A later start to the season may reduce exposure to damaging spring frost.
Variety index
Talaska Vineyard · Ampelography 09/11
Souvignier Gris
Freiburg, 1983 · FR 392-83 · VIVC 22629
A lineage rewritten
Modern resilience.
Quiet elegance.
Souvignier Gris was bred in 1983 by Norbert Becker at the State Viticultural Institute in Freiburg. Genomic analysis later corrected its long-repeated pedigree: its true parents are Seyval Blanc and Zähringer.
This modern white PIWI variety carries distinctive pink-grey skins. It combines strong natural vineyard resilience with the ability to produce styles ranging from poised, juicy and full-bodied to distinctly fruit-driven, always supported by stable acidity.
Variety passport
Its identity,
in six precise points.
- Origin
- Freiburg, Germany
- Crossing year
- 1983
- Breeder
- Norbert Becker
- Parents
- Seyval Blanc × Zähringer
- Breeding number
- FR 392-83
- VIVC number
- 22629
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Anatomy of the variety
Pink-grey skins.
A strong natural shield.
Souvignier Gris forms medium-sized, moderately compact bunches. Small to medium, broadly ellipsoid berries ripen through pink and grey-rose tones, while their stable skins help protect the fruit.
Medium bunch A naturally elongated outline retains moderate density and a clearly articulated structure.
Pink berry Delicate bloom reveals dusty rose, grey and muted violet tones.
PIWI resilience Strong resistance to the principal fungal diseases supports more responsible cultivation.
In the vineyard
Strong, upright growth.
A mid-season rhythm.
Upright growth rewards attentive canopy work and thoughtful fruit-zone distribution.
The variety reaches maturity in the middle of the season while retaining stable acidity.
Strong downy mildew, powdery mildew and botrytis resistance can reduce protective pressure.
Aromatic spectrum
Fruit in the light.
Spice in the shade.
The expression of Souvignier Gris depends on ripeness and vinification. It may remain poised, juicy and full, or show more vivid tropical fruit, discreet spice and a lively line of acidity.
At Talaska
A Freiburg future.
Melsztyn balance.
On Talaska’s south-facing slope, Souvignier Gris can use warm light to reach full maturity, while airflow above the Dunajec Valley helps preserve the health of its pink-grey berries. It brings responsible cultivation together with body, freshness and genuine stylistic freedom in the cellar.
Role in the collectionStructure · juiciness · stable freshness
Botanical sources
Prepared from current documentation by the State Viticultural Institute Freiburg, VIVC records and the Bundessortenamt Descriptive List of Grapevine Varieties 2024.
Variety index