Picardan or Picardan Blanc is a white wine grape which is one of 13 permitted blending grape within the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC in Rhône wine region in France, altohough very little planted.[1][2] The Vitis International Variety Catalogue previously listed Oeillade Blanche as the primary name of the variety,[3] but now identifies Araignan as the primary name.[4] However, since the variety is practically unknown for any other use than the Châteauneuf-du-Pape blend, it most commonly goes under the name used for it in that appellation.
| Picardan | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
 Picardan in Viala & Vermorel | |
| Color of berry skin | Blanc |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Also called | Araignan, Oeillade Blanche, Picardan Blanc |
| Origin | France |
| Notable regions | Southern Rhône |
| Notable wines | Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC |
| VIVC number | 527 |
Picardan gives a wine which considered to be light and rather neutral in character.[1]
Synonyms
Synonyms include:[3] Aragnan, Aragnan Blanc, Araignan, Araignan Blanc, Gallet, Gallet Blanc, Grosse Clairette, Milhaud Blanc, Oeillade Blanche, Papadoux, Picardan, Picardan Blanc, Piquardan, Piquardant.
Picardan (but not Picardan Blanc) is also a synonym for the white grape variety Bourboulenc,[5] which is also found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the dark-skinned variety Bouchales.[6] Picardan Noir is a synonym for Cinsaut[7] and Bouchales.
The wine Picardan
Picardan is also the name of a historical white wine from Languedoc, usually sweetish in character, traded in the late 17th and 18th centuries.[2] It is supposed to have been produced from the varieties Clairette Blanche and Piquepoul Blanc.[8]
References
- ^ a b Jancis Robinson, ed. (2006). "Châteauneuf-du-Pape". Oxford Companion to Wine (Third Edition ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 160. ISBN 0-19-860990-6.
{{cite encyclopedia}}:|edition=has extra text (help) - ^ a b Jancis Robinson, ed. (2006). "Picardan". Oxford Companion to Wine (Third Edition ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 524. ISBN 0-19-860990-6.
{{cite encyclopedia}}:|edition=has extra text (help) - ^ a b Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Oeillade blanche, accessed on May 5, 2008
- ^ Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Araginan, accessed on June 7, 2010
- ^ Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Bourboulenc, accessed on May 5, 2008
- ^ Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Bouchales, accessed on May 5, 2008
- ^ Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Cinsaut, accessed on May 5, 2008
- ^ Wein-Plus Glossar: Picardan accessed on January 24, 2013