The white grape variety originates from Croatia. Synonyms are Bougava, Bugava, Bugva, Chipiko, Okatac, Okatac Crni, Ugava, Ugava Mala, Ugava Meka, Ugava Tvrda, Ugava Vela, Ugova Mala, Ugva, Viskulja, Vougava and Vugava Bijela. According to one hypothesis, it was brought to the island of Vis by the Greeks as early as the turn of the century, but there is of course no proof of this. The lineage (parentage) is unknown. That it is identical to the French variety Viognier, which is often confused with it, has been refuted by DNA comparisons. It is a parent of the Glavinuša variety. The early-maturing vine is susceptible to powdery mildew and black spot disease, as well as botrytis. It produces white wines rich in alcohol with apricot aroma. The variety is permitted in the Srednja/Juzna Dalmacija area (central and southern Dalmatia), but is cultivated mainly on the island of Vis, from which a sherry-like wine is pressed. It is also used for the traditional Prošek. In Croatia, 36 hectares of vineyard were still designated in 2010; in 2016 there was no stock? (Kym Anderson).
Source: Wine Grapes / J. Robinson, J. Harding, J. Vouillamoz / Penguin Books Ltd. 2012
Images: Ursula Brühl, Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI)
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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“