Bastardo (grape)

Bastardo
Grape (Vitis)
	Bastardo in Viala & Vermorel
Color of berry skin	Noir
Species	Vitis vinifera
Also called	Cabernet Gros, Trousseau, Trousseau Noir (more)
Origin	France
Notable regions	Portugal, California, Chablis, Jura
Notable wines	Port

Bastardo (Trousseau Noir, Trousseau) is an old variety of red wine grape. It is grown in small amounts in many parts of Western Europe; most famously it is used in Portuguese port wine. It makes deep cherry red wines with high alcohol and flavours of red berry fruits.

History and pedigree

Trousseau Gris is a white mutation, occasionally found in Jura and once common in California under the name 'Gray Riesling'.

Genouillet is the result of a cross between Gouais Blanc (Heunisch) and Bastardo.¹

In 1938 Harold Olmo used Trousseau to pollinate the rupestris hybrid Alicante Ganzin to produce the Royalty variety.

Bastardo was crossed with the Georgian variety Saperavi to produce the Bastardo Magarachskii variety used in the Crimea.

Distribution and Wines

A little is grown in Argentina and in several regions of Spain, including the Canary Islands.

Australia

A small amount is grown in Australia under the name Gros Cabernet.

France

It is grown in small amounts in eastern and southern France, notably to stiffen blends with the pale Poulsard in the Jura.

Portugal

It's part of the blend for port wine and also an important variety for red wines in the Dão.

USA

As in Portugal, it is used to make fortified wines in California. Not much is grown, although some is misidentified as petite sirah^{citation needed}.

Vine and Viticulture

It needs hot, dry conditions to do well. The name Trousseau (from Old French trusse, meaning "a bundle") is a reference to the shape of the bunch, it looks 'packed up'.

Synonyms

Bastardo is also known under the synonyms Bastardinha, Bastardinho, Bastardo Do Castello, Bastardo Dos Frados, Bolonio, Capbreton Rouge, Chauche Noir, Cruchenton Rouge, Donzelino De Castille, Gris De Salces, Gros Cabernet, Merenzao, María Ardoña, Maturana Tinta, Verdejo Negro, Pardinho, Pinot Gris De Rio Negro, Semillon Rouge, Tresseau, Triffault, Trousse, Trousseau, Trousseau Gris, Trousseau Noir, Troussot, Trusiaux, Trusseau, Trussiau.¹

In the literature, it is often confused with Tressot.¹

Notes and references

^ ^a ^b ^c Maul, Erika; Töpfer, Reinhard; Eibach, Rudolf (2007). "[[Vitis International Variety Catalogue]]". Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof (IRZ), Siebeldingen, Germany. Retrieved 2009-12-15. Wikilink embedded in URL title (help)

External links

[VIVC-1] Maul, Erika; Töpfer, Reinhard; Eibach, Rudolf (2007). "[[Vitis International Variety Catalogue]]". Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof (IRZ), Siebeldingen, Germany. Retrieved 2009-12-15. Wikilink embedded in URL title (help)

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