Petit Meslier

Identity in VIVC

VIVC lists the variety under number 7675 with the prime name Meslier Petit, white berries and France as the country of origin.¹ Its 32 synonyms include Meslier de Champagne, Meslier Doré, Meslier Vert, Melier and Mayer.¹

Pedigree

The field "pedigree confirmed by markers" reads Heunisch × Savagnin (Traminer).¹ Heunisch Weiss is the VIVC prime name for Gouais Blanc, also a parent of Chardonnay.^2,5 Savagnin is recorded by VIVC as a parent of Pinot Noir and Chenin Blanc as well.^6,7

VIVC is maintained by JKI Geilweilerhof and identifies each variety by a prime name and a variety number.¹

In Champagne

The Champagne cahier des charges lists "Petit meslier B" among its principal varieties.³ Comité Champagne gives no separate area figure; all varieties beyond the main three together make up 0.3% of the area under vine.⁴

The rules have no separate category for these rare grapes: they sit on the same list of principal varieties as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. The letter B after the name is the colour code for white (blanc), as N marks a black grape in "Meunier N".³