Ondenc
Encyclopedia
Ondenc is a white French wine
grape found predominantly in the Gaillac region of southwest France
. In the 19th century, it was a popular planting in Bordeaux
but fell out of favor following the phylloxera epidemic
due to poor yield
s and sensitive to grape disease, though is still one of the seven permitted white varieties permitted in Bordeaux.. Prior to falling out of favor, vine cuttings were brought from Bordeaux to Australian where the grapes became known under the synonym
s of Irvine's White in Victoria
and Sercial in South Australia
. The Australian grapes weren't identified as Ondenc till 1976 when French ampelographer Paul Truel identified the vine while visiting Australia. Today, the grape is nearly extinct in Australia except for a small amount of plantings in Victoria used in sparkling wine production
.
. In the early 19th century, Ondenc vines were taken to the Cognac
region where the grape was known as Blanc Sélection Carrière. From Cognac, cuttings spread to California
and Portugal
. Ondenc cuttings, known as Blanc Select, were also among the grape varieties that James Busby
brought to Australia in 1832. At the turn of the 20th century, plantings of Ondenc declined worldwide and in France it was soon limited to the Gaillac region and the Appellation d'origine contrôlée
(AOC) regions of Bergerac, Côtes de Duras
and Montravel.
.
French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer...
grape found predominantly in the Gaillac region of southwest France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In the 19th century, it was a popular planting in Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine
A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world...
but fell out of favor following the phylloxera epidemic
Great French Wine Blight
The Great French Wine Blight was a severe blight of the mid-19th century that destroyed many of the vineyards in France and laid to waste the wine industry...
due to poor yield
Yield (wine)
In viticulture, the yield is a measure of the amount of grapes or wine that is produced per unit surface of vineyard, and is therefore a type of crop yield...
s and sensitive to grape disease, though is still one of the seven permitted white varieties permitted in Bordeaux.. Prior to falling out of favor, vine cuttings were brought from Bordeaux to Australian where the grapes became known under the synonym
Synonym
Synonyms are different words with almost identical or similar meanings. Words that are synonyms are said to be synonymous, and the state of being a synonym is called synonymy. The word comes from Ancient Greek syn and onoma . The words car and automobile are synonyms...
s of Irvine's White in Victoria
Victorian wine
Victorian wine is wine made in the Australian state of Victoria. With over 600 wineries, Victoria has more wine producers than any other Australian wine-producing state but ranks third in overall wine production due to the lack of a mass bulk wine-producing area like South Australia's Riverland and...
and Sercial in South Australia
South Australian wine
The South Australian wine industry is responsible for more than half the production of all Australian wine. The state of South Australia has a vast diversity in geography and climate which allows the state to be able to successfully produce a wide range of grape varieties-from the cool climate...
. The Australian grapes weren't identified as Ondenc till 1976 when French ampelographer Paul Truel identified the vine while visiting Australia. Today, the grape is nearly extinct in Australia except for a small amount of plantings in Victoria used in sparkling wine production
Sparkling wine production
There are four main methods of sparkling wine production. The first is simple injection of carbon dioxide , the process used in soft drinks, but this produces big bubbles that dissipate quickly in the glass. The second is the Metodo Italiano – Charmat process, in which the wine undergoes a...
.
History
The grape is believed to have originated in southwestern France and at its peak production it was grown as far north as the Côtes-de-Blaye region and as far south as the foothills of the PyreneesPyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
. In the early 19th century, Ondenc vines were taken to the Cognac
Cognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
region where the grape was known as Blanc Sélection Carrière. From Cognac, cuttings spread to California
California wine
California wine has a long and continuing history, and in the late twentieth century became recognized as producing some of the world's finest wine. While wine is made in all fifty U.S. states, up to 90% of American wine is produced in the state...
and Portugal
Portuguese wine
Portuguese wine is the result of traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and mostly the Romans. Portugal started to export its wines to Rome during the Roman Empire. Modern exports developed with trade to England after the...
. Ondenc cuttings, known as Blanc Select, were also among the grape varieties that James Busby
James Busby
James Busby is widely regarded as the "father" of the Australian wine industry, as he took the first collection of vine stock from Spain and France to Australia. Later he become a British Resident who traveled to New Zealand, involved in the drafting of the Declaration of the Independence of New...
brought to Australia in 1832. At the turn of the 20th century, plantings of Ondenc declined worldwide and in France it was soon limited to the Gaillac region and the Appellation d'origine contrôlée
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) regions of Bergerac, 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...
and Montravel.
Wine
The Ondenc grape can a highly perfumed, full-bodied wine. It is also high in acidity which lend itself well to the production of sparkling wineSparkling wine
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved , or as a result of carbon dioxide...
.