Blaufränkisch

Blaufränkisch
Grape (Vitis)
File:Blaufränkisch close up.JPG Blaufränkisch grapes growing in Burgenland, Austria
Species	Vitis vinifera
Also called	Lemberger, Blauer Limberger, Frankovka (Franconia), Modra frankinja, Kékfrankos, Gamé
Origin	Limberg
Notable regions	Sopron, Villány, Szekszárd and Eger
Notable wines	Egri Bikavér
VIVC number	1459

Blaufränkisch (German for blue "Frankish") is a dark-skinned variety of grape used for red wine. Blaufränkisch that is used to produce dry, red wines which are typically rich in tannin and may exhibit a pronounced spicy, masculine character. The grape is grown across Central Europe, including Austria, Czech Republic (in particular the Moravia region), Germany (where it is known as Lemberger, or Blauer Limberger), Slovakia (where it is known as "Frankovka" or Franconia) and Slovenia (where it is known as "modra frankinja"). In Hungary the grape is called Kékfrankos (also lit. blue Frankish) and is grown in a number of wine regions including Sopron, Villány, Szekszárd and Eger (where it is a major ingredient in the famous red wine blend known as Egri Bikavér [lit. Bull's Blood] having largely replaced the Kadarka grape).

The German name points to its origin on the Danube as it came from the principality of Limberg in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, what is now Slovenia. According to a recent database search this variety has over 40 synonym names in countries spread over Eastern/Central Europe.

DNA profiling has shown that Blaufränkisch is a cross between Gouais blanc and an unidentified Frankish variety. One of the candidates for the Frankish parent is Blauer Silvaner.

Blaufränkisch was once thought to be a Gamay type clone, due to its name Gamé in Bulgaria.