🍇 Clairette
An old white variety of southern France; its area in France fell from 14,099 ha in 1958 to 2,405 ha in 2009.
Clairette (Clairette blanche, VIVC No. 2695) is an old white variety of southern France: Provence, Languedoc and the Rhône valley. On its own it makes still white wines: Clairette de Bellegarde, Clairette du Languedoc and Coteaux de Die. In Clairette de Die the main grape is Muscat (at least 75%), and Clairette is only a supporting one.
Die produces only sparkling wines. The «méthode ancestrale» is 88% of output: Muscat à petits grains at least 75%, fermentation of at least 4 months in the bottle, alcohol 7–9%. The other sparkling wines (7%) are made from Clairette alone, with 9 months before disgorgement. Crémant de Die needs at least 55% Clairette, at least 10% Aligoté and 5–10% Muscat.
Clairette du Languedoc gives dry still whites (sugar up to 45 g/L, natural alcohol from 12%) and liqueur wines: acquired alcohol from 17%, total from 21.5%, sugar 9–40 g/L. White Bandol contains at least 50% Clairette. The Cassis specification names Clairette among the varieties that ripen well and advises drinking such whites young, or keeping them 2–3 years. The pink mutation is Clairette rose.
Its area in France fell from 14,099 ha (1958) to 2,405 ha (2009). VIVC knows 81 synonyms of the variety, and its pedigree has not been established. Areas: Italy 46 ha (1982) and 150 ha (2000), South Africa 2,215 ha (1992) and 328 ha (2008).
Why it matters to you. The name Clairette de Die does not mean a wine made from Clairette: Muscat is the main grape there. Read the wine type on the label.
Facts
| Country | France 1 |
|---|---|
| Region | Provence, Languedoc, Rhône valley 234 |
| Main use | Still white, liqueur and sparkling wines; wine and table variety 1 |
| Cultivars | Pink mutation Clairette rose; pedigree not established in VIVC 1 |
| Registered | In the European catalogue of varieties: yes 1 |
How it connects to Wine
🍇 Clairette → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ French wine
- Where it grows
- 📍 Languedoc, 📍 Rhône Valley, 📍 Provence
- Main grape in
- 📜 Clairette du Languedoc, 📜 Clairette de Bellegarde, 📜 Palette, 📜 Cassis, 📜 Coteaux de Die, 📜 Crémant de Die, 📜 Bandol
- Wines made from it
- 🍷 Clairette de Die
- Related to
- 🍷 Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, 🍷 Guigal Tavel, 🍷 Guigal Côtes du Rhône Blanc, 🍷 Château de Nalys Blanc, 🍷 Saintes Pierres de Nalys Blanc, 🍷 Sparkling wine
- Offspring
- 🍇 Clairette Rose
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Clairette de Die is made from Clairette?
Mostly not. In the «méthode ancestrale» Muscat makes up at least 75% and Clairette is a supporting grape. Only the other sparkling wines, 7% of output, are made from Clairette alone.
Is it true that Clairette du Languedoc is only a sweet wine?
No. According to the specification it is both still dry whites with sugar up to 45 g/L and liqueur wines.
Is it true that Clairette is used in Bandol?
Yes, in the whites: at least 50% Clairette is required. For Bandol reds the main grape is Mourvèdre.
What is the variety's origin?
VIVC does not establish a pedigree («Full pedigree: NO»), so any claim about its parents would be invented.
Is it true that there is much less Clairette in France now?
Yes. According to VIVC the area fell from 14,099 ha (1958) to 2,405 ha (2009).
What to read next
- 🗺️ French wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
- 🍷 Clairette de Die — Slightly sweet Muscat sparkling wine from the Rhône Valley, made by the ancestral method.
- 🍷 Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc — Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc: white wine by Guigal from the southern Rhône; Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
- 📜 Palette — A tiny appellation near Aix-en-Provence with aged wines.
- 🍇 Clairette Rose — A pink-skinned mutation of white Clairette, grown in southern France.
Similar
🍇 Clairette Blanche · 🍇 Bourboulenc · 🍇 Picardan · 🍇 Roussanne · 🍇 Brun Argenté · 🍇 Aubun
Sources
- VIVC. Clairette blanche (паспорт 2695)
- eAmbrosia. Специфікація AOC Clairette de Die
- eAmbrosia. Специфікація AOC Clairette du Languedoc
- eAmbrosia. Специфікація AOC Clairette de Bellegarde
- eAmbrosia. Специфікація AOC Bandol