Dona Blanca
Indigenous grape of Bierzo, Doña Blanca is also grown in Ribeira Sacra (between the provinces of Orense and Lugo, where this variety is called Moza Fresca), but also further south in the driest part of Castilla y León down to Extremadura, where the poor and sandy soils of the area of Castuera are specially suitable to this variety (D.O. Ribera del Guadiana), as well as in Portugal (where it’s called Dona Branca).
Wines produced with Doña Blanca are fruity with a mouthfeel almost similar to a semi-sparkling wine that gives them a touch of crispy elegance. Variety usually blended with others, as its citrus aromas get more intense during the cold maceration and are really appreciated to produce wines to drink over the first year. It’s a productive variety with rather big bunches that allows several pressings with a good production. Medium-sized and elliptic berries with a yellowish green colour with spots. It’s highly resistant to downy mildew, but not to powdery mildew, botrytis, grape moth and mites.
AMPELOGRAPHIC DETAILS |
YOUNG SHOOTS
Distribution of anthocyanin pigmentation (shoot tips) | Medium |
Fuzz (or hair) density (shoot tips) | High |
SHOOTS
Growth | Semi-upright |
Back side internode colour | Green |
Internodes fuzz (or hair) density | Medium |
In August, shoots turn to yellowish pale brown (ungrooved) |
TENDRILS
Length | Medium |
VINE STOCK
Vigour | High |
Growth | Semi-upright |
Budbreak | Late |
Ripening | Early |
ADULT LEAF
Size | Large |
Leaf blade shape | Pentagonal cuneiform (7 lobes) |
Swelling on the upper side | Slightly curved with lobes sometimes superimposed |
Serrations (shape and length) | Rather big, biconvex and mucronate |
Petiolar sinus shape | U-shaped (closed) |
Petiole (shape and colour) | Short and thin (no pigmentation) |
Anthocyanin pigmentation of underside main veins | Green clearly lighter on the veins |
FOLIAR SINUS | |
Fuzz (or hair) density between veins (bent hairs) | High |
Fuzz (or hair) density between veins (upright hairs) | Medium to low |
BUNCH / CLUSTER
Size and compactness | Medium and tight with clearly apparent shoulders. Irregular berries |
Petiole length | Short |
BERRY
Size | Medium (not uniform) |
Shape | Elliptic |
Point of rupture | Spherical (hardly noticeable) |
Skin colour and thickness | Thick and deep green (turns to yellowish green when ripening) |
Anthocyanin pigmentation of flesh | None |
Special flavours | Intense herbaceous aromas |
Pedicel detachment | Difficult |
Seeds | Yes |
Main colour (without visible surface bloom) | Deep green (that turns to yellowish) |
