Counoise

Counoise is a dark-skinned wine grape grown primarily in the Rhône valley region of France. Counoise is also grown in California, Texas, New Jersey, and Washington. Counoise adds a peppery note and good acidity to a blended red wine, but does not have much depth of colour or tannin.[1] There were 638 hectares (1,580 acres) of Counoise in France in 2000.[2]

Counoise
Grape (Vitis)
Counoise in Viala & Vermorel
Color of berry skinNoir
SpeciesVitis vinifera
OriginFrance
Notable regionsRhône valley
Notable winesChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Counoise grapes

Counoise is one of the grapes allowed into the blend of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine. In 2004 only 0.5% of the appellation's area was planted with Counoise.[3] Some producers who favour the variety use about 5% of it in their blends, and those account for most of the plantings. One such producer is Château de Beaucastel, which is noted for using all the 13 allowed varieties.[2]

Counoise and Aubun

Counoise is easily confused with Aubun, because of a large similarity in the vineyards. Counoise and Aubun were also grown mixed in a field blend in some older vineyards.[2] However, Counoise is considered to be a grape of higher quality, while Aubun has a reputation for giving simpler wines.[1]

Synonyms

Synonyms for Counoise include Aubon, Caula, Conese, Connoges, Connoise, Couneso, Counoise noir, Counoiso, Counoueiso, Damas noir, Grosse Rogettaz, Guenoise, Moustardier, Cow Noise, Quennoise.[4]

Counoise is also listed as a synonym for Aubun, most likely due to confusion between the two in the vineyard.[5]

References
  1. Oz Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN 0-15-100714-4
  2. Jancis Robinson, ed. (2006). "Counoise". Oxford Companion to Wine (Third ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 208. ISBN 0-19-860990-6.
  3. www.chateauneuf.dk: Grapes, accessed on June 18, 2008
  4. Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Counoise Archived 2012-04-05 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on June 18, 2008
  5. Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Aubun Archived September 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, accessed on June 18, 2008
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