Bombino Nero is a grape variety cultivated exclusively in the area at the foot of Castel del Monte, and the best rosé wines derived from it can boast the national recognition of the DOCG “Castel del Monte Bombino Nero.”
Not suitable for red winemaking due to the high acidity of its juice and its thin skin, as well as the frequent presence of some green berries with low sugar concentration in the ripe clusters, Bombino Nero is instead the ideal grape for rosé winemaking.
The wine with the controlled and guaranteed designation of origin “Castel del Monte Bombino Nero” must be made from at least 90% Bombino Nero grapes, according to regulations.
Up to 10% of the wine can also be made from other non-aromatic black grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the Puglia region for the homogeneous production area “Murgia Centrale.”
The production area for the grapes used to make the wine with the controlled and guaranteed designation of origin “Castel del Monte Bombino Nero” includes the municipal territory of Minervino Murge and parts of the municipal territories of Andria, Corato, Trani, Ruvo, Terlizzi, Bitonto, Palo del Colle, and Toritto, as well as the entire administrative island D’Ameli of the municipality of Binetto.
Black grape variety considered native to Puglia. Known for its great vigor, productivity, and yield in must, it was historically called Buonvino. Bombino Nero grapes have large, spheroidal berries with thick skin, tending towards blue. The ripening is late, and the freshly picked berries tend to have high acidity and low sugar levels. It is a cultivar very suitable for rosé winemaking, giving it a pleasantly dry and round flavor.
The vineyards are distributed in a range between 300 and 500 meters above sea level, in a predominantly arid landscape rich in stones and sharp rocks, with shallow limestone soils. The climate is almost Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild, rarely snowy winters.
Technical aspects of Bombino Nero grape winemaking
Today, with modern winemaking techniques that primarily rely on the use of physical means, it is possible to maximize the expression of its most characteristic qualities. Therefore, if this wine is attributed great territorial representativeness, it is precisely thanks to this rediscovery and enhancement.
The wine’s character comes from a white winemaking process that involves the immediate separation of the solid part, the pomace, from the liquid part, the must. This immediate separation allows for violet reflections and a fairly or slightly hinted pink color.
The organoleptic and olfactory characteristics of the rosé with the controlled and guaranteed designation of origin “Castel del Monte Bombino Nero.”
From a visual standpoint, the degree and intensity of the color are not among the most compact.
From a sensory perspective, there is greater sapidity and freshness compared to other rosés, due to the peculiarities of the Murgian territory, which has predominantly limestone soil. Dominant characteristic aromas are reminiscent of roses. Sometimes there are citrus notes, red fruits like strawberry and raspberry, as well as pomegranate.
The Ruvo di Puglia Winery, producer of Crifo wines, offers a particularly refined version of Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOCG under the Augustale label.
