Baco Noir -- who created it? Francois or Maurice

On the web, the creation of Baco Noir seems evenly credited to Francois Baco and also to Maurice Baco

The (n)ever reliable Wikipedia manages to credit Maurice here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baco_noir and Francois here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_grapes

Jancis's Oxford Companion names Francois

Anyone, (Paul?) know the facts?

Phillip Wagner in "Wine Growers Guide" says it's Maurice. Francois is not mentioned.

[Robin Garr]

Jancis's Oxford Companion names Francois

Anyone, (Paul?) know the facts?

I don't know the facts, and frankly don't much care who invented Baco. Are we seeking to provide credit or blame?

But strictly as a knee-jerk reaction, given a choice between relying on Jancis or Wikipedia, that's not much of a decision.

Hi Peter,

I was away for Easter - just got back into town. Thanks for your post.

Frankly, I can't tell for sure whether his first name was François or Maurice ... I've seen both names used, but always figured that it was the same person, just that one was his middle name and the other his first, in all likelihood. I'll try to do a bit more sleuthing ... I will check Freddy Couderc's book on Les Cepages d'Antan to see if he mentions the hybridizer by name, although Baco, as far as I know, isn't really grown in the Ardèche today.

[James Roscoe]

Freddy Couderc

Any relation to Freddy Kruger of Friday the 13th fame?

Not sure. Who's Freddy Kruger?

I'm out of the loop again, I'm afraid. Freddy Couderc comes from a proud line of phylloxera fighters in France, and he's an avid proponent of retaining and recognizing France's phylloxera-era plantings of labrusca and hybrids in the Cévenne ardéchoise.

Any relation to Freddy Kruger of Friday the 13th fame?

I believe Freddy Kruger is Nightmare on Elm St, Fri13th is Jason the hockey mask guy. Not that I'm a horror film expert. There are some Baco Noirs that are horrors, of course (sorry Paul!).

[James Roscoe]

Any relation to Freddy Kruger of Friday the 13th fame?

I believe Freddy Kruger is Nightmare on Elm St, Fri13th is Jason the hockey mask guy. Not that I'm a horror film expert. There are some Baco Noirs that are horrors, of course (sorry Paul!).

What do I know? I should leave the movie references to Joe and Hoke. Excuse my lame attempts at being funny.

There are some Baco Noirs that are horrors, of course (sorry Paul!).

Dale, you may be surprised to read this, but I am the first who will agree with you on that. While I am firmly committed to praising wineries that put their collective heart and soul into making carefully crafted and flavourful Baco aged in quality oak for the right length of time, I don't spare indifferent producers poignant criticism for giving the grape a bad name either. The worst possible outcome for a grape is to have someone who is new to it try the wine, find it badly out of balance, and never go back to the variety again. I'm a firm believer in working with a grape only if you really love it and are willing to baby it from vineyard to glass.

What do I know? I should leave the movie references to Joe and Hoke. Excuse my lame attempts at being funny.

Not at all, James! As usual, I simply thought out loud. 'Tis me who is the film ignoramus! At least I learned something thanks to you.

I don’t know if it really matters but one must remember that French-American hybrids or Interspecific varieties were originally named after the hybridizer and given a number. Baco Noir (aka Baco 1) was very likely developed by the elder Baco (who ever that may be) and the later Baco hybrids, Baco Blanc (aka Baco 22) by the younger Baco.

Salute