wein.plus
Attention
You are using an old browser that may not function as expected.
For a better, safer browsing experience, please upgrade your browser.

Log in Become a Member

Douce Noire

The red grape variety originates from France. Synonyms grouped alphabetically by country are Bathiolin, Batiolin, Bonarda (Argentina, Brazil); Bourdon Noir, Bourdou, Carbonneau, Charbonneau, Corbeau, Corbeau Noir, Douce Noire de la Savoie, Folle Noire d l'Ariege, Gros Plant, Mauvais Noir, Ocanette, Plant de Chapereillan, Plant de Montmélian, Picot Rouge, Plant de Turin, Plant Noir, Turin (France); Alcantino, Bonarda, Sebina, Sebino, Serbina, Turca (Italy); Charbono (California); Sevilhão (Portugal); Aleante (Spain). Until the end of the 19th century, it was one of the most widespread varieties of Savoie and was called Corbeau (Crow) outside of it because of its dark-coloured wine. There is no relationship with the Douce Noire Grise variety. According to analyses carried out in 2009, there is a close relationship with the Mondeuse Noire variety.

Douce Noire - Weintraube und Blatt

The assumption made by the French ampelographer Pierre Galet (1921-2019) that it is identical to Dolcetto and that it came to France from Italy has been proven wrong by DNA analyses carried out in 2006. Further analyses have also clarified other mysteries or misunderstandings. The variety cultivated in California under the name Charbono is independent and not identical with the (now meaningless) "true" Charbono from Piedmont, but with Douce Noire. The variety cultivated in Argentina under Bonarda has no connection with Bonarda Piemontese, nor with the other (in each case independent) Bonarda varieties, but is also identical with Douce Noire. Douce Noire must therefore not be confused with the Bonarda Piemontese, Charbono or Dolcetto varieties.

Here, the late-ripening vine yields fruity red wines for quick enjoyment. In France, it is cultivated in tiny populations in Savoie and in the Jura. In Italy, it occupies a total of 630 hectares under the above synonyms. And as Charbono, 31 hectares were recorded in California. In Argentina, however, it is very successful and occupies 19,072 hectares under the (false) name Bonarda, mainly in the Mendoza and San Juan areas. In 2016, the variety occupied a total of 19,733 hectares of vineyards, with an upward trend. It is thus in 40th place in the global grape variety ranking (Kym Anderson). In Portugal, 14 hectares are cultivated under the name Sevilhão, presumably Douce Noire.

Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)

Voices of our members

Roman Horvath MW

wein.plus is a handy, efficient guide to a quick overview of the colourful world of wines, winegrowers and grape varieties. In Wine lexicon, the most comprehensive of its kind in the world, you will find around 26,000 keywords on the subject of grape varieties, wineries, wine-growing regions and much more.

Roman Horvath MW
Domäne Wachau (Wachau)

The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

26,379 Keywords · 46,984 Synonyms · 5,323 Translations · 31,713 Pronunciations · 202,114 Cross-references
made with by our author Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer. About the Lexicon

EVENTS NEAR YOU

PREMIUM PARTNERS