Souvignier gris - resistant variety

Origin:

Souvignier gris is a white, fungus-resistant cross from the Freiburg Wine Institute. It was crossed in 1983 by Norbert Becker, then head of vine breeding in Freiburg.

For a long time, it was thought to be a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon X Bronner.

However, more recent genetic analyses have come to the conclusion that it is a cross between Seyval blanc x Zähringer. It is now also listed in the ‘Vitis International Variety Catalogue’.

Seyval blanc is an old French hybrid variety.

Zähringer is an old cross from the Freiburg Institute of Viticultur (Traminer x Riesling)

Synonyms:

FR 392-83

Ampelographic characteristics

The tip of the shoot is heavily covered with white woolly hairs with a weak anthocyanin colouration. The leaves are round with 3-5 lobes and the grapes are medium to large, loose with a thick skin.

Requirements to the site:

Souvignier gris needs a site which is also suitable for Pinot blanc. Due to the very good botrytis resistance of Souvignier gris (very holey grapes and thick berry skin), the grapes can hang for a long time. This means that ripening can also be achieved later in weaker vineyards.

Spread:

There are now plantations in almost all wine-growing countries in Europe. In Germany, 388 hectares were planted with Souvignier gris in 2023. At the moment, however, Souvignier gris is mainly planted in France (2021: 365 ha) and Italy.

Specials:

Peronospora resistance on the leaves is very good, but somewhat lower on the grapes. Oidium resistance is also relatively high. Normally no peronospora treatments and almost no oidium treatments are necessary. However, to prevent the development of resistance-breaking strains, around 3 sprays (especially during and after flowering) are recommended as a minimum.

Due to the very loose grapes, sensitivity to botrytis is also very low.