The white grape variety originates from Spain. There are about 180 synonyms, indicating great age and wide distribution. Some grouped alphabetically by country are Riesentraube (Germany); Ascot Royal, White Malaga (England); Grumiere Blanco, Lardot, Malvoisie de la Chartreuse, Panse de Provence, Passerille Blanche, Raisin de Notre Dame, Teneron de Cadenet, Teneron de Vaucluse, Teneron du Vaucluse, Teneron Olivette de Cadenet (France); Apesorgia Bianca, Regina della Malvasia, Regina di Pontecorvo, Uva degli Angeli, Verdello (Italy); Teneron (Morocco); Boal de Praça, Mantúa, Mantúo (Portugal); Abeaci Blanca, Ain el Kelb, Ain Kelb, Beba de Huelva, Beba de Jaen, Beba de Jerez, Beba de los Santos, Beba de los Santos de Maimona, Beba de Palos, Beba Dorada, Beba Dorada de Huelva, Beba Dorada de Jaen, Beba Dorada de Jerez, Bebas, Beva, Blanca de Mesa, Blanca Superior de Parral, Breval, Calop Blanco, Calop Rojo, Chelva, Chelva Blanca, Datilera, Eva, Eva de los Santos, Eva de los Santos de Maimona, Jerez Fina, Jerez Fino, Lanjaron, Malvasia de la Cartuja, Manchega, Mateu, Palot, Panse, Panse Blanche, Pansa Valenciana, Teta de Vaca, Uva de Pasa, Uva de Planta, Valenciana Blanca, Valencí, Valencí Blanco (Spain).
It was mentioned in 1807 by the botanist Simón de Rojas Clemente y Rubio (1777-1827) as a wine-press and table grape cultivated in Andalusia. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2013, it originates from a presumably natural cross between Hebén x unknown partner. The Teneron variety grown in Morocco is identical. Beba should not be confused with the varieties Chelva or Doradilla, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities. The red-berried Beba Roja (Calop Rojo) is a colour mutation. The variety is the parent variety of Dattier de St. Vallier and Perle Noire (new varieties) as well as Callet Negrella, Muscat d'Istambul and Valencí Tinto (natural crosses).
This late-maturing vine has very irregular yields due to its sensitivity to flowering. It produces fresh, fruity white wines, which are mainly used as blends for young white wines (Joven). In Portugal, it occupies only 0.1 hectares in the Algarve region. In Spain, it is mainly cultivated in Extremadura in the provinces of Bajadoz and Cáceres. There it is permitted in the DO area Ribera del Guadiana, as well as in Andalusia in the provinces of Huelva and Seville and on the Canary Islands. In 2016, the variety occupied a total of 2,556 hectares of vineyards (Kym Anderson statistics).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Image: Tiara Bodegas
