How Wine Clones Are Already Taking Over

(WineFolly) - Perhaps you’ve heard of the ‘Dijon Clone’ for Pinot Noir or maybe Clone number 337 for Cabernet Sauvignon?

Wine clones are well-known amongst wine growers but they may point to a strange and somewhat alarming future for the world of wine. For instance, did you know that a popular clone of Syrah grown in the US must pay an intellectual property fee ( a royalty) to a nursery in Paso Robles?

How wine super clones are already taking over

I ate dinner with a Washington winemaker who grows some of the state’s only Grenache Blanc. There’s not a lot of this grape variety in the US and I’ve always been disappointed by this fact because it’s damn tasty. As it happens, there may be a reason for low interest in Grenache Blanc: you have to pay royalties to grow it. What?! Despite how crazy this seems it happens all the time; let me explain.

Ever see those Pink Lady apples and Clementine Oranges in the grocery store?

Both types of apples and oranges require licensing fees that farmers must pay to grow and use the ‘Pink Lady’ trademark to sell fruit. Some of these trademarked apples make more revenue in other markets so the entire US crop is exported. Have you ever seen a Junami apple?
 
Wine is no different. Wine grapes are a cash crop with some grapes selling for nearly $10,000/ton (makes about 720 bottles of wine). Since wine grapes are an import from Europe, nurseries who import and clone these grapes charge royalty fee for their grapes vines. Interestingly enough, a few of these clone names have become popular selling points to a wine, because they are known for creating delicious wines. For instance:
 

“We use 100% ungrafted Pommard Clones for the ultimate Oregon Pinot experience”

Say again?