RARE GRAPE VARIETAL RESOURCE

César is an ancient red wine grape from northern Burgundy.

The césar grape variety is both capricious and fragile: it is very sensitive to freezing and matures only with difficulty. The leaves are serrated while the grapes are larger than those of its famous cousin, pinot noir. There are currently only four acres of this grape variety grown today, mainly in Irancy, a small town in Burgundy. As this grape variety contributes a good deal of color and body in good years, it is used for up to ten percent of Irancy red wine blends, and more rarely to make single variety wines. In these cases the wine is called Bourgogne Cèsar (when bottled before 2010), or Coteaux Bourguignons César. These grapes endow the wines with flavors of red and black fruits and hints of spice. 

The first traces of this grape variety go back to the second century B.C.: some reliefs have been discovered in the Escolives archeological site, in Yonne, not far from Saint-Bris-le-Vineux. In fact, the césar grape variety was planted here by the Romans during their Gallic invasions. 

The variety’s fragility and difficulty in cultivation have made it quite rare. At the same time, the fame of pinot noir has also contributed to the césar grape variety being ignored. As this is a minority variety in Burgundy, some believe it to be less representative of the region. Still, the césar should be safeguarded so that it might contribute to the biodiversity of Burgundian wines.

(Source: Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity – Ark of Taste) https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/?fwp_arca_settore=wines-and-grape-varietals-en)

http://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=2400

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