Albillo
| Albillo | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
| Color of berry skin | Blanc |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Also called | Albillo Real and other synonyms |
| Origin | Spain |
| Notable regions | Ribera del Duero |
Albillo or Albillo Real is a white Spanish wine grape[1] planted primarily in the Ribera del Duero region, and also in Madrid, Ávila and Galicia. The grape has mostly neutral flavors with a light perfume aroma. It has a high glycerol index which confers smoothness to the wines.
It is sometimes added to the red wines of the Ribera del Duero for added aromatics.[2] The berries are of average size, round in shape and golden in colour. The grape bunches are generally small and compact. It is an early ripening variety and in central Spain is usually harvested in mid August.
It is an authorized variety in the Ribera del Duero region and one of the main varieties in the Vinos de Madrid DO.
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[edit] History
The first written mention of Albillo is from the 15th century in Agricultura General by Gabriel Alonso de Herrera in which he says that the wine made from this variety is described as “very clear, with gentle colour and taste”. He also states that the wine can be kept for quite some time but that it improves in quality if mixed with other varieties such as Cigüente, Moscatel or Hebén.
Simón de Roxas Clemente y Rubio, in Viticultura, published in the 19th century mentions the sweetness of the must. According to Alain Huetz de Lemps, the Albillo variety represented 36% of all vines planted in the Toro region in 1751, and was also found in Tierras de Medina, though not as much as the Verdejo variety. He also states that Albillo was to be found in the Rioja Alta, and that it was used for making the traditional txacolí wine in the province of Vizcaya.
[edit] Synonyms
Albillo is also known by other names: Albilla, Albillo de Cebreros, Albillo de Madrid, Albillo de Toro, Albillo Castellano, Blanco del País, Castellano, Gual, Hoja Vuelta, Nieves Temprano, Pardillo, Pardina y Uva Perruna.
There are total of five grape varieties with 'Albillo' as part of their name: Albillo de Albacete, Albillo Krimskii, Albillo Mayor, Albillo Real, and Albillo Real de Granada. Of these, only Albillo Real is referred to as simply Albillo.
Albillo is also used as a synonym for the Spanish grape variety Pardina.[3] Albillo Negro is one of Tempranillo's many synonyms.
[edit] References
- ^ Albillo Real, Vitis International Variety Catalogue, accessed on June 26, 2010
- ^ J. Robinson Jancis Robinson's Wine Course Third Edition pg 100 Abbeville Press 2003 ISBN 0-7892-0883-0
- ^ Pardina, Vitis International Variety Catalogue, accessed on June 26, 2010
