César (grape)

César
Grape (Vitis)
Species	Vitis vinifera
Also called	Romain, Picorneau (more)
Origin	France
Notable regions	northern Burgundy
Notable wines	Bourgogne-Irancy

César is an ancient red wine grape from northern Burgundy. It makes dark, tannic wines that are softened by blending with Pinot Noir^[1] and sometimes by carbonic maceration. It was popular in the 19th century, but it has now been largely replaced by Pinot Noir.

There are small plantings of a "César" grape in Chile and Argentina, but they appear to be a different variety.

History

The name and the alternative of Romain refer to the tradition that César was brought to Burgundy by Roman legionaries.

However DNA fingerprinting has shown that it is the result of a cross between Pinot Noir and Argant. Pinot is of course the characteristic grape of Burgundy, although the Jurasiens claim that it came from the Jura. Argant is a Spanish grape that was certainly grown in the Jura in the 19th century. So it's possible that Argant was the grape that the Romans brought from Spain, which then bred with Pinot in Burgundy by accident or design. Alternatively César was born in the Jura and then followed the armies north. Either way, the grape's robust structure and colour are typical of its Spanish heritage.

Distribution and Wines

Aside from the misidentified vines in South America mentioned above, almost all César is found northwest of Dijon towards Chablis in the département of Yonne. It's best known in the red wines of Irancy, but may also be blended into rosé, clairet and Bourgogne mousseux.

Vine and Viticulture

César's Mediterranean origins reveal themselves in its early budding, which makes it very vulnerable to frost in Burgundy. It is also fairly susceptible to mildew.

Synonyms

Céear, Céelar, Célar, Gros Monsieur, Gros Noir, Picargneau, Picargniol, Picargniot, Picarniau, Picorneau, Romain, Romano, Ronçain,^[2] César Noir, Hureau, Lombard

See also

• Pinotage, a South African grape also bred by crossing Pinot with a Mediterranean variety.

Notes and references

• This article is based in part on material from the German Wikipedia.

1. ^ J. Robinson Vines, Grapes & Wines pg 200 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 978-1-85732-999-5
2. ^ Maul, Erika; Töpfer, Reinhard; Eibach, Rudolf (2007). "Vitis International Variety Catalogue". Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof (IRZ), Siebeldingen, Germany. http://www.vivc.de/datasheet/dataResult.php?data=2400. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 

Further reading

• Robinson, Jancis Vines, Grapes & Wines Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1857329996

External links

• VIVC bibliography