The rare grape variety "Chardonnay Rose", which grows only in Champagne and Burgundy, has been included in the official catalogue of French grape varieties. Only very small quantities of wine are currently produced from this variety, which is the result of a natural mutation. The Champagne Winegrowers' Association has now requested the Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité (INAO) to subject "Chardonnay Rose" to analytical tests, experiments and samples. The official registration was only the first step, Thibault Le Mailloux, spokesman for the Champagne Committee, told the British magazine "Harpers".
Experts suspect the variety could be very resistant to the effects of climate change and to pests. That is what they want to find out. Thibault Le Mailloux explained that it should be possible to grow four to five new, resistant varieties in Champagne in the next 25 years.
(uka)