Bombino | Grape variety

The two grape varieties Bombino Bianco as well as Bombino Nero are cultivated among others in the region of Puglia, but they are not related to each other. The most famous wine that contains Bombino Bianco is Locorotondo and other wines from Castel del Monte. Bombino Nero, on the other hand, is mainly used for Cuvee's or Rosato, including the famous Castel del Monte Bombino Rosato.

Bombino Nero is a black skinned grape variety grown mainly in the Puglia region of southern Italy. Bombino Nero grapes are among the last to ripen in southern Italy. They rarely reach optimal ripeness, which is why they have high acidity and low sugar content. However, the variety is excellent for providing consistently high yields in every growing season. Bombino Nero berry skins are relatively thin and delicate, and therefore rarely produce the robust red wine for which Puglia is known.

Due to the high phenolic content of the berry skins, the variety is currently used mainly as a color enhancer for rosato (rosé) wines in the Puglian wine regions of Lizzano and Castel del Monte. Bombino Nero grapes lose their color very quickly, even before the bitter tannins, resulting in a fresh, soft, well-colored rosé with plenty of acidity.

There are two theories about Bombino's interesting name. One is that it refers to the grapes of the variety, which look like a small child with outstretched arms - in Puglia it is also called Bambino. The second, perhaps more plausible, is that bombino means 'little bomb', again referring to the dense grapes of the variety. It is not uncommon for Italian grapes to be named after the shape of their clusters or berries; other notable examples include Code di Volpe ('tail of the fox') and Lacrima ('tear'). - Gerardo

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