The Monarch N variety comes from a breeding program conducted by the Freiburg Research Institute in Germany (WBI, Staatliches Weinbauinstitut Freiburg). The variety has good resistance to downy mildew and powdery mildew, and resistance to botrytis, especially in northern regions. Monarch B is vigorous, with a maturity period a few days earlier than Pinot noir and a ripening time similar to Pinot noir. Its wines are spicier, more tannic, and more vegetal than those made from Gamay. However, they are less tannic than wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and less spicy than those made from Syrah.
