Ondenc is a white French wine grape found predominantly in the Gaillac region of southwest France. In the 19th century, it was a popular planting in Bordeaux wine but fell out of favor following the phylloxera epidemic due to poor yields and sensitivity to grape disease, though is still one of the seven white varieties permitted in Bordeaux.[J. Robinson (ed) "The Oxford Companion to Wine" Third Edition pg 494 Oxford University Press 2006 ] Today, the grape is nearly extinct in Australia except for a small amount of plantings in Victoria used in sparkling wine production.[Oz Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes pg 165 Harcourt Books 2001 ]
History
The grape is believed to have originated in southwestern France and at its peak production it was grown as far north as the Côtes-de-Blaye region and as far south as the
of the
Pyrenees. In the early 19th century, Ondenc vines were taken to the Cognac region where the grape was known as Blanc Sélection Carrière. From Cognac, cuttings spread to
California wine and
Portuguese wine. Ondenc cuttings, known as Blanc Select, were also among the grape varieties that
James Busby brought to Australia in 1832. At the turn of the 20th century, plantings of Ondenc declined worldwide and in France it was soon limited to the Gaillac region and the
Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) regions of
Bergerac AOC, Côtes de Duras and
Montravel AOC.
[J. Robinson Vines, Grapes & Wines pg 237 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ]
Wine
The Ondenc grape can produce a highly perfumed, full-bodied wine. It is also high in acidity which lends itself well to the production of
sparkling wine.
Synonyms
Synonyms of Ondenc include Austenq, Béquin, Bergeracois, Blanc de Gaillac, Blanc Select, Blanc Selection Carrière, Blanquette, Blanquette Sucrée, Chaloche, Chalosse, Cu de Brecherou, Doudant Blanc, Doundent, Dourec, Dourech, Fronsadais, Gaillac, Irvine's White, Mauzac, Œil de Tour, Ondain, Ondainc, Ondent, Ondin, Oundenc, Oundenq, Oustenc, Oustenq, Oustenque, Piquepout de Moissac, Plant de Gaillac, Prendiou, Prentiou, Primai, Primaic, Primard, Printiou, Riverain, Sable Blanc, Semis Blanc, Sencit Blanc, Sensit Blanc, and Sercial.
[ Ondenc , Vitis International Variety Catalogue, accessed 2010-12-03]
