Marsanneis a whitewinegrape,most commonly found in the Northern Rhône region. It is often blended withRoussanne.In Savoie the grape is known asgrosse roussette.Outside France it is also grown in Switzerland (where it is known asermitage blancor justermitage), Spain (where it is known asMarsana[1]), Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.
| Marsanne | |
|---|---|
| Grape(Vitis) | |
 | |
| Color of berry skin | Blanc |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Also called | Seelist of synonyms |
| Origin | France |
| Notable regions | Rhône, Australia, California |
| Notable wines | WhiteHermitage |
| VIVCnumber | 7434 |
Wine regions
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The grape most likely originated in theNorthern Rhôneregion where it is widely planted today, more precisely in the village and abbey of Marsanne (Drôme). It is a principal component of the white wines from theHermitage,Crozes-HermitageandSaint-Joseph AOCs.It is the most widely planted white wine grape in theHermitage AOC,where it is often blended with Roussanne. Along with Roussanne, up to 15% of Marsanne can be added to the red wine of Hermitage underAppellation d'origine contrôlée(AOC) regulations. In theSaint-Péray AOC,it is used for both still andsparkling wineproduction. In the Southern Rhône, Marsanne is not one of the white grapes permitted in theChâteauneuf-du-Pape AOC,although Roussanne is. (In Châteauneuf-du-Pape blends,Clairette blancadds similar characteristics as Marsanne.[1]) It can be found in some white wines from theCôtes du Rhône AOC.[2]Although Marsanne is mostly made into a dry wine, it is commonly made into a sweet wine inValais,Switzerland[3]and some producers in the Rhône have also experimented with making adessert-stylestraw winewith Marsanne.[4]
Outside the Northern Rhône region, Marsanne is also found inSavoieand in theLanguedocwhere it is often blended withViognier.[4]It is a permitted grape in theProvence wineofCassisthough it is not widely used.[2]
Outside France
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InAustralia,the grape was first planted inVictoriain the 1860s. The Victorian vineyard ofTahbilkhas Marsanne vines which date back to 1927 and are some of the oldest in the world.[4]InSwitzerland,Marsanne is grown inValaiswhere it is locally known as Ermitage and made into both sweet wines[3]and dry steely white wines with highalcohol levels.[2]
InBritish ColumbiaandWashington State,plantings of Marsanne continue to increase as producers blend it with Roussanne andViognier.[5]VarietalMarsanne from Washington has been shown to have notes of ripewhite peachand spicedpear.[6]InCalifornia,theRhone Rangersmovement introduced Marsanne to more consumers in wines that are often blended with Roussanne and Viognier. InSpainthere are some plantings of Marsanne in the northeast.[1]InNew JerseyUnionville Vineyardsgrows Marsanne, Roussanne, and other Rhone varieties. Sommeliers have found that the vintage in relation to the climate has exaggerated effects on Marsanne blends in the United States. InMichiganDomaine Berrien Cellarsis the sole non-California member of theRhone Rangersand pioneered the planting of Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, and Syrah in 1992.Domaine Berrien Cellarscredits the success of their award-winning Marsanne and Oak Marsanne varietals to the unique microclimate of the Lake Michigan Shore AVA.
InNew Zealand,Marsanne is grown in the East of theNorth Island.InGisborne,Doug and Delwyn Bell grow Marsanne which is used to produce the "Allison" Gisborne Marsanne for Coopers Creek.[7]In nearbyHastingsMarsanne is blended withViognierand fermented in aged French oak barrels which give a richness and complexity without introducing intrusive oak notes.[8]
Viticulture
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While not as temperamental as the Roussanne grape, Marsanne is prone to underperform in less than ideal sites. In climates that are too hot, the grape can overripenand produce wine that is very flabby. In places that are too cool, the grape cannot ripen fully and produces wine with a bland and neutral flavor. In order to maintain a high level of acidity, winemakers try toharvestMarsanne just before it hits full ripeness. Some Australian winemakers prefer to let the grape hang longer on the vine to increase the alcohol level of the wine and its aging potential.[2]
Wines
editMarsanne produces deeply colored wines that are rich and nutty, with hints ofspiceandpear.The wines can be high in alcohol and can beoakaged to develop morebody.[2]As Marsanne ages, the wine takes on an even darker color and the flavors can become more complex and concentrated with an oily, honeyed texture. Aromas ofnutsandquincecan also develop.[4]
Synonyms
editMarsanne is also known under the synonyms Avilleran, Avilleron, Champagne Piacentina, Ermitage, Ermitage Blanc, Ermitazh, Grosse Roussette, Hermitage, Johannisberg, Marsan Belyi, Marsanne Blanche, Marzanne, Metternich, Rousseau, Roussette de Saint Peray, Roussette Grosse, White Hermitage, and Zrmitazh.[9]
References
edit- ^abcJ. Robinson (ed)"The Oxford Companion to Wine"Third Edition pg 429 Oxford University Press 2006ISBN0-19-860990-6
- ^abcdeJ. RobinsonVines, Grapes & Winespg 235 Mitchell Beazley 1986ISBN1-85732-999-6
- ^abJancis Robinson, Julia Harding, José VouillamozWine Grapespg 601 Penguin Group 2012ISBN978-1-846-14446-2
- ^abcdOz ClarkeEncyclopedia of Grapespg 124-125 Harcourt Books 2001ISBN0-15-100714-4
- ^Crosariol, Beppi (16 September 2015)."Marsanne: This low-key French grape is like chardonnay without the ego".The Globe and Mail.Retrieved2016-06-18.
- ^P. Gregutt"Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide"pg 53 University of California Press 2007ISBN0-520-24869-4
- ^"Allison Gisborne Marsanne 2013".Retrieved2016-02-21.
- ^Gimlett Gravels."2018 Gimblett Gravels Marsanne Viognier".Trinity Hills.Trinity Hill Winery.Retrieved15 August2020.
- ^"Marsanne".Vitis International Variety Catalogue.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-04-22.Retrieved2010-03-11.