The white grape variety originates from Spain. Synonyms are Albilla, Albilla Mayor, Albillo (see there for a list of this group of names), Albillo de Toro, Blanca del Pais, Blanco del País, Doradilla, Monastrell Blanco, Pardina, Picadillo, Picadillo Blanco, Torrontés, Turruntés and Turruntés de la Rioja. It should not be confused with the Albillo de Albacete, Albillo Real, Calagraño or Cayetana Blanca (Pardina) varieties, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2015, Albillo Mayor is one of the many direct descendants of the leading variety Hebén; the second parent is unknown. A parent-descendant relationship with the Doradilla variety was also found. The Tempranillo variety comes from a presumably natural cross Albillo Mayor x Benedicto.
The early-maturing, low-yielding vine is resistant to drought and powdery mildew, but sensitive to botrytis and downy mildew as well as to late frost in spring. It yields golden-yellow, alcohol-rich, fleshy white wines with medium acidity and fruity aromas. The area under cultivation in Spain is 1,145 hectares of vines, mainly in Castile-León. There are also small stocks overseas in Chile (0.5 ha) and Peru (7 ha). In 2016, a total of 1,152 hectares of vines were reported, with a strong downward trend (Kym Anderson statistics).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Picture: El Sauca Corchos
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