Grape Glossary

As a single variety, it produces Clairette de Bellegarde and Clairette du Languedoc. Its best representation is the sparkling Clairette de Die, a blend with Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Otherwise, Clairette is a minor component in various blends including Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Tavel rosé, Côtes-du-Rhône, Lirac and Blanquette de Limoux.

Suited to hot, arid conditions and poor, dry soils, it is a late-ripening vine. Fragile, thin skinned berries are highly susceptible to rot and the vines have a tendency to lose flowers before they can develop into berries.

A hot-climate variety native to the Mediterranean basin, Clairette was once widely planted throughout southeastern France.