The white grape variety originates from Italy. Synonyms are Bambino, Bilina, Bonvino, Bonvino Bianco, Buonvino, Bounvino Bianco, Butta Palmento, Buttaspezzante, Campolese, Campolese Camplete, Campolese Chiuso, Colatamburro, Colatamurro, Ottonese, Pagadebit, Straccia Cambiale, Tivolese Bianco, Trebbiano Bianco di Chieti, Trebbiano Campolese, Trebbiano di Avezzano, Trebbiano di Macerata, Trebbiano di Teramo, Trebbiano Dorato di Teramo, Trebbiano d'Oro, Uva Bianca Antica and Uva Fermana. Despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities, it must not be confused with the varieties Bianco d'Alessano (Butta Palmento), Mostosa, Passerina or Trebbiano d'Abruzzo (Bombino Bianco di San Severo). The parentage is unknown. According to DNA analyses, the varieties Bombino Nero, Debit, Gegić, Impigno, Kurtelaska Bijela, Moscatello Selvatico, Nero di Troia, Ninčuša and Tamurro are direct descendants of Bombino Bianco.
The late-maturing vine is resistant to many fungal diseases. The synonyms Pagadebito (Engl. "debt payer") and Straccia Cambiale (Engl. "to tear the bill of exchange") indicate the richness of yield. It produces rather neutral white wines with a citrus flavour, which are largely used as blends for sparkling wines and Vermouth. The Bombino Bianco variety is grown throughout southern Italy in the regions of Abruzzo, Puglia (largest quantities), Basilicata, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Marche and Molise, where it is permitted in numerous DOC wines. These are Bianco Capena, Biferno, Cacc'e Mmitte di Lucera, Castel del Monte, Cesanese del Piglio, Cesanese di Affile, Cesanese di Olevano Romano, Colli Romagna Centrale, Frascati, Gravina, Leverano, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Montecompatri-Colonna, Pentro di Isernia, Roma, Romagna, San Severo and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo. The area under cultivation in Italy totals 1,147 hectares. It is also grown on 9 hectares in Argentina. In 2016, a total of 1,147 hectares was reported with a falling trend (Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012.
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
