Class of 2025: EU approves three new grape varieties

Three grape varieties (one white and two red) have been added to the Official Catalogue of species and varieties of plants cultivated in France, which are permitted to be marketed within the European Union. These are: Calardis Blanc, Magdeleine Noir, and Négret de la Canourgue.

Hybrid white variety Calardis Blanc combines excellent growing qualities with resistances to powdery mildew and downy mildew, as well as black rot. Approved for viticulture in southwest German state Rhineland-Palatinate since 2020, Calardis Blanc can now be legally cultivated across France, where it is likely to produce wines with rich, spicy aromas, exotic fruit flavours and “tangy acidity”. The latter characteristic also makes Calardis Blanc suitable for making sparkling wines.

Magdeleine Noir, or ‘Black Magdeleine’, originated in Brittany but has also been found in Charentes. A parent of Merlot, it is said to be quite complex with good balance.

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