Bombino bianco

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Ribola" redirects here. For another Italian variety that is also known as Ribola, see Ribolla Gialla.
"Uva Fermana" redirects here. For another Italian variety that is also known as Uva Fermana, see Montonico bianco.
"Butta Palmento" redirects here. For another variety that is also known as Butta Palmento, see Bianco d'Alessano.
Bombino bianco
Grape (Vitis)
Color of berry skinBlanc
SpeciesVitis vinifera
Also calledTrebbiano d'Abruzzo and other synonyms
OriginItaly
Notable regionsAbruzzo Apulia
VIVC number1533

Bombino bianco is a white

debts.[3][4][5]

The exact origins of the grape are unknown, with early wine texts speculating that the grape may have originated in

Trebbiano Toscano (also known as Ugni blanc), the two grapes are unrelated. DNA research has also shown that Bombino bianco may be one of the parent varieties of the Impigno grape of the Ostuni DOC in Apulia and of the Moscatello Selvatico grape that is also native to the same region.[6]

In the

sparkling Sekt.[6]

History

Synonyms for Bombino bianco such as Debit and Pagadebit came about due to the grape's reputation for being a reliable crop that produced large yields that would assure a grower that he could "pay his debts" each vintage.

The name "Bombino" means "small

wine writers that the grape originated in Spain; but that theory has now been largely discounted, with most ampelographers today believing that the grape is indigenous to Italy and likely native to the Apulia region.[6]

Bombino bianco has a long history growing in several Italian wine regions where it has been known under many different synonyms. In the Emilia-Romagna region the grape was known as Pagadebit due to its reputation of being a reliable cropper that a grower could use to "pay his debts".[3] In Lazio, Bombino bianca was known as Ottonese and was once thought to be its own distinctive grape variety until DNA profiling in the early 21st century confirmed that the two grapes were one and the same.[6]

Viticulture

Bombino bianco is a

botrytis bunch rot.[6]

Relationship to other grapes

While the exact relationship between Bombino bianco and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo (pictured) is not clear, both grapes are allowed for use in making the DOC wine of Trebbiano d'Abruzzo.

For many years the relationship between Bombino bianco and Bombino nero was thought to be similar to Pinot noir and Grenache to Pinot blanc and Grenache blanc, respectively, in that the two grapes were color mutations of the same variety. However, DNA analysis in the early 21st century showed that while the two grapes are probably very closely related (either as siblings or parent-offspring) they are, nonetheless, two distinct grape varieties.[6]

Similarly, Bombino bianco was long thought to be the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo grape grown throughout the Abruzzo region but while DNA profiling has not conclusively established the relationship between the two varieties (apart from both not being related to the

Tuscan/Cognac grape Trebbiano/Ugni blanc), since 1994 they have been listed as a separate varieties in the official grape register of the Italian government and in the regulations for the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC.[6]

DNA analysis has further confirmed that Bombino bianco is not related to the Marche grape Verdicchio of which it shares several synonyms but that Bombino bianco is identical to the Ottonese grape that has long been grown in the Lazio region. Ampelographers have also discovered from DNA studies that Bombino bianco is probably one of the parent varieties of the Apulian grapes Impigno and Moscatello Selvatico.[6]

Wine regions

Bombino bianco is most widely grown in the Puglia region, particularly the Bari, Lecce and Foggia provinces.

In 2000, there were nearly 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) of Bombino bianco planted in Italy, the vast majority of it in southern Italy particularly in the

Foggia provinces. Outside of Apulia the grape can be found in the Marche, Molise, Lazio, where it is known as Ottonese (particularly in the province of Frosinone), and in Emilia-Romagna, where the grape is the principal variety in the DOC wine Pagadebit di Romagna. In the Abruzzo, Bombino bianco is historically associated with Trebbiano d'Abruzzo and is often included in the white DOC wine of the same name.[6]

Bombino bianco is a permitted grape variety in several DOC zones including the

San Severo DOC in the Foggia province of Apulia.[7][6]

Outside of Italy, Bombino bianco is often imported to other countries in the European Union where it can be blended in bulk table wines. It likewise imported into Germany where it is used in the production of inexpensive sparkling Sekt wine, often blended with

Morio Muskat.[6]

DOC regulations

Bombino bianco can be used for still, semi and fully sparkling wines. It is often imported to Germany for the production of inexpensive sparkling sekt.

In the Abruzzo wine region, Bombino bianco is known as Trebbiano d'Abruzzo and has its own DOC that covers virtually the entire Abruzzo region. This DOC has one of the highest permitted

alcohol level of at least 11.5%.[7]

In Emilia-Romagna, between 40 and 50% of the white DOC wine from Colli Romagna Centrale can include Bombino bianco along with Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Trebbiano Toscano and Pinot blanc. Grapes destined for DOC production here are limited to a harvest yield no greater than 12 tonnes/hectare with the finished wines needing to attain a minimum alcohol level of at least 11%. Bombino bianco is also the primary grape in the Pagadebit di Romagna DOC where it must account for at least 85% of the wine. Maximum yields in this DOC are a little higher at 14 tonnes/hectare with a slightly lower 10.5% minimum alcohol level.[7]

In Molise, Bombino bianco grown along the Biferno river in the 135-hectare (330-acre) DOC region are blended (between 20 and 30%) with Trebbiano Toscano and

Malvasia bianca. Yields are limited to 12 tonnes/hectare and minimum alcohol levels of at least 10.5%. In the white wine of Pentro di Isernia DOC, Bombino bianco accounts for between 30 and 40% of the blend along with Trebbiano Toscano.[7]

DOCs of Lazio

In the Lazio wine region, Bombino bianco is often blended (up to 25%) with

Tocai Friulano and Verdicchio also permitted.[7]

In the Cesanese di Olevano Romano DOC that is also in Lazio, Bombino bianco can be used in the still, semi-

sparkling frizzante and fully sparkling spumante red wines that are often made slightly sweet. Here the grape is blended with Cesanese Comune, Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Barbera with Bombino bianco limited to make up no more than 10% of the blend along with Trebbiano Toscano. In this DOC, Bombino bianco is limited to a maximum yield of 12.5 tonnes/hectare and a minimum alcohol level of 12%. In the Genazzo DOC located along the southern slopes of Monti Prenestini, Bombino bianco is only used (between 10 and 30%) in the DOC's white wine where it is blended with Malvasia di Candia and Bellone.[7]

In the Marino DOC situated on the volcanic

vineyard soils located on the hills east of Rome, up to 10% of the white wine of the DOC can include Bombino bianco where it is blended with Malvasia bianca, Trebbiano Toscano, Romagnolo, Giallo and Verdicchio.[7]

DOCs of Apulia

Bombino bianco is often blended with Malvasia (pictured).

In Apulia, the Cacc'e mmitte di Lucera DOC allows between 15 and 30% of Bombino bianco to be blended (along with other white grape varieties like Trebbiano and

Malvasia nera. Bombino bianco grown within this 80 hectares (200 acres) are limited to a maximum yield of 14 tonnes/hectare with a finished alcohol level of at least 11.5% for DOC designated wine. In Leverano, Bombino bianco is permitted up to 35%, along with Trebbiano Toscano, in the predominantly Malvasia bianca-based wines (at least 65%) of the DOC.[7]

In the Gravina DOC, up to 10% of Bombino bianco is permitted in the dry secco and slightly sweet amabile white wines of the DOC that can be produced in both a still and sparkling spumante style. Here the grape is blended with Malvasia del Chianti,

Greco di Tufo, Bianco d'Alessano, Trebbiano Toscano and Verdeca. In the white-wine only DOCs of Lacorotondo and Martina Franca, up to 5% of Bombino bianco can be included along with Fiano and Malvasia Toscao in the Verdeca and Bianco d'Alessano based wines of the DOC provided that grapes are harvested to yields no greater than 13 tonnes/hectare and the finished wine reaches at least 11% alcohol by volume.[7]

In the 2,000-hectare (4,900-acre) San Severo DOC, located in the large Capitanata di Puglia zone, between 40 and 60% of the white DOC wine of the region is Bombino bianco with Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia del Chianti and Verdeca making up the remainder. Here grapes are limited to a yield of 14 tonnes/hectare with a finished alcohol level for both the still and sparkling spumante styles needing to reach at least 11%.[7]

Styles

In addition to Bombino bianco's use in winemaking, the grape is also used in raisin production and to make vermouth for martinis.

According to

minerality. While the wine can be made as a varietal, it is most often used as a blending variety in both red and white wines that can be made in a wide range of sweetness levels. In addition to still wines, some DOCs produce semi-sparkling frizzante and fully sparkling spumante styles from the grape.[6]

Wine writers

wild flowers and apples.[8] Italian wine writer Victor Hazan, husband of the Italian cookbook writer Marcella Hazan, notes that blended wines such as Trebbiano d'Abruzzo that have a high proportion of Bombino bianco in them tend to have milder fruit flavors and soft palate than wines with a higher proportion of Trebbiano Toscano.[9]

In addition to wine production, Bombino bianco is also used to make raisins and vermouth.[3]

Synonyms

Over the years Bombino bianco has been known under various synonyms including: Abondante, Bambino, Bambino Peloso Gentile, Bammino, Banjac, Bilana, Bobbino, Bommino, Bonvino, Bonvino bianco, Buon Vino, Buonvino bianco, Butta Palmento, Butta Pezzente, Buttspezzante, Calatammurro, Calpolese, Camblese, Campanile, Campolese, Campolese Camplese, Campolese Chiuso, Campolese Scinciaro, Campolese Sciniato, Carapa, Castella, Cococciola, Cola Tamburo, Colatammurro, Debit, Debit Veliki, Donnee, Marese, Ottenese, Ottonese (in central Italy, particularly the Lazio region), Pagadebiti (in Emilia-Romagna), Poulzhinatz, Pulizanac, Puljizanac, Ribola, Ripona, Scacciadebiti, Schiacciadebiti, Straccia Cambiale, Strappa Cambiale, Tivolese bianco, Trebbiano Abruzzese, Trebbiano Bianco di Chieti, Trebbiano Campolese, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Trebbiano d'Ora, Trebbiano d'Oro, Trebbiano di Abruzzo, Trebbiano di Avezzano, Trebbiano di Macerata, Trebbiano di Teramo, Trebbiano Dorato di Teramo, Trivolese, Uva Castellana, Uva da un Osso, Uva Fermana, Uva Romana, and Zapponara bianca.[2][6]

References

  1. ISBN 0-7892-0883-0
  2. ^ a b Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Bombino bianco Archived 2012-04-30 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 2010-07-08
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-15-100714-4
  4. ^ Tar and Roses "Pagadebit Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine" Italian Wine Resource. Accessed: April 22nd, 2013
  5. ^ Shelley Lindgren, Matthew Accarrino, Kate Leahy "SPQR: Modern Italian Food and Wine" pg 164, Random House Digital, Inc., Oct 16, 2012
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2
  7. ^
    ISBN 1-55297-720-X
  8. ISBN 1-4000-9774-6
  9. ISBN 0-394-50266-3
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