Last time we looked at Baco Noir, a hybrid grape that produces a medium-bodied red wine. But, there’s also a Baco Blanc, a white wine grape. Both of these hybrid grapes were developed by François Baco.

Baco Blanc was developed in 1898 by crossing of the Folle Blanche and Noah grapes. It’s notable for being the only hybrid grape variety permitted for use in any French AOC appellation, that being Armagnac.

Baco Blanc tends to produce neutral flavor, high acid grapes with lower sugars. This turns out to be more suitable for distillation, notably for brandy, than for wine production.

Baco Blanc was used in France as the basis for Armagnac brandy until the 1970s when Ugni Blanc took over because it produces greater yields and is more disease resistant. Ugni Blanc now accounts for over 50 percent of Armagnac-producing vines along with smaller amounts of Folle Blanche, Colombard and Baco Blanc.

Use of the Baco Blanc variety was to have been phased out of Armagnac by 2010, but strong advocacy for the grape and its historical importance to Armagnac resulted in authorities allowing the grape to remain. It is still used today for distillation purposes, but only on a very small scale.

Baco Blanc wines are rarely produced on any significant scale these days and it remains to be seen if the variety will ever again be used in any significant manner. So, don’t go looking for a bottle of Baco Blanc wine at your favorite wine store, but know that as a hybrid grape, it has played a notable role in France.