Chasselas

Chasselas

The white variety is one of the oldest in the world. After a daring hypothesis an ancestor was already 6,000 before Christ in the Jordan Valley in today's Israel and Jordan and was cultivated 5,000 years ago in Egypt suspected an Egyptian origin. An old "Chasselas" said Vine supposedly grew in the garden of the school of Coptic Cairo. She came from the El-Fayoum oasis, where Greek settlers are said to have introduced wine to the time of Alexander the Great (356-323 BC). After a further hypothesis is of the variety with the Pliny (23-79 AD) mentioned Aminea be identical or at least a descendant.

The Swiss biologist Dr. José Vouillamoz Jose led in 2009 with colleague Dr. Claire Arnold of the University of Neuchâtel extensive DNA by. In his opinion, the variety comes not from the East but from the Swiss canton of Vaud Lake Geneva. In this area especially many varieties of vine occur. This is according to the Russian botanist Nikolai I. Vavilov Nikolai Ivanovich (1887-1943) an important indicator for the determination of origin. Anyway applies Chasselas in the European gene pool as leading variety (Ursorte), many of the descendants. The following varieties were often confused because of synonyms with Chasselas: Albillo Mayor , Barbarossa , Admirable de Courtiller (Chasselas de Courtiller), Chasselas de Pondichery, Fayoumi, Madeleine Royale , Bianca Marzemina , Palomino (Golden Chasselas in California), Priknadi and zlahtina .

There are some 250 synonyms , which testify to the great age and the worldwide spread. The most important are Amber Chasselas (USA, Bar-sur-Aube, Blanchette (Switzerland), Bois Rouge, Bon Blanc, Chasselas Bianco, Chasselas Blanc, Chasselas Doré, Chasselas Queen Victoria (and 50 other names starting with Chasselas), Hadari, Dorin , Elba Toro (Spain), Féher Chasselas (Hungary), fendant (Switzerland), Franceseta (Spain), Ms. grape, Chasselas, Junker, Krachgutedel (Germany, Austria), Lausannois (Burgundy), Mornen Blanc (Rhône), Moster (Austria ), Perlan , Pinzutella (Corsica), Plemenka (Croatia), Queen Victoria, Rdeca zlahtina (Croatia), Rouge Aces Royal Muscadine, Schöndedel, Shasla Belaya (Ukraine), Silberling, Süßling (Germany), Temprana Agostena, Temprana Media, Temprana tardía, Tempranillo de Nav, Temprano (Spain), Nestle (Germany), Wälsche (Switzerland) and White Chasselas (Germany).

The German botanist Hieronymus Hieronymus Bock (1498-1554) mentions in his "Kreütter book" in the edition of 1539 different names, namely small Franconia, Franconian Great, Noble and Lautterdrauben. For Baden called "Chasselas" there are the following story. Margrave Louis William of Baden (1677-1707) was a friend since the Turkish wars with the Savoy Prince Prince Eugen (1663-1736). During his visits to the Savoy wine joyful Margrave should have the tangy, light and sweet white wine particularly appreciated the prince, who was pressed from the Chasselas grape, and called there (to date) fendant. Prince Eugene sent him Chasselas seedlings to Baden, which had planted in his Margraviate of the Margrave. The white wine was perceived as "good" and "noble".

The Swiss name "fendant" (cleavage) is derived from the fact that not burst by the unusually hard shells the berries, but split up when she squeezes between forefinger and thumb. The name used for the first time the botanist Johann ileocecal (1541-1613). The French name "Chasselas" was first used in 1654 by Nicolas de Bonnefons (a servant of King Louis XIV mentioned) in his cookbook "Les Délices de la campagne". The name most likely derives from the community at Macon in Burgundy from Chasselas, from where the vine is probably widespread in France (but why not have come from there).

The early-maturing, high-yielding grape vine is susceptible to various diseases. These are millerandage (Millerandage), chlorosis , Esca and Black spot disease (Phomopsis). It provides acid and low alcohol, gelbgüne wines with almonds that are usually enjoyed young. But also very good qualities under the protected names are mainly in Switzerland fendant produced. Here it is primarily a wine places and occupies 4,100 acres with about a third of the vineyard. Also in Germany, it is used as wine grapes. Here she was, especially in 2009 Baden (Germany), represented at 1,101 acres. Grand Duke Karl-Friedrich learned the vine in Vevey (Switzerland), who brought them to Baden in 1780 and enacted its growers by decree cultivation.

Chasselas but mainly as table grape used because it brings with it excellent conditions. Mainly for this purpose it is used in many countries worldwide. The largest acreage in Romania (several thousand hectares), France (2,500 ha) and Hungary under the name Saszla and Fehér Gyöngyszölö (1,800 ha) and. In Austria it is used on 50 acres. Reduced acreage there in Italy, Russia, Serbia and Spain, as well as overseas in Canada, California (Golden Chasselas) and New Zealand. Worldwide occupies approximately 35,000 acres of grape vines.

According to 2009 were carried out DNA analysis is a parent-offspring relationship with Mornen Noir , which explains the synonym Chasselas Noir. The varieties Chasselas Rose Royal, Chasselas rouge (Red Chasselas) and Chasselas Violet (Königsgutedel) are colored, and Chasselas Musque (Muscat Chasselas) a taste mutation . Chasselas was oftmaliger crossing partners in conducting the new breeds Angelo Pirovano , Autuchon , Bacon Chasselas , Black Prince , Challenge , Charmont , Doral , Ferdinand de Lesseps , Good Dialogue , Gutknipperlé , Hecker , Hector , Ithaca , John , Ferenc Kossuth , Lindley , Mathiász Jánosné , , Millennium grape , Muscat ottonel , Narancsizü , Nobling , Rabaner , Revolta , Rouge de Diolly , Schönburger and triumph .

Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd.. 2012