Pinot blanc, the base of the beautiful bottles of Alsace
Pinot blanc is a grape variety that belongs to the pinot family. It is the white variety of pinot noir . In the vines, one can still encounter three different variations, including the true isolated Pinot Blanc , the early one and that of Alsace which is the best known in France. It is also called in some countries pinot bianco, pinot branco, rulandsky bile, rulandské biele, weisser burgunder or even Weissburgunder.
The cultivation of Pinot blanc and its cultural aptitudes
In France, it is cultivated on more than a few thousand hectares and this culture continues to expand. This variety is found more particularly in Alsace where it covers more than 3,300 hectares . There are also a few thousand hectares in Italy, Germany and Austria. Compared to the maturity of Auxerrois , that of Pinot blanc is less precocious. Its maturity is of the first period. It adapts perfectly to the various common rootstocks . The winegrowers have work to do for the cultivation of this grape variety, because it is very sensitive. It does not support winter and spring frosts. It is sensitive to coulure as well as to rot at the end of maturation .
The characteristics of pinot blanc
As it belongs to the pinot family, it is very similar to its cousins, including pinot noir and pinot gris in the vines. Its branches are easily recognized by its horizontal green habit with pink nodes. Its extremities have a slight whitish spot. The young leaves are whitish green in color and once adults, they become darker and there are 3 to 5 lobes. The adult foliage is a little serrated and has convex rib teeth. The bunches of the grape are of medium size and they are compact. Its yellow-green berries are small and often deformed. Their skin is thick and if you take the grapes as they are, its flavor is rather neutral. This variety has a bud burst and its maturity is quite early.
Pinot Blanc for white wines and champagne
It has long been called pinot chardonnay and it is for this reason that this variety has been difficult to recognize. It was often confused with Chardonnay and it was only in 1937 when the appellation control system was introduced that it was recognized. You can see wines in the collection that bear the name Alsace Pinot Blanc . These are also called klevner, clevner or crémant d'Alsace. They are made from the only famous Pinot Blanc of Alsace or from a blend with Auxerrois. German wines made from Pinot blanc are called weissburgunder. Pinot blanc is also used in the production of some champagnes .
The particularities of wines made from pinot blanc
On the palate, the wines obtained from this grape variety, in particular the wines of Alsace , are distinguished by their fair balance between acidity and roundness . It is then possible to take this wine on all occasions. You will feel both freshness and suppleness. When it comes to acidity, wine made from Pinot Blanc is a bit more acidic than those made from Chasselas. These wines are less aromatic and lighter and they are classified in the middle of the range of Alsace wines .
Among the dry white wines that are made from Pinot Blanc, we can mention, among others, Sylvaner and Riesling. This variety also produces sweeter and softer wines like Gewurztraminer. Of the entire collection, these wines are recognizable by their clarity and their yellow color with some green reflections. When you open the bottle, you will feel a touch of freshness and fruity notes with floral hints.
You can savor this type of wine with Alsatian sauerkraut or even chicken wings. The tastes of this wine are balanced between those of veal chops. Get started preparing spicy shrimp and raw vegetables for the perfect wine pairings . Also, Pinot Blanc goes well with Quiche Lorraine.
