White wine grape variety grown in Apulia

Impigno b.

Impigno b. is a white fruit grape variety, historically present in part of Apulia, especially in some municipalities in the province of Brindisi.

Origin and Historical Outline

The white-fruited grape variety Impigno b. was imported into the countryside of Ostuni, from the area of Martina Franca, towards the beginning of the 900 by a farmer nicknamed “Impigno”. A long-standing grape variety, it is cultivated only in the municipalities of Brindisi, such as Ostuni, Carovigno, Cisternino and Ceglie Messapico. In the last decade, the discovery of new equivalent vines, identified with research carried out on DNA, have made known (Bergamini et al., 2016) that the ancestor Bombino Bianco (origin) and Uva rosa antica/Quagliano, have obtained the vines Uva di Troia, Bombino Nero, Impigno.

Synonyms

No synonyms known.

Shoot tip: expanded, downy, pale green with carmine hues.

Leaf: medium-size, pentagonal, trilobate or pentalobate. Closed petiole sinus with overlapping lobes. Closed lyre-shaped upper and lower lateral sinuses with overlapping lobes. Smooth blade with flat or revolute profile. Hairless underside.

Bunch: low or medium-low weight, plain or winged, normal or moderately loose.

Berry: medium, obovoid or ellipsoidal. Non-pruinose, soft, thin, not very compact skin, ambergreen epidermis; juicy flesh with a sweet taste; colourless juice with neutral taste, slightly insipid.

Phenology

Time of bud burst: intermediate

Flowering time: intermediate-early

Veraison: intermediate-early

Ripening: intermediate-early

Agronomic and Cultural Characteristics

Vigour: good

Average bunch weight: 210 g (min 160 g – max 270 g)

Average berry weight: 2.8 g (min 2.4 g – max 3.5 g)

Number of seeds per berry: 1 4

Average rachis weight: 10 g

Fertility of buds: 2 – 1

Potential fertility: 1.7

Actual fertility: 1.3

Environmental and Cultural Requirements

Prefers deep soil, good yield.

Chemical Features of the Wine

Alcoholic content: 10.5 – 12 % by vol.

pH: 3.15 – 3.35

Total acidity: 5 – 6.5 g/l

Oenological Use and Sensorial Properties of the Wine

The Impigno b. grape is not normally made into single variety wine, but in blends with other white grapes. In Apulia, it is used for the production of QWpsr Ostuni wine in blends with Verdeca, Bianco d’Alessano and Francavidda.

If vinified as a single varietal, the result is a white wine for ordinary meals, with a neutral, straw-yellow, dry taste.

Economic Significance and Geographic Distribution

The Impigno b. vine is present in Apulia in the hilly part of the Brindisi area. It is registered among the varieties suitable for cultivation in the Salento-Arco-Jonico-Salentino production area.

Author and Source

Antonacci Donato
antonacci.dona@gmail.com

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