Palomino (grape)
Palomino, Palomino Fino actually, is an ancient white grape variety. It is the classic sherry grape, and many sherries, mainly Fino and manzanilla, consist exclusively of Palomino Fino.
Accordingly, Palomino is mainly in the so-called sherry triangle ( Jerez de la Frontera - El Puerto de Santa Maria - Sanlucar de Barrameda ) grown where it occupies 90 % of the vineyard. In Spain it has else in D.O. Condado de Huelva and the Canary Islands (here as Listán Blanco ) a meaning. Other important growing areas are in South Africa, France, Argentina, Australia, USA (California ), New Zealand and Cyprus. Worldwide about 60 000 hectares are planted with this grape, half of them in Spain. The grape probably comes from Andalusia. Supposedly King Alfonso X of Castile and Leon (1221 - 1284) they have named after one of his knights.
The late-ripening grape grows best in summer-dry, sun-exposed but only moderately hot growing areas. Sufficient winter humidity and good ventilation are important for the grapes, as they are prone relatively strong for powdery mildew ( Odium ). The highest quality vines growing on the white chalk marl soils, Albariza. The Palomino grape is vigorous and very prolific. Without appropriate trimming are musts quantities of over 200 hectoliters / hectare achievable. Usually, however, the returns to below 70 hectoliters / hectare are limited.
The shouldered grape is very large; it can reach a weight of about two kilograms. The golden-yellow, rather loose-fitting, slightly translucent berries are quite pressure-resistant, not very sweet but very aromatic; therefore come in the growing areas and their immediate vicinity Palomino Fino grapes as table grapes in the trade.
The wines produced from Palomino are both acid and low in sugars and fairly neutral. For the acid- stressed Manzanilla, the grapes are harvested before they are fully ripe. The must fully ripe grapes geernterer tends to poverty because of the acid oxidation. This feature makes Palomino for the production of oxidatively removed wines such as sherry or Rancio. Not oxidized sherry ( Fino ) is kept under a layer of flor yeast, which ensures a sufficient air. For the production of table wine, they are only rarely used.
Synonyms: Jerez, Albán, Albar, Jerez Fina, Listán (FR), Listán de Jerez ( fr), Listán blanco, Palomino Fino, White French ( ZA), Xeres
From the Portuguese grape varieties with the name Perrum and Malvasia Rei is assumed that they are identical with Palomino. Palomino has also spawned many variations and mutations.