| Arbane | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
| Color of berry skin | Blanc |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Also called | Arbanne (more) |
| Origin | France |
| Notable regions | Champagne |
| Notable wines | Moutard-Diligent Vielles Vignes |
| VIVC number | 554 |
Arbane (or Arbanne) is a white French wine grape variety that has been historically grown in the Aube region of Champagne, but has now all but disappeared from the vineyards with less than 1 hectare (2.5 acres) left in France in 2006.[1] Despite its rarity, it is still permitted grape variety to be blended with Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Pinot Meunier and other varieties in the Champagne cuvée.[2]
Recent years have seen a renewed interest in the older, almost extinct grape varieties of the Champagne region, including Arbane. The Champagne house Moutard-Diligent in Buxeuil is the only producer of a "Vieilles Vignes" Champagne made only from Arbane,[3] while a few others, including Champagne Aubry and Drappier, produce blends which include both Arbane and other now rare Champagne varieties such as Petit Meslier and Pinot blanc. Moutard-Diligent also produce a "Cuvée Six Cépages" which uses six of the seven authorized grapes varieties : Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Pinot Meunier, Petit Meslier, Pinot blanc and Arbane; the additional approved grape variety being Fromenteau (Pinot gris).[4]
- ^ J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours pgs 48-49, Allen Lane 2012 ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2
- ^ Maisons-Champagne Historie du Champagne : A.O.C. Champagne : Définition et loi, accessed on October 12, 2008 (in French)
- ^ Champagne Moutard-Diligent: Our Champagnes Archived November 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, accessed on October 12, 2008
- ^ JORF n°0273 du 25 novembre 2010 page 21013 texte n° 8: Décret n° 2010-1441 du 22 novembre 2010 relatif à l'appellation d'origine contrôlée « Champagne » (in French)