Grape varieties have genetic mutations called clones. Pinot Noir has hundreds of clones with a few dozen being commercially popular. Other grape varieties have only a few clones. Why is this? First, Pinot Noir is a very ancient grape variety and has changed through generations of growing in different places. Second, it's thought to be more genetically unstable than other varieties.
It's believed that Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc are clones of Pinot Noir.
We can leave the science to the scientists. What's this mean to us as consumers?
I never hear anyone talk about grape variety clones much except for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With Pinot single clone wines are all the rage. This is interesting in that previously it was thought you needed a blend of two or three clones to get a more complete, structured wine. Many of the commercially available clones in California make distinctly different wines even when grown next to each other and made by the same winemaker. The diversity is pretty remarkable.
Grape nurseries will sell many different clones and the grape grower is supposed to select the right one(s) based on their climate, soil, and what they're trying to do with their Pinot Noir.
Most come from the Burgundy region of France. Ones from the Dijon area are numbered such as clone 113 or 777. The Pommard clone, from the small village in Burgundy of that name, is another popular clone in California. There are also what are called California heritage clones, originally from France, but after decades of growth in another environment are now distinctly local in characteristics. These are named after the grower recognized for this new variation, such as the Calera and (Joseph) Swan clones.
The Wente Winery planted Chardonnay brought from Burgundy over 100 years ago. What has become known as the Wente clone is now the most popular Chardonnay clone in America.
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