The red grape variety originates from Slovenia or the old Austria (Habsburg monarchy). There are about 100 synonyms that indicate a great age. Some of them are Bela Ranfolina, Beggar's Grape, Blauer Hainer, Blauer Kölner (second main name), Baluer Luttenberger, Blauer Milcher, Bleu de Cologne, Branicevka, Cernia, Cernina, Cernina Velka, Colognese Bleu, Columella Parientalis, Frankenthaler, Grobschwarze, Gros Bleu, Grossmilcher, Kapcina, Karcina Grosskölner, Kavčina Crna, Kölner Blau, Kölni Kék, Kosavina, Modra Kavčina, Plava Velica, Schwarzer Muskateller, Vranik, Žametasta Črnina and Žametna Črnina. In an ampelographic work from 1820, there is documentary evidence of cultivation in Styria, although at that time today's Slovenia was also part of the Habsburg Empire. Today, however, it no longer plays a role in Austria. In the vine museum of the Leth Franz winery (Fels am Wagram, Lower Austria) there are a few vines under the name Beggar's Grape. There were also colour mutations. The late-ripening vine is sensitive to frost. It yields red wines with high acidity, especially for blends. However, it is also used as a table grape and ornamental vine.
In Slovenia, the variety is cultivated in the Podravje region around the city of Maribor and in the Posavje region in the Dolenjska area. There it is a component of the PTP red wines Cviček and Metliska Crnina. The famous "Stara Trta" (Old Vine) grows on a house façade in Maribor (Maribor) on the banks of the Drava River. Every year, up to 50 kilograms of grapes are ceremoniously harvested and fermented into a wine that is bottled in about a hundred artistically designed quarter-litre bottles and is often given as a gift during state visits. According to the Guinness Book of Records, this is the oldest vine in the world, at around 450 years old, although there are other candidates (see Old Vines for details). In 2016, 822 hectares of vines were reported in Slovenia, with a declining trend (Kym Anderson).
Pictures: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
