, Pino Belîi (Moldova); Pinot Blanc, Pinot Blanc (Austria); Pinot Branco (Portugal); Burgundské Biele, Rulandské Biele (Slovakia); Beli Pinot (Slovenia); Borgona, Borgona Blanco (Spain); Rulandské Bílé(Czech Republic); Burgundi Fehér, Fehér Burgundi (Hungary).

Pinot Blanc - Weintraube und Blatt

Pedigree

It is a colour mutation of Pinot Gris (or vice versa), which mutated from Pinot Noir. Pinot Blanc thus belongs to the Pinot varieties (see there in detail). It should not be confused with the Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Knipperlé, Melon de Bourgogne, Pignoletto or Traminer (Savagnin Blanc) varieties, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities. Until the end of the 19th century, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc were often equated. The ampelographer Victor Pulliat (1827-1896) had already assumed that there were two different varieties in 1868 and this was officially recognised in France in 1872. In other countries, the two were considered identical for much longer. In Austria, they were recorded and recognised together until 1999. It was not until 1999 that DNA analyses confirmed their independence: Chardonnay is a natural cross between Pinot x Gouais Blanc.

Pinot-Sorten - Pino Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Frühburgunder

The three varieties Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris have passed on their genes through natural crossbreeding (often with Gouais Blanc). However, these three varieties have an almost identical DNA profile, which is why DNA analyses cannot be used to determine which was the parent in the case of natural crosses. For this reason, only Pinot is given as the parent (see there for a list of all direct Pinot descendants). Pinot Blanc (as opposed to Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir) is rarely used in new varieties due to a lack of quality, for example in the Jutrzenka and Manzoni Bianco varieties.

Characteristics

The early sprouting and early ripening vine is resistant to frost but susceptible to fungal diseases. Compared to Pinot Gris, it is more reliable in terms of yield. High must weights can be achieved even with higher yields. The vine produces greenish-yellow coloured, fruity white wines with moderate acidity and aromas of lime blossom, melons and pears. These are often used in the production of sparkling wines. Although it is not one of the great (Cépages nobles), it is one of the classic grape varieties cultivated internationally.

Cultivation areas

In France, the variety was first described in Burgundy in 1895, but German ampelographers had already described it in the early 19th century. The French cultivation area totals 1,181 hectares with a slight downward trend. The largest area is in Alsace, where the variety is mostly blended with Auxerrois, with the remainder in Burgundy. In Italy, it is particularly widespread in the north-east in the regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, South Tyrol and Veneto and is often cultivated together with Chardonnay. The area under cultivation in Italy is 2,337 hectares and is also on the decline.

There are other areas under cultivation in Europe in Germany (5,540 hectares and rising), England (15 hectares), Georgia (219 hectares), Croatia, Luxembourg (160 hectares), Moldova (210 hectares), Austria (1,971 hectares and rising), Portugal (15 hectares), Romania (0.2 hectares), Russia (865 hectares), Switzerland (111 hectares), Slovakia (416 hectares), Slovenia (424 hectares), the Czech Republic (762 hectares), Ukraine (170 hectares) and Hungary (238 hectares). Overseas, there are stands in Argentina (9 ha), Australia (5 ha), Brazil, Chile (18 ha), China, Japan, Canada (109 ha), New Zealand (12 ha), South Africa (9 ha), Uruguay (2 ha) and the USA (263 ha). In 2016, a total of 13,779 hectares of vines were planted, with a downward trend. This puts it in 55th place in the global grape variety ranking (Kym Anderson).

Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI)

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