Duras (grape)
Encyclopedia
Duras is a traditional French variety of red wine
grape
that is mostly grown around the Tarn River
, northeast of Toulouse
. It is usually blended with other traditional varieties, but production has been declining in recent years.
Despite the name the grape appears to have no connection with of the Côtes de Duras
east of Bordeaux
, at least it is not grown there today. Nor is any link known to the Durasa of Piedmont.
DNA fingerprinting has recently suggested that with Petit Verdot
from Bordeaux, it is a parent of the Tressot
variety.
, the Côtes de Millau and the Vins d'Estaing north of Rodez
. It makes robust red wines with a peppery note that are typically blended with other traditional varieties such as Fer
and Négrette
.
and black rot
with a tendency to bud early.
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
that is mostly grown around the Tarn River
Tarn River
The Tarn is a long river in southern France , right tributary of the Garonne.The Tarn runs in a roughly westerly direction, from its source at an altitude of 1,550 m on Mont Lozère in the Cévennes mountains , through the deep gorges and canyons of the Gorges du Tarn The Tarn is a long...
, northeast of Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
. It is usually blended with other traditional varieties, but production has been declining in recent years.
Despite the name the grape appears to have no connection with of the Côtes de Duras
Côtes de Duras
Côtes de Duras is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée for red and white wines in South West France. Côtes de Duras is located in the department of Lot-et-Garonne, and is located immediately adjacent to the Bordeaux wine region, which is restricted to the Gironde department, as an extension of...
east of Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, at least it is not grown there today. Nor is any link known to the Durasa of Piedmont.
History
Viticulture came to the Tarn with the Romans, but little is known of the history of Duras.DNA fingerprinting has recently suggested that with Petit Verdot
Petit verdot
Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grape, principally used in classic Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than the other varieties in Bordeaux, often too late, so it fell out of favour in its home region. When it does ripen, it is added in small amounts to add tannin, colour and flavour to the...
from Bordeaux, it is a parent of the Tressot
Tressot
Tressot or Tressot Noir is a variety of dark-skinned wine grape. Tressot has historically been grown in Burgundy but it is now almost extinct. Some small plantations still remain in the Chablis district of Burgundy....
variety.
Distribution and Wines
Duras is only really found in the upper reaches of the Tarn River, in GaillacGaillac AOC
Gaillac AOC is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in South West France in the département of Tarn, just north of Toulouse.-History:...
, the Côtes de Millau and the Vins d'Estaing north of Rodez
Rodez
Rodez is a town and commune in southern France, in the Aveyron department, of which it is the capital. Its inhabitants are called Ruthénois.-History:Existing from at least the 5th century BC, Rodez was founded by the Celts...
. It makes robust red wines with a peppery note that are typically blended with other traditional varieties such as Fer
Fer
Fer is a red French wine grape variety that is grown primarily in South West France and is most notable for its role in the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wines of Gaillac, Marcillac and Béarn but can also be found as minor component in the wines of Madiran, Cabardès and Bergerac...
and Négrette
Négrette
Négrette is a dark red wine grape grown primarily in South West France in the region between Albi and Toulouse. It is a direct descendant of Mavro rootstock, a grape variety cultivated extensively on the island of Cyprus.-Wine regions:...
.
Vine and Viticulture
The vine is susceptible to oidiumOidium
This article is about a type of fungal spore. For the ascomycete genus, see Oidium . For the fungus that causes powdery mildew on grapes, see Uncinula necator....
and black rot
Black rot
Black rot is a name used for various diseases of cultivated plants caused by fungi or bacteria, producing dark brown discoloration and decay in the leaves of fruit and vegetables:...
with a tendency to bud early.