''Trousseau Gris'' is a

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

grape variety made into white wine. It is occasionally found in eastern France and was once widely grown in California under the name ''Gray Riesling''. In cool climates it can produce fresh

aromatic wine Aromatic wines are white wines with dominant aroma. The best known are riesling, gewürztraminer, viognier, muscat and pinot gris. Torrontés Torrontés is a white grape variety, mostly produced and known in Argentine wine, producing fresh, aro ...

s. It needs gentle handling and careful winemaking to bring out its best. It is a white mutation of the red

Trousseau Trousseau may refer to: *A dowry *The wardrobe of a bride, including the wedding dress or similar clothing *A hope chest, glory box or its contents *Trousseau (grape), a wine grape also known as Bastardo ** Trousseau Gris, a white mutation of the ...

grape.

History

The 'gris' mutant is native to Jura in Eastern France.

Distribution and wines

France

These days Trousseau Gris is mostly found in the Jura, Alsace, Lorraine and sometimes in the Champagne wine region.

United States

Pax Wines - April 2022 - Sarah Stierch 04

"Gray Riesling" was once widely planted in California, but declined sharply in the 1980s. Trousseau Gris can be found in a few old field-blended

Zinfandel Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is a variety of black-skinned wine grape. The variety is grown in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA analysis has revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grapes Crljenak Kaštel ...

vineyards; the only standing block is ten acres of the Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard in the Russian River Valley AVA. In addition to making an aromatic still wine of its own, it has often been blended with

Chardonnay Chardonnay (, , ) is a green-skinned grape variety used in the production of white wine. The variety originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern French wine, France, but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from English wine, Englan ...

Viognier Viognier () is a white wine grape variety. It is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhône Valley.J. Robinson ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition pg 754 Oxford University Press 2006 Outside of the Rhôn ...

, White Zinfandel, and even some red wines. It has also been used in dessert wines, sparkling wines and

fortified wine Fortified wine is a wine to which a distilled spirit, usually brandy, has been added. In the course of some centuries, winemakers have developed many different styles of fortified wine, including port, sherry, madeira, Marsala, Commanda ...

Vine and viticulture

As a mutant of a port grape, Trousseau Gris can thrive in hot, dry conditions, producing much sweet fruit (as does any grape in hotter than optimal conditions). The best wines are made when it is grown in much cooler conditions, but only in the coolest parts of the coastal area of California especially the Russian River Valley or in the mountains of the Jura. It is a very meaty grape that doesn't like to release its juice and historically winemakers mistreated this grape with disastrous consequences but grown and handled properly, usually harvested around 23.5

brix Degrees Brix (symbol °Bx) is a measure of the dissolved solids in a liquid, and is commonly used to measure dissolved sugar content of an aqueous solution. One degree Brix is 1 gram of sucrose in 100 grams of solution and represents the strength ...

, and gently pressed, Trousseau Gris has a crisp, clean, aromatic - flowery bouquet with flavors of fresh peaches, honeysuckle, pear, melon, delicate spice and tropical fruit.

Synonyms

Baratszölö, Chauche Gris, Francia Szürke, Goundoulenc, Gray Riesling, Grey Riesling, Gris de Salces, Gris de Salses, Guindolenc, Guindoulenc, Hamu Szölö, Hamuszölö, Nagyvati, Sals, Sals Cenusiu, Salses Gris, Shome Seryi, Sose Serii, Terret D'Afrique Trousseau Gris is also used as a synonym for

Trousseau Noir Trousseau or Trousseau Noir, also known as Bastardo and Merenzao, is an old variety of red wine grape originating in eastern France. It is grown in small amounts in many parts of Western Europe; the largest plantations are today found in Portugal, ...

References

External links

VIVC Bibliography
{{Wines White wine grape varieties French wine California wine