Mérille N
Name of the variety in France

Mérille
Origin

This variety is originally from the south west of France (Tarn and Garonne).
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, Mérille is officially listed in the "Catalogue of vine varieties" on the A list and classified.
Use

Wine grape variety.
Evolution of cultivated areas in France

1958 | 1968 | 1979 | 1988 | 1998 | 2008 | 2018 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ha | 2422 | 2458 | 622 | 226 | 105 | 80 | 24 |
Descriptive elements

The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot with a very high density of prostrate hairs,
- the shoots with red internodes,
- the dark green adult leaves, with three or five lobes, a moderate to strong anthocyanin coloration of veins, a strongly blistered revolute leaf blade, folded near the petiole sinus, undulate between the principle veins, and on the lower side of the leaves, a medium to high density of erect and prostrate hairs,
- the broad ellipsoid berries.
- the tip of the young shoot with a very high density of prostrate hairs,
- the shoots with red internodes,
- the dark green adult leaves, with three or five lobes, a moderate to strong anthocyanin coloration of veins, a strongly blistered revolute leaf blade, folded near the petiole sinus, undulate between the principle veins, and on the lower side of the leaves, a medium to high density of erect and prostrate hairs,
- the broad ellipsoid berries.
Genetic profile

Microsatellite | VVS2 | VVMD5 | VVMD7 | VVMD27 | VRZAG62 | VRZAG79 | VVMD25 | VVMD28 | VVMD32 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allel 1 | 141 | 232 | 239 | 182 | 194 | 240 | 248 | 235 | 239 |
Allel 2 | 149 | 236 | 247 | 188 | 194 | 260 | 254 | 243 | 251 |
Phenology

Bud burst: 4 days after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: mid-season, 3 weeks after Chasselas.
Grape maturity: mid-season, 3 weeks after Chasselas.
Suitability for cultivation and agronomic production

This variety provides a steady production and high yields when long pruned.
Susceptibility to diseases and pests

This variety is not very suseptible to downy and powdery mildew. It is a little sensitive to grey rot and more to mites, grape moths and vine leafhoppers.
Technological potentiality

The bunches are very large and the berries are large. Mérille produces light (low sugar potential) and rather ordinary wines.
Clonal selection in France

The three certified Mérille clones carry the numbers 444, 445 and 790.
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 - Montpellier SupAgro, 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 - Montpellier SupAgro, 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
