Elbling () is a variety of white grape (sp. Vitis vinifera) which today is primarily grown in the upstream parts of the Mosel wine region in Germany and in Luxembourg, where the river is called Moselle River. The variety has a long history, and used to cover much of Germany's vineyards from medieval times and was that country's most cultivated variety until the early 20th century, but has been in decline ever since. As of 2006, there were of Elbling vineyards in Germany, which made it the country's 23rd most grown variety of grape. Of that vineyard surface, 575 ha or 98.6% was found in the Mosel region[ German Wine Institute: German Wine Statistics 2007-2008 ] In the same year, there were of Elbling grown in Luxembourg.[ Le Portail des Statistiques du Luxembourg: Superficies viticoles selon les différents cépages 1975 - 2006, accessed on April 1, 2008]
History and origin
It has been speculated that Elbling was grown along Mosel already in Roman times, and that it could even be identical to the
Vitis albuelis described by
Lucius Columella in his
De re rustica and the
Vitis alba described by Pliny the Elder, although this has by no means been proven. Both Latin names mean "the white grape" and would then have been corrupted to Elbling at some later stage.
DNA profiling has indicated that Elbling is an offspring of
Gouais blanc (also known as Heunisch) and a cross between
Traminer and some unidentified variety.
[ Wein-Plus Glossar: Elbling read on March 6, 2013] This parentage is consistent with Elbling being an ancient grape variety, and incidentally, it is the same parentage as for
Riesling. This parentage and history makes it likely that Elbling originated somewhere in the
Rhine area.
Wines
Elbling tends to give musts low in sugar, and wines high in acid and fairly neutral in character, which makes it primarily used for
sparkling wine, such as non-varietally labelled Mosel
Sekt. When made into varietal still wine, it gives a wine which has been compared to a lighter and more tart version of
Silvaner.
[Jancis Robinson (Ed.), The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd Ed., 2006, Oxford University Press, , p. 250: "Elbling"] Varietal Elbling wine is most commonly found in Luxembourg.
Synonyms
Elbling is known under the following synonyms:
[ Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Elbling Weiss , accessed on December 10, 2009] Albana, Albe, Alben, Albig, Albuelin, Albuelis, Allemand, Allemand Blanc, Alsacien, Alva, Argentin, Biela Zrebnina, Bielovacka, Bielovcka, Blesec, Blesez, Bourgeois, Burgauer, Burgeger, Burgegger, Burger, Burger Elbling, Burgundertraube Gruen, Burgyre, Dickelbling, Elbai Feher, Elbe, Elbele, Elben, Elben Feher, Elber, Elbling Weiss, Elbinger, Elmene, Facum, Facun, Facun Blanc, Farantbily, Faucun, Frankenthal Blanc, Gemeine Traube, Geschlachter Burger, Gonais Blanc, Gouais Blanc, Grobburger, Grobe, Grobriesling, Gros Blanc, Grossriesler, Grossriesling, Hartalbe, Haussard, Herblink, Heunisch Gruen, Isodora Brachybus, Klaemmer, Kleinbeer, Kleinbeere, Kleinberger, Klember, Klemmer, Klemplich, Kratkopeccelj, Kristaller, Kristeller, Kurzstingel, Kurzstingl, Kurzstingler, Le Gros, Luttenbershna, Marmont Vert, Marmot, Mehlweisse, Morawka, Mouillet, Naesslinger, Nuernberger Zaeh, Nuesslinger, Pecek, Pezhech, Pezhek, Plant Commun, Plant Madame, Raifrench, Rauhelbene, Reinfransch, Rheinalben, Rheinelbe, Seretonina, Silberweiss, Silvaner Weiss, Spizelbe, Srebonina, Suessgrober, Suessgrobes, Sussgrober, Tarant Bily, Tarant De Boheme, Verdin Blanc, Vert Blanc, Vert Doux, Weissalbe, Weisselben, Weisselbling, Weisser Dickelbling, Weisser Elbling, Weisser Sylvaner, Welsche, Welschel.
