May 28: Chardonnay grape that we come across normally are the noble white grape varieties but there is also a rare pink Chardonnay grape variety which the French authorities hope could show resistance to global warming, climate change and vine diseases, and it has been officially registered in French national catalogue of vine varieties
Chardonnay Rose, which is currently not permitted in the cahier des charges (CDC) production rules of the Champagne and Burgundy appellations, is a natural genetic mutation of Chardonnay found in Champagne and Burgundy. The Champagne Committee has already registered Chardonnay Rose with its counterparts in Burgundy and is now trying to get permission from France’s National Institute for Origin and Quality (INAO) to carry out analytical tests on this grape variety.
“We have registered Chardonnay Rose in the national catalogue of grape varieties to protect this variety which is found in small quantities in Champagne and Burgundy,” says Thibault Le Mailloux, communications director of the Champagne Committee, according to a report in Harpers,
‘We want to experiment with this grape variety and have asked for authorisation from the INAO to do so,” said Le Mailloux., adding, ‘there are only a few vines of Chardonnay Rose. But we want to assess its resistance to global warming, climate change and to vine diseases.” he added.
Apparently, the purpose is to focus on a few disease resistant grape varieties, over the next 25 years, in the production of champagne in order to face the challenge of climate change etc.
Le Mailloux also believes that the future of Champagne lies in its value of quality production rather than volumes. With global growth of sparkling wine production, any enlarged area of the Champagne production area in the future, would not necessarily lead to a greater production share in the global sparkling wine market, according to him.“With growth in production in places like India and China, it’s not about volumes but obtaining value from production,” said Le Mailloux.
With growing demand for bubbles from wine consumers globally there is room for everyone in the market, he adds.
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