Wine · Grape variety · Short entry

Meunier

A mutation of Pinot with unusually hairy shoots and leaves, and one of the three main Champagne grapes. Hardy against frost and early ripening, it is used mostly for sparkling wine. It is called Müllerrebe in Germany and Schwarzriesling in Austria.

A downy Pinot

Pl@ntGrape describes Meunier as a mutation of Pinot that differs above all in its hairiness: the shoot tips carry a very high density of hairs, and the adult leaves are hairy on both the upper and lower sides. VIVC records it as a Pinot Noir mutation; its synonyms include Müllerrebe, Dusty Miller and Farineux.

The vine is rather productive. It is not very sensitive to phomopsis or the mildews but is susceptible to grape moths and grey rot. Bunches are small and berries very small.

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In Champagne

The Champagne specification says that from the early 20th century three varieties were chosen for their sugar-acid balance and aptitude for sparkling wine: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier. Its wines are moderately acidic and evolve quickly. French plantings doubled from 5,603 ha in 1958 to 12,054 ha in 2018.

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