The white grape variety originates from France. Synonyms are Asprokondura, Blanquette, Blanquette Menue, Bourboulenco, Bourbouleng, Bourboulenque, Bourbounenco, Burbulen, Clairette Dorée à Paulhan, Clairette à Grains Ronds, Clairette Dorée, Doucillon, Grosse Clairette, Malvoisie, Ondenc, Pe Comprido, Picardan, Roussette and Roussette du Vaucluse. It must not be confused with the Clairette, Ondenc, Picardan or Roussette (Roussaou) varieties, despite seemingly suggestive synonyms or morphological similarities. There is no genetic or historical evidence for a Greek ancestry suspected by some ampelographers. According to DNA analyses carried out in 2004, it originates from a presumably natural cross between Gouais Blanc (Heunisch) x unknown partner. However, this is based on only 14 DNA markers (see molecular genetics). The variety was a crossing partner of the new variety Clairette Dorée Ganzin.
The very old variety was first mentioned in 1515 as Borbolenques in today's Département Vaucluse in Provence and in 1538 as Borbollenque near Avignon. The name probably derives from a vineyard called Barbolenquiera near Avignon. The late-ripening variety is susceptible to powdery mildew, but resistant to drought and botrytis. It produces acidic white wines with moderate alcohol content and aromas of citrus fruits, which are mainly used for blends.
The variety is grown in the south of France in the regions of Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon and Rhône, where it is grown in the AOCs Bandol, Cassis (Doucillon there), Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Corbières, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, Côtes du Rhône, Faugères, Grignan-les-Adhémar, Languedoc, Lirac, Luberon, Minervois, Saint-Chinian, Tavel, Vacqueyras and Ventoux. It occupies 499 hectares in France with a downward trend. There are other stocks in Argentina (1 ha), Portugal (1 ha under Pe Comprido) and South Africa (2 ha). In 2016, a total of 502 hectares of vines were designated (Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012.
Grape and leaf: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
Grape Graphic: By Jules Troncy - Ampélographie Viala et Vermorel, Public domain, Link
