92 hectares of grape varieties lost but not disappeared
Alongside the most widespread grape varieties, there are so-called lost or forgotten grape varieties. They represent barely 1% of the Champagne grape varieties, or 92 hectares – but are nevertheless part of the Champagne terroir and arouse curiosity.
It was from 1927 that certain grape varieties were discarded or “”forgotten”” and others were prioritized. Gamay was one of the first grape varieties to be discarded, but not completely, since it is still found in certain vintages. We will also mention the Petit Meslier, which is often confused with the Arbanne, another forgotten grape variety. Moreover, more than a confusion, they even shared the same name: the Petit Meslier having been renamed Arbanne at a time when it was believed that the latter had disappeared in the Vosges.
A few Pinots also extend the list of the “”forgotten””. Let’s start with the true Pinot blanc. In reality, it has always been difficult to locate since it is often integrated into plots of Chardonnay, and was then vinified at the same time as this much more widespread grape variety.
Next comes the Pinot de Juillet, with a misleading name due to its harvest being carried out at the beginning of August. Let’s finish with the Pinot Droit, whose grape varieties still reached a thousand hectares in 1905.
One thing unites these different grape varieties: all were recognized at a certain time before being abandoned for reasons of selection but also because of environmental consequences. However, all or almost all of them are now the subject of special vintages, in their image.
