Bombino bianco

"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 Italian wine grape variety planted primarily along Italy's Adriatic coast line, most notably in Apulia. The vine is prone to high yields and often produces neutral flavor wines.[1] The grape is known under many synonyms throughout Italy including Debit[2] and Pagadebit, names which came from the grape's reputation for being a high yielding and reliable crop for vineyard owners to grow that would assure them that on each vintage they could pay off their debts.[3][4][5]

The exact origins of the grape are unknown, with early wine texts speculating that the grape may have originated in Spain. Today most ampelographers believe that the grape is indigenous to southern Italy, with Apulia believed to be the most likely home of the grape. In the 20th century DNA profiling has shown that while Bombino bianco is closely related to Bombino nero, the grape is not color mutation but its own distinct variety. Though Bombino bianco shares many synonyms with 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 Abruzzo wine region, Bombino bianco has been historically associated with Trebbiano d'Abruzzo but in recent years ampelographers have been beginning to doubt that the two grape varieties are the same. Since 1994, the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) called Trebbiano d'Abruzzo has listed both grapes as separate varieties permitted in the blend of the white wine. In the European Union it is permitted for the production of bulk table wines and vermouth as well as raisins. It is also imported into Germany for use in as a blending variety for inexpensive sparkling Sekt.[6]

  1. ^ J. Robinson Jancis Robinson's Wine Course (Third Edition), p. 100, Abbeville Press 2003 ISBN 0-7892-0883-0
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference VIVC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Oz Clarke, Encyclopedia of Grapes, p. 45, Harcourt Books 2001 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. ^ a b J. Robinson, J. Harding and J. Vouillamoz Wine Grapes - A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours pgs 121-122, 1076 Allen Lane 2012 ISBN 978-1-846-14446-2