The Clinton, Noah, Isabelle, Othello, Herbemont and Jacquez vine varieties, which have been banned in France since 1934, are to be allowed to be grown again. They were previously considered to be low yielding, but are resistant to disease. The re-authorisation is linked to the reform of the EU agricultural policy. The EU Commission's proposal is listed for the first time in a letter from the Ministry of Agriculture to the approval authorities of the Gard wine region, among other points.
The approval authority of Gard has already signalled its agreement. "The young generation of winemakers is open to new flavours, interested in ecology as well as historical, resistant grape varieties", writes the wine growing authority. Other institutions involved in the process have also signalled neutrality or approval. Therefore, the varieties could soon return.
(uka)