Petit Meslier is a rare white wine grape that is a minor component of some Champagne blends. It is valued for its ability to retain acidity

Acids in wine

The acids in wine are an important component in both winemaking and the finished product of wine. They are present in both grapes and wine, having direct influences on the color, balance and taste of the wine as well as the growth and vitality of yeasts during fermentation and protecting the wine...

 even in hot vintages. In the very rare cases where it is not blended, it makes crisp wines tasting of apples.

History and pedigree

DNA fingerprinting has shown that like Aubin Blanc

Aubin blanc

Aubin Blanc is a white wine grape from the upper reaches of the Moselle valley in eastern France.-History:DNA fingerprinting has shown that Aubin is the result of a cross between Gouais Blanc and Savagnin. Gouais Blanc was widely grown by the French peasantry in the Medieval age, and it is a...

, Petit Meslier is the result of a cross between Gouais Blanc

Gouais Blanc

Gouais Blanc or Weißer Heunisch is a white grape variety that is seldom grown today but is important as the ancestor of many traditional French and German grape varieties. The name Gouais derives from the old French adjective ‘gou’, a term of derision befitting its traditional status as the grape...

 and Savagnin

Savagnin

Savagnin or Savagnin Blanc is a variety of white wine grape with green-skinned berries. It is mostly grown in the Jura region of France, where it is made into the famous vin jaune and vin de paille.-History:...

. Gouais Blanc is aa parent of Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...

 and Aubin Vert

Aubin Vert

Aubin Vert is a white wine grape cultivar grown in the Lorraine region of France. Small vineyards are found in Bulligny, Bruley, Pagney and Rozérieulles. Within the last century, it has also been grown in Thiaucourt-Regniéville, d'Euvezin and Magny...

 among others, and Savagnin is common in Jura wine

Jura wine

Jura wine, is French wine produced in the Jura département. Located between Burgundy and Switzerland, this cool climate wine region produces wines with some similarity to Burgundy and Swiss wine. Jura wines are distinctive and unusual wines, the most famous being vin jaune, which is made by a...

 (including Vin jaune

Vin jaune

Vin jaune is a special and characteristic type of white wine made in the Jura wine region in eastern France. It is similar to dry fino Sherry and gets its character from being matured in a barrel under a film of yeast, known as the voile, on the wine's surface...

) and is a variety in the Traminer family which also includes Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer is an aromatic wine grape variety that performs best in cooler climates. It is sometimes referred to colloquially as Gewürz, and in French it is written '...

. The Swiss variety Amigne

Amigne

Amigne is a white Swiss wine grape planted primarily in the Valais region, with most of the plantations in Vetroz. Total Swiss plantations of the variety in 2009 stood at .The grape can make rich, full bodied wines...

 also has a parent-offspring relationship with Petit Meslier.

Australia

Irvine Wines in the Eden Valley

Eden Valley, South Australia

Eden Valley is a small South Australian town in the Barossa Ranges. It was named by the surveyors of the area after they found the word "Eden" carved into a tree. Eden Valley has an elevation of 460 metres and an average annual rainfall of 716.2mm....

 claim to have the only Meslier in Australia. They produce a single varietal sparkling wine

Sparkling 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...

, Meslier Brut, and a Pinot Meslier blend.

France

There are just 20 hectares in France. Duval-Leroy

Duval-Leroy

Duval-Leroy is a Champagne producer based in the Vertus region of Champagne. The house, founded in 1859, produces both vintage and non-vintage cuvée as well as a line of organic and biodynamically produced wines....

have made a single varietal champagne, the Authentis Petit Meslier, which was criticised by Decanter for over-oaking.
Champagne Moutard use 1/6th of Petit Meslier in their unique "Cuvée Six Cépages" : Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbane and Petit Meslier.

Vine and Viticulture

There's usually a reason why grapes like this are in decline. The Traminer family are notoriously difficult to grow, with poor disease resistance and low yields.

Synonyms

Arbonne, Barnay, Bernais, Bernet, Co De France, Crene, Feuille D'Ozerolle, Hennequin, Lepine, Maille, Maye, Melie, Melie Blanc, Melier, Meslier De Champagne, Meslier Dore, Meslier Petit A Queue Rouge, Meslier Vert, Mornain Blanc, Orbois, Petit Meslier, Petit Meslier A Queue Rouge, Petit Meslier Dore, Queue Rouge, Saint Lye

Further reading

• Robinson, Jancis Vines, Grapes & Wines Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1-85732-999-6