Bondola

Bondola is a red grape that is in the Swiss canton of Ticino indigenous. Previously, she was widely used there, but was often replaced by the Merlot. Today you can still find about 13 hectares of vineyards (2007, Source: Office fédéral de l'agriculture OFAG ) in northern Ticino, the Sopraceneri.

The berries of the variety have a very thin shell, so that the risk of gray mold is latent high. The wines have a lower alcohol content and higher acidity such as Merlot. The wines lack structure, but have sufficient red color and a light aroma of violets.

The vine is still used for the traditional red wine nostrano, are blended in the varieties such as Barbera, Bonarda, Bondola and Moscato.

Locally known still a game style that Bondoletta. It was read from old Bondola stocks and provides a little earlier ripening seedling of Bondola dar. In German Switzerland the variety Briegler ( Brieger ) has survived, which is genetically identical to Bondola. You morphologically distinct but clearly deeply lobed leaves, strong anthocyanin colouration of the shoots, stems and leaf veins, and low income. You should have resulted from the proliferation of a expelled from the root after a severe winter Adventivsprosses. In 1905, the Ampelograph Fantuzzi also described a white variety. However, this white variety is unknown today.

• Synonym: Bondoletta