Clairette B
Name of the variety in France

Clairette
Origin

This variety is originally from Provence.
Synonyms

There is no officially recognized synonym in France nor in the other countries of the European Union, for this variety.
Legal information

In France, Clairette is officially listed in the "Catalogue of vine varieties" on the A list and classified. This variety is alsoy listed in the catalogues of other Member States of the European Union: Cyprus and Italy.
Use

Wine, table and spirits grape variety.
Evolution of cultivated areas in France

1958 | 1968 | 1979 | 1988 | 1998 | 2008 | 2018 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ha | 14099 | 12544 | 5331 | 3898 | 3157 | 2564 | 2115 |
Descriptive elements

The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot with a very high density of prostrate hairs,
- the yellow young leaves,
- the circular adult leaves, with five lobes, deep lateral sinuses, a closed petiole sinus with very overlapping lobes, teeth with straight sides, low to medium anthocyanin coloration of veins, a slightly goffered leaf blade, undulate between the veins near the petiole sinus, and on the lower side of the leaves, a high density of prostrate hairs,
- the ellipsoid berries.
- the tip of the young shoot with a very high density of prostrate hairs,
- the yellow young leaves,
- the circular adult leaves, with five lobes, deep lateral sinuses, a closed petiole sinus with very overlapping lobes, teeth with straight sides, low to medium anthocyanin coloration of veins, a slightly goffered leaf blade, undulate between the veins near the petiole sinus, and on the lower side of the leaves, a high density of prostrate hairs,
- the ellipsoid berries.
Genetic profile

Microsatellite | VVS2 | VVMD5 | VVMD7 | VVMD27 | VRZAG62 | VRZAG79 | VVMD25 | VVMD28 | VVMD32 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allel 1 | 135 | 223 | 239 | 176 | 186 | 252 | 240 | 227 | 255 |
Allel 2 | 149 | 229 | 249 | 188 | 204 | 252 | 262 | 257 | 261 |
Phenology

Bud burst: 8 days after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: late-season, 4 weeks after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: late-season, 4 weeks after Chasselas.
Suitability for cultivation and agronomic production

Clairette is a vigorous grape variety, which must be pruned short. Better yields are achieved on limestone, not fertile, lean and dry soils. Careful disbudding is needed. It has a semi-erect bearing and its shoots are a little susceptible to wind. At maturity, the peducunle of bunches lignifies.
Susceptibility to diseases and pests

This variety is susceptible to grape moths and mites. On the other hand, Clairette is relatively less sensitive to powdery mildew and grey rot.
Technological potentiality

The bunches and berries are medium in size. Clairette gives fairly alcoholic wines (and sometimes sweet with raisining or over-maturation), relatively low in acidity, with noticeable aromas (apple) and sometimes presenting a light harshness or bitterness on the finish. This variety can also be used to make sparkling wine.
Clonal selection in France

The ten certified Clairette clones carry the numbers 68, 69, 93, 94, 97, 98, 175, 207, 208 and 209. A conservatory of more than 130 clones was planted in spring 2007, in the wine-growing region of Bellegarde (French departement of Gard).
Bibliographic references


- Catalogue des variétés et clones de vigne cultivés en France. Collectif, 2007, Ed. IFV, Le Grau-du-Roi, France.
- Documentary collections of the Centre de Ressources Biologiques de la Vigne de Vassal-Montpellier, INRAE - Institut Agro | Montpellier, Marseillan, France.
- Dictionnaire encyclopédique des cépages et de leurs synonymes. P. Galet, 2015, Ed. Libre&Solidaire, France.
- Traité général de viticulture, Ampélographie. P. Viala and V. Vermorel, 1901-1909, Ed. Masson, Paris, France.
- Documentary collections of the Centre de Ressources Biologiques de la Vigne de Vassal-Montpellier, INRAE - Institut Agro | Montpellier, Marseillan, France.
- Dictionnaire encyclopédique des cépages et de leurs synonymes. P. Galet, 2015, Ed. Libre&Solidaire, France.
- Traité général de viticulture, Ampélographie. P. Viala and V. Vermorel, 1901-1909, Ed. Masson, Paris, France.
Description of clones certified in France
