The Pinot blanc is an internationally widespread variety and the youngest member of the Pinot family.It is recognisable from its delicate, often restrained bouquet and its soft acidity, that often makes it an ideal blending partner with other white Pinot varieties.
Origin
probably Burgundy, France
Parentage
Mutation of Grauer Burgunder
Vineyard area
1,971 ha, 4.2%
Vineyard area: Growth level remains unchanged. Its relative, the Chardonnay (Burgunder x Heunisch), gained more importance before and after the turn of the millennium.
Important ampelographic features:
Leaf: medium-sized, pentagonal, with three to five lobes, not very deeply lobed
Grape cluster: medium, dense berries, cylindrical, shouldered, often with small wings. Berries are round to oval, with yellowish-green thin skin.
Ripening time: mid- to late-season
Significance, conditions: Because of its somewhat demured character, Weissburgunder is often used for blending (cuvée) with other varieties and is sometimes vinified in small oak barriques and undergoes malolactic fermentation. In the vineyard, it demands quite a lot from soil and site. Compared to Chardonnay, Weissburgunder is more prone to Botrytis because the grapes are more compact.
Wine: Only in good vineyard sites does this variety yield the highest quality. Young wines have a blossomy expression and piquant acidity, while mature versions tend to develop bread and nut flavours. Maturation goes slowly and the highest quality is achieved after longer bottle ageing.