This very old white grape variety comes from Spain. Synonyms are Albillo (see there for a list of the name group), Albillo Blanco, Albillo Blanco Fino, Albillo Cagalon, Albillo Castellano, Albillo Castillan, Albillo de Cebreros, Albillo de Granada, Albillo de Madrid, Albillo de San Jeronimo, Albillo Pardo, Albillo Peco, Albillo Peco de Trebugena, Albillo Verdal, Blanco Castellano, Castellano Bianco, Nieves Temprano, Ojo de Liebre, Temprana, Temprano de Campo Real, Temprano de Mora and Turruntés. It was mentioned as early as 1513 by the Spanish agronomist Gabriel Alonso de Herrera (1470-1539), who described the wine as "very clear with soft colours and flavours". It should not be confused with the varieties Albaranzeuli Bianco, Albillo de Albacete, Albillo Mayor, Albillo Real Extremadur, Alvarinho, Cayetana Blanca, Chenin Bl anc, Pardillo or Parellada, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological or name similarities. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2018, it comes from a presumably natural cross between Hében x Folha de Figueira.
Until the middle of the 20th century, the variety was mainly used as table grape, but today it is increasingly used as a wine grape. It yields golden-yellow, aromatic white wines with a high alcohol content and a slight bitter note, and with the right ageing potential. These are mostly used as blends in red wines, among others in the "Unico" of the Vega Sicilia winery. It is grown in Castile-León (Rueda and Toro), Extremadura and Galicia. In 2016, a total of 601 hectares of vines were reported in Spain, with a strong downward trend (Kym Anderson statistics).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012.
Images: UCDAVIS - Foundation Plant Services
