Black grape variety grown in Apulia

Bombino Nero n.

Black grape variety cultivated for a long time in Apulia, traditionally in the North of Bari. It is one of the most suitable varieties in the whole Apulian territory.

Origin and Historical Outline

The Bombino Nero wine vine n. has been cultivated for a long time in Apulia. With regard to its name, as well as for its white fruit homonym, in the bibliography it is reported that the synonym Child derives from the shape of the cluster that, according to the fanciful interpretation of many farmers, resembles a small child; from this, in fact, the name of Bambino, then in time changed into Bombino. More likely, as well as for its white fruit namesake, acclaimed the historical influence of the local Spanish domination, Bombino derives from Bonvino, since the letter “v” in Spanish is pronounced as in Italian the letter “b”; therefore in Spanish the word “Bonvino” Pronounced as in Italian “Bombino”. The term Bombino means “good wine”.
In the last decade, the discovery of new relatives, identified with research carried out on DNA, have made known (Bergamini et al., 2016) that the parents Bombino Bianco (mother) and Uva rosa antica/Quagliano, have obtained the vines Uva di Troia, Bombino Nero, Impigno.

Synonyms

Bambino, Buonvino.

Shoot tip: expanded, downy, green with bronze shades.

Leaf: medium, pentalobate, with lyre-shaped petiole sinus and slightly overlapping margins, lyre-shaped open, or slightly overlapped upper lateral sinuses. U and also V-shaped lower lateral sinuses.

Bunch: medium weight, slightly or medium dense, winged (two wings), visible peduncle.

Berry: low or medium-low weight, spheroidal, blue, pruinose, thick, compact skin, colourless juice and neutral taste.

Phenology

Time of bud burst: intermediate-late

Flowering time: intermediate-late

Veraison: intermediate-late

Ripening: intermediate-late

Agronomic and Cultural Characteristics

Vigour: medium

Average bunch weight: 290 g (min 200 g – max 430 g)

Average berry weight: 2.1 g (min 1.6 g – max 2.8 g)

Number of seeds per berry: 2 3

Average rachis weight: 16 g

Fertility of buds: 1 – 2

Potential fertility: 1.3

Actual fertility: 1.0

Environmental and Cultural Requirements

Offers an abundant yield, without any particular soil and weather or cultural requirements.

Chemical Features of the Wine

Alcoholic content: 11.0 – 12.5 % by vol.

pH: 3.15 – 3.35

Total acidity: 5.5 – 7.5 g/l

Oenological Use and Sensorial Properties of the Wine

Bombino nero n. is used exclusively for vinification, mostly in blends with other varieties, like Uva di Troia and Montepulciano. It is processed as a single variety to obtain excellent rosé wines.
In Apulia, it is employed in the production of the QWpsr’s Castel del Monte and Lizzano. It is used in blends with varying proportions to obtain various kind of red and rosé wines.

Table wine, light ruby colour, dry taste, properly tannic, finely aromatic with a pleasant vinous smell, rich in extracts. Its properties improve with ageing.

Economic Significance and Geographic Distribution

The vine is traditionally present in Apulia in the northern province of Bari. It is registered among the varieties suited to being grown in all the Apulian provinces.

Author and Source

Antonacci Donato
antonacci.dona@gmail.com

The data sheet of the Bombino Nero n., revised and updated, is extracted from: Antonacci Donato (2006). Viti di Puglia, Adda publisher. Its use is granted by the author citing the source.