Merlot Blanc

The white grape variety Merlot Blanc is grown in small quantities in the French region of Bordeaux ( for example in the areas of Blaye, Bourgeais and Graves). In 1891 she was reportedly brought by a gentleman named Guinaudie from a hunt in the wine growing region Sud -Ouest. He planted the seedlings in the vineyards of his winery Château de Geneau in Virsac. Due to a certain similarity with the Merlot it was called Merlot Blanc.

The grew strong and profitable variety was very popular until the mid-20th century. A survey conducted in 1958 for about 5280 hectares under vine were determined. Since the variety is not replanted since 1995, shrank their numbers to approximately 176 hectares ( as of 2000). Today she takes input in the wines of Entre -deux-mers, Cotes de Bourg, Graves de Vayres, Sainte -Foy- Bordeaux, Cremant de Bordeaux and Côtes de Blaye.

In 2009, the direct relatives of the variety Merlot Blanc were found. The red grape variety Merlot and Folle Blanche are the parents of Merlot Blanc.

See also the article viticulture in France and the list of grape varieties.

Ampelographic varietal characteristics

In the ampelography the habit is described as follows:

• The shoot tip is open. She is hairy and woolly edged reddish. The young leaves are covered weißflammig.
• The medium to large leaves are indented five lobes and strong. The petiole is open lyre -shaped. The blade is serrated uneven.
• The drum-shaped grape is medium in size, sometimes shouldered and dichtbeerig. The roundish berries are medium in size and of a whitish color.

Blanc Merlot ripens almost 12 days after Chasselas. Thus it applies rather than early -maturing. The early bud break leads to late frost hazard.

It is not very susceptible to powdery mildew and downy mildew, but tends to be due to the Dichtbeerigkeit raw rot. In addition, their income is limited by the infestation of nematodes.

Synonyms

The Merlot Blanc is also called Merleau blanc or Merlaut Blanc. He was also referred to erroneously as Colombard.