St. Laurent (grape)
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St. Laurent (synonyms: Saint Laurent, Pinot Saint Laurent, Laurenzitraube) is a highly aromatic dark wine grape of the same family as Pinot Noir, which originates from France.
[edit] Spreading
St. Laurent originated around the middle of the 19th century when the German pharmacist and viticulture pioneer Johann Philipp Bronner imported it from France to Germany. From there, the grape variety spread to neighbouring countries; it is still planted quite frequently in Austria. However, the grape variety had become almost extinct however in Germany by the 1950s, with only 27 hectares remaining. With the renaissance of red wine in Germany towards the end of the 20th century, it is now being planted increasingly in the Palatinate (Pfalz) and Rheinhessen German wine regions.
[edit] Quality
The quality of wine produced from St. Laurent is said to lie between the undemanding Portugieser and the higher-quality but more demanding (from a viticultural point of view) Pinot Noir from which it probably partly descends. Its berries are less thin skinned and thus it is not as suspectible to injuries as Pinot Noir's. It products a medium body wine with aromas of forest berries and black cherries.
[edit] Name
The name of the grape variety is possibly due to the fact that the berries typically reach veraizon around, the 10th of August, known as Laurenzitag in German, or "St. Laurent's Day." That the municipality Saint Laurent in the Médoc has something to do with the naming is considered rather improbable.
| Wine styles: | Red/White • Rosé/Blush • Sparkling • Dessert • Fortified • Fruit • Ice Wine | |
| Notable varietals: |
White Albariño • Chardonnay • Chenin blanc • Gewürztraminer • Muscat • Pinot blanc • Pinot gris • Riesling • Sauvignon blanc • Sémillon • Viognier |
Red Cabernet Franc • Cabernet Sauvignon • Carmenère • Durif • Gamay • Grenache • Malbec • Merlot • Petit Verdot • Pinotage • Pinot noir • Sangiovese • Syrah/Shiraz • Tempranillo • Zinfandel |
| Notable regions: |
Amarone • Asti • Barolo • Barossa • Beaujolais • Bordeaux • Burgundy • Chablis • Champagne • Chianti • Commandaria • Dão • Egri Bikavér • Madeira • Marsala • Port • Retsina • Rhône • Rioja • Sancerre • Sauternes • Sherry • Tokaji • Valpolicella • Vermouth • Vinho Verde • Vouvray • Wachau | |
| See also: | Glossary of wine terms • List of grape varieties • List of wine-producing regions • List of wine producing countries | |
