Bastardo (grape)

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Bastardo
Species: Vitis vinifera
Also called: Cabernet Gros, Tressot, Trousseau Noir (more)
Origin: France
Notable regions: Portugal, California, Chablis, Jura
Notable wines: Port

Bastardo (Trousseau Noir, Tressot) is an old variety of red wine grape. It is grown in small amounts in many parts of Western Europe; most famously it is used in Portuguese port wine. It makes deep cherry red wines with high alcohol and flavours of red berry fruits.

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[edit] History

DNA fingerprinting has shown that this port grape is the result of a cross between Petit verdot and Duras, a traditional French grape currently found only in the Tarn valley northeast of Toulouse. Petit verdot is one of the classic grapes of Bordeaux, although it probably originated further south. So the current distribution of the parents suggests that Bastardo was born somewhere in SW France, if not on the banks of the Tarn itself.

Trousseau Gris is a white mutation, occasionally found in Jura and once common in California under the name 'Gray Riesling'.

Genouillet is the result of a cross between Gouais Blanc (Heunisch) and Bastardo.[1]

In 1938 Harold Olmo used Trousseau to pollinate the rupestris hybrid Alicante Ganzin to produce the Royalty variety.

Bastardo was crossed with the Georgian variety Saperavi to produce the Bastardo Magarachskii variety used in the Crimea.

[edit] Distribution and Wines

A little is grown in Argentina and on the north coast of Spain.

[edit] Australia

A small amount is grown in Australia under the name Gros Cabernet.

[edit] France

It is grown in small amounts in eastern and southern France, notably in the Chablis district of Burgundy and to stiffen blends with the pale Poulsard in the Jura.

[edit] Portugal

It's part of the blend for port wine.

[edit] USA

As in Portugal, it is used to make fortified wines in California. Not much is grown, although some is misidentified as petite sirah.

[edit] Vine and Viticulture

It needs hot, dry conditions to do well. The name Trousseau is a reference to the shape of the bunch, it looks 'packed up'.

[edit] Synonyms

Bastardinho, Bastardo, Bastardo De Castello, Bastardo Dos Frados, Bolonio, Capbreton Rouge, Chauche Noir, Cruchenton Rouge, Donzelino De Castille, Gris De Salces, Gros Cabernet, Maria, Maria Ardona, Maria Ordona, Merenzao, Pardinho, Pinot Gris De Rio Negro, Semillon Rouge, Tresseau, Triffault, Trousse, Trousseau Gris, Troussot, Trusiaux, Trusseau[1]

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ a b Maul, Erika; Töpfer, Reinhard; Eibach, Rudolf (2007). Vitis International Variety Catalogue. Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof (IRZ), Siebeldingen, Germany. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links