🍇 Noah

Noah is a white grape variety from the United States. It is not a pure Vitis vinifera vine: the international grape catalogue VIVC lists it as an interspecific crossing. It was raised in 1869 by the private breeder Otto Wasserzieher.

According to the breeder, Noah came from open pollination of the variety Taylor. DNA markers confirm Taylor as one parent; the other is unknown. Its berries have the typical «foxy» taste of American vines. VIVC records its use as a wine grape, a table grape and a rootstock, and lists offspring such as Baco Blanc, Gaillard 2 and Seibel 867. Among its 14 other names are Noa, Noé, Noah Bianca, Belo Otelo and Tatar Rizling.

In the European Union, Noah is named in the law. Under Article 81 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, wines in the Union must be made from varieties that Member States classify for wine production, and Noah is one of six varieties that may not be classified, together with Othello, Isabelle, Jacquez, Clinton and Herbemont. If a variety is removed from the classification, its vines must be grubbed up within 15 years.