Biancone di Portoferraio
A late-ripening white grape of Elba with Corsican genetic ties.
Biancone di Portoferraio is a white wine grape from Italy, grown almost entirely on the island of Elba near Tuscany. Experts think it might have come from Corsica, as it is closely related to the Corsican grape Biancu Gentile, sometimes also called Biancone.
Quick Facts
- Growing region
- Island of Elba (Tuscany)
- Ripening
- Late ripening
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The grape is often confused with the Ligurian wine grape Rollo due to similarities in appearance and synonyms.
- Biancone di Portoferraio is one of the last grapes in Tuscany to be harvested during the growing season.
History
Though now found almost only on Elba, Biancone di Portoferraio may have originated in Corsica. Early 2000s DNA testing suggested a parent-offspring link with Biancu Gentile, and another test pointed to the red Tuscan grape Mammolo as a second possible parent. Caloria, Colombana nera, and Pollera nera were listed as potential half-siblings.
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