Servant

The white grape variety originates from France (or Greece). Synonyms are Gros Vert, Nardin, Nonay, Plant Vert, Raisin Blanc, Raisin d'Avignon, Servan, Servan Blanc de Grece, Servan de l'Hérault, Servant Bijeli, Servant di Spagna, Servant Rond, St. Jeannet, Verdal and Verdaou. It should not be confused with the Gros Vert variety, which was also called Servant in the 19th century. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2018, it comes from a presumably natural cross between Wildbacher de Hongrie x Achladi (the father variety is disputed, however). The variety was allegedly introduced from Greece to Toulon in the Var department (Provence) by an Admiral Nonay in 1864. The very late-ripening vine is somewhat susceptible to small-berriedness, but resistant to botrytis. It yields a rustic white wine with a flinty flavour. The variety is also used as table grape. It is grown in France (125 ha) and in South Africa (13 ha). In 2016, 138 hectares of vines were reported with a decreasing trend (Kym Anderson statistics).

Servant - Weintraube und Blatt

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

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Servant

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