Peurion
Encyclopedia
Peurion is a traditional French
variety of white wine grape that is a sibling of Chardonnay
. Once quite popular, not much is still grown in France these days.
north of Dijon and was widely grown before the phylloxera
epidemic.
DNA fingerprinting has shown that it is one of many grapes to be the result of a cross between Gouais Blanc
(Heunisch) and Pinot
, making it a full sibling of famous varieties such as Chardonnay and Aligoté
. Gouais Blanc was widely grown by the French peasantry in the Medieval ages. This offered lots of opportunities for hybridisation, and the offspring benefited from hybrid vigour as the parents were genetically quite different.
, but it has largely been superseded by more fashionable varieties.
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...
variety of white wine grape that is a sibling 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...
. Once quite popular, not much is still grown in France these days.
History
Peurion was popularised by the Augustinian monks at LangresLangres
Langres is a commune in north-eastern France. It is a subprefecture of the Haute-Marne département in the Champagne-Ardenne region.-History:As the capital of the Romanized Gallic tribe the Lingones, it was called Andematunnum, then Lingones, and now Langres.The town is built on a limestone...
north of Dijon and was widely grown before the phylloxera
Phylloxera
Grape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
epidemic.
DNA fingerprinting has shown that it is one of many grapes to be 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...
(Heunisch) and Pinot
Pinot
-Grape varieties:* One of several grape varieties and associated wines** Pinot blanc ** Pinot gris ** Pinot meunier** Pinot noir...
, making it a full sibling of famous varieties such as Chardonnay and Aligoté
Aligoté
Aligoté is a white grape used to make dry white wines in the Burgundy region of France, and which also has significant plantings in much of Eastern Europe including Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Bulgaria. With , it was the 22nd most planted vine variety in the world in 2004...
. Gouais Blanc was widely grown by the French peasantry in the Medieval ages. This offered lots of opportunities for hybridisation, and the offspring benefited from hybrid vigour as the parents were genetically quite different.
Distribution and Wines
What little Peurion is left can be found in Franche-ComtéFranche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
, but it has largely been superseded by more fashionable varieties.
Vine and Viticulture
Like many Gouais/Pinot crosses, Peurion produces a vigorous vine with small bunches of grapes, but it is rather more reliable than most such crosses.Synonyms
Blanc De Villemoyenne, Blanc Pinot, Co Doux, Gueuchette Blanc, Gueuchette Blanche, Lioneau, Lyonnais, Menu Blanc, Meslier Vert, Milleron, Milleron Troyen Blanc, Peurichon, Pouriette, Pourrisseux, Purion, Troyen BlancSee also
- Other Gouais Blanc/Pinot crosses include Aubin VertAubin VertAubin 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...
, AuxerroisAuxerrois BlancAuxerrois Blanc or Auxerrois Blanc de Laquenexy is a white wine grape that is important in Alsace, and is also grown in Germany and Luxembourg. It is a full sibling of Chardonnay that is often blended with the similar Pinot Blanc.-History:...
, Bachet noirBachet noirBachet Noir is a traditional French variety of red wine grape that is a sibling of Chardonnay. A little is still grown in the Aube, where it is used to add colour and body to Gamay wines.-History:...
, BeaunoirBeaunoirBeaunoir is a traditional French variety of red wine grape that is a sibling of Chardonnay. The 'beautiful black' grape produces a thin wine and not much is grown these days.-History:...
, Franc Noir de la Haute-SaôneFranc Noir de la Haute-SaôneFranc Noir de la Haute-Saône is a traditional French variety of red wine grape that is a sibling of Chardonnay. It makes thin, tart wine and has largely disappeared from cultivation.-History:...
, Gamay Blanc GloriodGamay Blanc GloriodGamay Blanc Gloriod is an obscure French variety of white wine grape. Very little of it is grown commercially.It is named after Émile Gloriod, who discovered it as a seedling; it was originally thought to be a white version of the Gamay grape. "Gamay Blanc" was already used as an alternative name...
, GamayGamayGamay is a purple-colored grape variety used to make red wines, most notably grown in Beaujolais and in the Loire Valley around Tours. Its full name is Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. It is a very old cultivar, mentioned as long ago as the 15th century...
, Melon, KnipperléKnipperléKnipperlé is a traditional French variety of white wine grape from Alsace. It's not listed for use in AOC wine, but is a minor component of blends for local drinking, in some ways an Alsatian equivalent of its sibling Aligoté in Burgundy.-History:...
, RomorantinRomorantinRomorantin is a traditional French variety of white wine grape, that is a sibling of Chardonnay. Once quite widely grown in the Loire, it has now only seen in the Cour-Cheverny AOC. It produces intense, minerally wines somewhat reminiscent of Chablis....
, RoublotRoublotRoublot is a traditional French variety of white wine grape that is a sibling of Chardonnay. It was once quite widely grown near Auxerre.-History:In the early 19th century, Roublot made up a third of the area in Saint-Bris-le-Vineux in the west of Chablis...
, and SacySacy (grape)Sacy is a white wine grape grown primarily in the central and northeastern France within the Yonne and Allier départments.Sacy ripens early, and produces light-coloured wines low in acid and alcohol.-Parentage:...